CANADA: Flowing Gold

Less than a year ago, Redwater, Alta., 35 miles northeast of Edmonton, was a place to pick blueberries. Last week it was the center of the biggest oil boom in Canadian history.

With estimated reserves of 300 million barrels, the Redwater field already has 135 producing wells; new wells are being completed at the rate of 45 a month. Dozens of oil companies are in the field, the largest, Imperial Oil Ltd. of Canada, which is spending $500,000 on workers' housing alone.

The boom began at Leduc, 50 miles from Redwater, where the spouting...

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