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How
many of those Kisteneaux now helping to produce
350,000 barrels per day from the McMurray tar sands
know that their forefathers 300 years before had
been using the same "gum or pitch" to caulk their
canoes? Assenpiskew (rock gum) is now replacing the
depleting conventional crude reserves further to the
south, not only ensuring Canada's security of supply
but providing a strong economic future for Alberta.
The following early explorers were made aware of the
tar sands by the Indians:
- Henry Kelsey 1719
- Peter Pond 1778
- Alexander Mackenzie 1788
- Dr. John Richardson, Surgeon & Naturalist, 1828 (submitted a Report to the Colonial Secretary).
- Malcolm McLeod, Chief Trader, Hudson Bay Company, early 1800's (reported on northern bituminous springs).
Dr. Robert Bell of the Geological Survey of
Canada (1882-84) was the first to realize the
commercial potential of the area He worked closely
with Christian Hoffman, Survey Chemist, who carried
out considerable experimental research. Hoffman even
estimated the amount of bitumen in place by assuming
1,000 square miles, 28.5 cubic miles of sand and
22.9% content of bitumen to equal 26 billion barrels
in place. Estimate by the McMurray Tar Sands Centre
is almost 120,000 billion barrel (1999).
In the 1880's a Senate Committee was formed to
investigate the reserves of the Great Mackenzie
Basin in the 1880's. Witnesses such as Count Von
Hammerstein appeared before this body to give
evidence.
R.G. McConnell of the GSC discovered
seepages at Tar Island on the Peace River and
recommended drilling for fluid oil down-dip from the
outcrop because he believed the oil originated from
the underlying Devonian limestone. The first
government well would be drilled to test his theory
and was funded in the amount of $7,000. The rig had
been moved in from Toronto in the summer of 1893
(funding details in 'CORRIDORS OF TIME, Part I',
pages 5, 6, 8. This well was abandoned in 1894. A
second government well blew gas until 1918. Stan
Slipper came up to help kill it. By 1920, the Feds
had drilled and capped five gas wells. In 1921
Ottawa considered the establishment of a
carbon-black plant using this wasted gas but it
never materialized.
Count Alfred Von Hammerstein appeared
before the Senate Committee in 1907 describing the
experiments he had carried out, even to using the
tarry residue to produce tar paper. He is said to
have assured the Committee the sands would be of
great value to the nation, once a reliable method of
transportation was available. He obviously did not
realize the cost and research needed to extras the
oil from the sands. He organized Athabasca Oils
Limited in 1910. Some of the 15 wells he drilled
gave considerable encouragement. Although the
automobile was in its infancy using tar sands for
pavement was a more important objective of the day.
There were already government regulations in
place but they did not include the substance called
"asphalt". However, the Count acquired "freehold"
leases with six titles one mile apart fronting along
the Athabasca River. They were Dominion lands and
extended back about three miles.
Later on, Eric Harvie gathered up as much of the
control as he could. Harvie later sold all of his
interests to Chevron. Somehow or other, that got
into the hands of Suncor and Great Canadian Oil
Sands (GCOS). GCOS went to the Board in 1954 and
were told "We cannot give you any share of the
market". So they had to get two purchasers who
would absorb the output: GCOS 2,500 barrels per day
and Sun Oil 7,500 barrels per day.
GCOS got their first leases (originally Abasand)
right next to the Bitumont plant (Karl Clark). They
were told "you should satisfy yourself that it has
to be good and the only reason that Bitumont plant
is here is that it is close to the river and only
for experimenting". There was no study made of the
value of the acreage as far as tar sands was
concerned. The two companies requested one half of
the statutory Crown royalty for three years to help
them get started. Hubert Somerville agreed to that.
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