The operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project is celebrating a decade of oilsands production and says it has pumped out about 500 million barrels of oil since production began in 2003.

Shell started operations in the oilsands 10 years ago with just a handful of employees.

The company has built up the business over the years and says it is capable of delivering over a quarter of a million barrels per day which provides about 17% of Canada's total oil production.

"I'm very proud of what has been achieved over the last 10 years," said Lorraine Mitchelmore, president Shell Canada. "The oil sands are an important long-term business opportunity for Shell and an economic engine for Canada and beyond. We recognize that we must continue to improve the environmental performance of our oil sands operations if we are to compete in a world rightly asking more of the energy it uses. We believe economic and environmental performance go hand-in-hand and look to lead in both."

The Athabasca Oil Sands Project has produced over 500 million barrels of oil since 2003 which is enough to power more than 3.1 million homes for a year.

Shell Canada Energy is 60 percent owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project.

The other 40 percent ownership is split between Chevron Canada Limited and Marathon Oil Corporation.