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Oil sands direct purchases

Direct purchase is the acquisition of Crown-owned oil sands rights by individual sale.

Overview

This page contains direct purchase pricing information. There is also information about the direct purchase process.

This page does not address direct purchases within Metis Settlements pursuant to the Co-Management Agreement.

Applying

You can calculate the cost of a parcel of land prior to submitting a direct purchase application.

Use the pricing structure in this Information Letter to do your calculations:

Direct purchase applications can only be submitted using the Electronic Transfer System (ETS).

Land portions

A portion is an area of Crown land that constitutes less than 50% of the smallest applicable spacing unit. The department’s minimum acceptable sales price for portions remains $500 per hectare or $2,000, whichever is greater, and is non-negotiable. The department reserves the right to adjust the minimum sales price periodically.

Complementing rights

When the lessee of an existing Petroleum and Natural Gas Agreement requests a purchase of oil sands rights, the private sale price (that is, bonus) will be calculated as follows:

  • Average cost per hectare (Average $/ha) is calculated using bonus amounts received divided by total hectares leased. This excludes the bonus received and hectares leased on Metis Settlement lands (or distributed via permits) in the previous 6 months, as indicated in the Public Offering Statistics.
  • Direct purchase price is based on 125% of the average $/ha.
  • *Indicates the figure has been revised

Direct purchase charts

These charts outline the following monthly information by calendar year:

  • direct purchase applications received
  • average $/ha
  • direct purchase price $/ha

Table 25. 2024

Application ReceivedAverage $/haDirect Purchase Price $/ha
December$630.12$787.65
November$660.07$825.09
October$871.40$1,089.25
September$1,086.95$1,358.69
August$1,076.13$1,345.16
July$1,042.34$1,302.93
June$1,314.52$1,643.15
May$1,343.35$1,679.19
April$1,377.78$1,722.23
March$1,194.29$1,492.86
February$1,290.25$1,612.81
January$1,370.04$1,712.55

Table 24. 2023

Application ReceivedAverage $/haDirect Purchase Price $/ha
December$1,183.29$1,479.11
November$980.40$1,225.50
October$650.59$813.24
September$520.23$650.29
August$521.91$652.39
July$506.91$633.64
June$532.93$666.16
May$260.93$326.16
April$408.54$510.68
March$392.22$490.28
February$402.57$503.21
January$430.51$538.14

Table 23. 2022

Application ReceivedAverage $/haDirect Purchase Price $/ha
December$429.69$537.11
November$624.76$780.95
October$1,258.14$1,572.68
September$1,947.37$2,434.21
August$2,176.11$2,720.14
July$1,556.81$1,946.01
June$1,545.05$1,931.31
May$1,582.39$1,977.99
April$1,193.54$1,491.93
March$301.43$376.79
February$301.43$376.79
January$219.85$274.81

Table 22. 2021

Application ReceivedAverage $/haDirect Purchase Price $/ha
December$83.07$103.84
November$193.29$241.61
October$193.29$241.61
September$118.28$147.85
August$114.31$142.89
July$114.17$142.71
June$114.17$142.71
May$89.33$111.66
April$89.33$111.66

Additional years

  • Table 21. 2020

    Application ReceivedAverage $/haDirect Purchase Price $/ha
    April$66.83$83.54
    March$88.43$110.54
    February$89.72$112.15
    January$116.30$145.38
  • Table 20. 2019

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $115.35 $144.19
    November $124.47 $155.71
    October $125.34 $156.68
    September $160.79 $200.99
    August $160.80 $201.00
    July $76.10 $95.13
    June $75.19 $93.99
    May $74.78 $93.48
    April $78.08 $97.60
    March $90.22 $112.78
    February $97.43 $121.79
    January $114.11 $142.64
  • Table 19. 2018

