8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 25, 2009

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Canada	0-12014	98-0017682
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

237 Fourth Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada	T2P 3M9
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-800-567-3776

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01    Other Events.

On May 25, 2009, Imperial Oil Limited, by means of a news release, announced that its board of directors has approved the first phase of the Kearl oil sands project, a surface mining operation northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

The following exhibit is furnished as part of this report on Form 8-K:

99.1 News release of Imperial Oil Limited announcing that its board of directors has approved the first phase of the Kearl oil sands project, a surface mining operation northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
Date: May 25, 2009	By:	/s/ Brian Livingston
	Name:	Brian Livingston
	Title:	Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

By:	/s/ Brent Latimer
Name:	Brent Latimer
Title:	Assistant Secretary

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Imperial Oil Limited 237 - 4th Avenue S.W. Calgary, AB T2P 0H6	News Release

Imperial Oil approves Kearl oil sands project

Calgary, May 25, 2009—Imperial Oil Limited today announced its board of directors has approved the first phase of the Kearl oil sands project, a surface mining operation northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta.

The Kearl project is envisioned to be developed in three phases and could ultimately produce more than 300,000 barrels a day of bitumen. The first phase of the project, expected to begin production in late 2012 with total production to average 110,000 barrels per day, is anticipated to cost about $8 billion or approximately $4.50 per barrel to construct.

Imperial Oil is one of Canada’s largest corporations and a leading member of the country’s petroleum industry. It is one of the country’s largest producers of crude oil and natural gas, is the nation’s largest petroleum refiner, and has a leading market share in petroleum products sold through a coast-to-coast supply network that includes about 1,900 service stations.

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For further information:

Investor relations Mark Stumpf (403) 237-4537 Media relations Gordon Wong (403) 237-2710