As of January 2009, there are 91 active oil sands projects in Alberta. Of these, five are mining projects; the remaining projects use various in-situ (in place) recovery methods. For oil sands near the surface, it can be mined and moved by trucks to a cleaning facility where the sand is mixed with hot water to separate the bitumen.
For oil sands further beneath the surface, extraction is done through various in-situ processes. These processes use steam, solvents or thermal energy to make the bitumen flow to a point that it can be pumped by a well to the surface.
Approximately 80 per cent of Alberta’s oil sands are recoverable through in-situ production, with only 20 per cent recoverable by mining. Upgrading and refining can be done remotely for both types of recovery. In-situ operations are able to reclaim areas much sooner than open pit mines, and also eliminate the need to create tailings ponds.
Under Alberta law, any disturbed land must be reclaimed.