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $140.16 $175.20
    November $174.51 $218.14
    October $171.69 $214.61
    September $173.12 $216.40
    August $171.51 $214.39
    July $225.81 $282.26
    June $206.39 $257.99
    May $207.18 $258.98
    April $211.61 $264.51
    March $257.52 $321.90
    February $260.11 $325.14
    January $227.40 $284.25
  • Table 18. 2017

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $279.56 $349.45
    November $289.72 $362.15
    October $283.36 $354.20
    September $135.69 $169.61
    August $133.21 $166.51
    July $197.21 $246.51
    June $172.80 $216.00
    May $109.15 $136.44
    April $102.92 $128.65
    March $160.22 $200.28
    February $106.30 $132.88
    January $70.94 $88.68
  • Table 17. 2016

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $330.78 $413.48
    November $283.02 $353.78
    October $298.04 $372.55
    September $279.79 $349.74
    August $299.25 $374.06
    July $305.57 $381.96
    June $26.36 $32.95
    May $61.11 $76.39
    April $39.19 $48.99
    March $66.62 $83.28
    February $79.35 $99.19
    January $102.20 $127.75
  • Table 16. 2015

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $95.21 $119.01
    November $64.78 $80.98
    October $43.11 $53.89
    September $451.78 $564.73
    August $453.43 $566.79
    July $424.44 $530.55
    June $393.83 $492.29
    May $433.45 $541.81
    April $613.59 $766.99
    March $38.20 $47.75
    February $38.62 $48.27
    January $38.78 $48.47
  • Table 15. 2014

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $131.41 $164.27
    November $124.63 $155.79
    October $233.20 $291.51
    September $233.11 $291.38
    August $233.39 $291.74
    July $215.45 $269.31
    June $190.65 $238.31
    May $184.56 $230.70
    April $272.97 $341.21
    March $276.34 $345.42
    February $247.82 $309.77
    January $223.08 $278.85
  • Table 14. 2013

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $188.68 $235.85
    November $188.89 $236.11
    October $140.48 $175.60
    September $155.93 $194.91
    August $171.23 $214.04
    July $81.16 $101.45
    June $88.45 $110.57
    May $102.32 $127.90
    April $95.14 $118.92
    March $79.36 $99.20
    February $80.11 $100.14
    January $349.65 $437.06
  • Table 13. 2012

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $364.56 $455.70
    November $230.71 $288.39
    October $273.95 $342.44
    September $100.76 $125.95
    August $103.80 $129.75
    July $75.07 $93.84
    June $667.98 $834.97
    May $749.27 $936.58
    April $470.47 $588.09
    March $569.01 $711.27
    February $1,722.52 $2,153.15
    January $1,480.57 $1,850.72
  • Table 12. 2011

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $219.78 $274.72
    November $186.71 $233.39
    October $88.65 $110.81
    September $108.38 $135.47
    August $108.05 $135.07
    July $104.52 $130.66
    June $111.70 $139.63
    May $111.83 $139.78
    April $133.01 $166.26
    March $124.33 $155.41
    February $133.03 $166.28
    January $178.93 $223.66
  • Table 11. 2010

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $142.30 $177.88
    November $181.60 $227.00
    October $200.07 $250.09
    September $489.02 $611.28
    August $553.13 $691.41
    July $507.64 $634.56
    June $283.62 $354.53
    May $82.98 $103.73
    April $89.92 $112.41
    March $103.78 $129.73
    February $104.08 $130.09
    January $114.43 $143.04
  • Table 10. 2009

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $145.67 $182.09
    November $234.94 $293.67
    October $245.76 $307.19
    September $256.77 $320.97
    August $94.72 $118.40
    July $78.56 $98.20
    June $58.75 $73.44
    May $58.87 $73.58
    April $98.10 $122.63
    March $107.63 $134.54
    February $119.60 $149.50
    January $132.50 $165.63
  • Table 9. 2008

