The development of the Leduc-Woodbend Oil Field in 1947 marked a turning point in the history of Alberta’s petroleum industry. After the drilling of Leduc No. 1, the geographical focus of the industry shifted from Turner Valley northward to the central plains area, where vast oil reserves were uncovered. Oil production, which had been in decline, expanded dramatically, and the Edmonton area became a petrochemical and distributing centre. This boom in output enabled Alberta to become, for the first time, a major oil producer and allowed Canada to move toward self-sufficiency in petroleum.