There could be a lot more oil in Alberta's oil sands than anyone knew.
A new report has resulted in a hike in the province's bitumen estimate.
The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) says the increase is based largely on a re-evaluation of the largely untapped Athabasca Grosmont deposit.
A new study, the first undertaken in 20 years, has bumped the estimate by 28 per cent.
Darin Barter with the ERCB says that means production will likely continue for many years to come.
"In Alberta, we have about 1.8 trillion barrels of oil, and that's oil that's really in place up in the oil sands. It's not necessarily recoverable today, but as technology moves forward we'll be able to get at that oil much easier," said Barter.
The ERCB is also reporting a seven per cent increase in coal bed methane production despite low prices for natural gas.
