De Margerie says that what he likes about Fort Hills is Petro-Canada's vast oil sands experience.

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The question was further complicated when at just about the same time Suncor took over Petro-Canada.

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Petro-Canada's chief Ron A. Brenneman declined to comment on Total's potential involvement in the Fort Hills project.

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The other companies Lacey referred to include Opti Canada, Royal Dutch Shell and the Forest Hills project conducted by Petro-Canada, UTS, and Teck Cominco.

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Oil sands observers think Total wants Fort Hills bad enough that it will pay up to buy out both UTS' and Teck Cominco's stakes in order to partner with Petro-Canada one-on-one.

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The other companies Lacey referred to include Opti Canada, Royal Dutch Shell and the Forest Hills project conducted by Petro-Canada (nyse: PCZ - news - people ), UTS, and Teck Cominco (nyse: TCK - news - people ).

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