Oil Sands Sample Bank
Do you have a new mineable oil sands process or technology you would like to test? The Alberta Research Council offers an oil sands sample bank where you can purchase oil sands samples from the Athabasca area.
This sample bank is anonymous, which means you will receive a sample from any one of our participating producers. However, this also means that you will not be expected to share the results from your test with any producing company.
Samples are received unhomogenized in 10 or 20 litre pails. Samples are visually graded on site by the producer to fall into one of three categories:
- Low grade (approximately 8% bitumen)
- Medium grade (approximately 10% bitumen)
- High grade (approximately 13% bitumen)
If you need the sample characterized beyond the visual grading, we can do further tests to clarify the sample’s characteristics through our oil sands sample analysis services.
Background resources on Alberta's oil sands
Characterisics of the Athabasca mineable oil sands
Oil sands from different sources have different characteristics, whichs mean a sample from the Athabasca oil sands may or may not meet your needs.
Learn more about the Athabasca oil sands
Current standards for development/recovery
We have compiled some resources with current development/recovery benchmarks that can help you evaluate the effectiveness of your new process or technology.
Learn more about current development/recovery technologies
Proving the merit of your new process or technology
ARC can offer a third-party, unbiased analysis that you can use to demonstrate the effectiveness of your idea.
Read about ARC's oil sands analysis services
Contact us
Please attach a completed oil sands order form to your email.