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $148.25 $185.31
    November $137.85 $172.32
    October $171.82 $214.77
    September $204.20 $255.25
    August $202.50 $253.12
    July $224.81 $281.01
    June $269.27 $336.59
    May $425.22 $531.53
    April $441.38 $551.72
    March *$529.60 *$662.00
    February $580.58 $725.72
    January $611.40 $764.25
  • Table 8. 2007

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $651.23 $814.04
    November $564.17 $705.22
    October $524.52 $655.65
    September $562.76 *$673.39
    August $533.36 *$611.38
    July $540.61 $675.76
    June $550.23 $687.79
    May $684.21 $855.27
    April $670.30 $837.88
    March $1,029.02 $1,286.28
    February $866.87 $1,083.59
    January $874.62 $1,093.27
  • Table 7. 2006

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $836.67 $1,045.83
    November $898.93 $1,123.67
    October $945.75 $1,182.19
    September $630.71 $788.39
    August $1,688.25 $2,110.32
    July $1,752.70 $2,190.87
    June $1,885.28 $2,356.60
    May $1,842.43 $2,303.04
    April $1,744.62 $2,180.78
    March $1,934.99 $2,418.74
    February $1,356.47 $1,695.59
    January $1,426.37 $1,782.97
  • Table 6. 2005

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $1,388.33 $1,735.41
    November $1,068.17 $1,335.21
    October $1,111.71 $1,389.64
    September $620.35 $775.43
    August $190.52 $238.15
    July $210.32 $262.90
    June $342.83 $428.54
    May $404.12 $505.15
    April $458.56 $573.21
    March $489.77 $612.22
    February $474.91 $593.63
    January $445.30 $556.62
  • Table 5. 2004

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $445.05 $556.32
    November $389.93 $487.41
    October $104.81 $131.01
    September $84.49 $105.61
    August $88.25 $110.31
    July $88.58 $110.72
    June $88.31 $110.39
    May $89.37 *$111.71
    April $121.21 $151.51
    March $82.61 $103.26
    February $152.71 $190.89
    January $305.77 $382.22
  • Table 4. 2003

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $270.45 $338.06
    November $274.46 $343.08
    October $289.78 $362.22
    September $257.64 $322.05
    August $253.78 $317.23
    July $283.05 $353.82
    June $301.49 $376.86
    May $309.67 $387.09
    April $240.25 $300.31
    March $282.49 $353.11
    February $192.89 $241.11
    January $192.66 $240.82
  • Table 3. 2002

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $167.58 $209.47
    November $131.19 $163.99
    October $130.10 $162.62
    September $129.98 $162.48
    August $145.90 $182.38
    July $124.46 $155.58
    June $133.21 $166.52
    May $142.79 $178.48
    April $275.11 $343.89
    March $265.27 $331.58
    February $267.49 $334.36
    January $330.64 $413.30
  • Table 2. 2001

    Application ReceivedAverage $/haDirect Purchase Price $/ha
    December$356.43$445.54
    November$347.03$433.79
    October$324.82$406.02
    September$358.81$448.52
    August$359.66$449.57
    July$401.48$501.86
    June$367.98$459.98
    May$525.58$656.97
    April$398.05$497.57
    March$369.09$461.37
    February$364.71$455.89
    January$271.36$339.20
  • Table 1. 2000

    Application Received Average $/ha Direct Purchase Price $/ha
    December $240.26 $300.33
    November $163.16 $203.95
    October $185.11 $231.39

Contact

Connect with Oil Sands, Coal and Mineral Operations:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)

Email:
Oil Sands Royalty Project Applications and Compliance [email protected]
Oil Sands Royalty Administration [email protected]
Oil Sands Royalty Information Management [email protected]
Oil Sands Tenure [email protected]

Mailing Address:
Alberta Energy and Minerals
Oil Sands, Coal and Mineral Operations
6th floor, Petroleum Plaza, North Tower
9945 108 Street
Edmonton Alberta  T5K 2G6