TIMELINES
In the 1920s, traces of high-grade oil were discovered in a Lloydminster- area farmer’s water well. Companies such as Imperial Oil went after the resource, but it took almost 25 years for anyone to see commercial production of the viscous crude.Heavy Oil
Source: Canadian Centre for Energy Information/Oilsands Review
Sparky #1, four miles from Lloydminster, is brought in. After producing for a few years, it is 1943
abandoned due to production problems.
1943-48 About 200 wells drilled
around Lloydminster.
The area produces about 50,000 barrels of oil, refined by Excelsior Petroleum into primarily bunker “C” fuel. 1945
Lloydminster oil refinery.
1946 Husky Oil relocates a used 1,500-barrel-per-day
refinery in the Lloydminster area.
Husky issues first posted price for heavy
crude oil from the Lloydminster region. 1947
Photo: Lloydminster Heavy Oil Centre
1950s
Saskatchewan government begins drilling test holes on provincial road allowances, enabling oil companies to 1961
determine reservoir size at a very low cost.
Railroads begin switching
from bunker “C” to
diesel fuel, devastating
Lloydminster oil sales.
1963 The “yo-yo” pipeline is built to connect Husky’s
Lloydminster refinery to the main Inter-provincial Pipeline.
Around 3,000 wells in the area produce about 3,000 barrels per month. 1972-75
1984 Husky Oil, Alberta and Saskatchewan
governments reach agreement on $3.2-
billion Lloydminster Upgrader.
The NewGrade Energy Upgrader—a joint venture
by Consumers’ Co-op and the Government of Saskatchewan—begins operations. 1990
1992
Lloydminster Upgrader begins
processing heavy oil.
Progressing cavity pump.
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers reports heavy oil production 2005
from Alberta and Saskatchewan from
various companies—including Canadian
Natural Resources and Devon Canada—
at 497,000 barrels per day.
Photo: Joey Podlubny
