Canadian Tar Sands

By: Chris Wolfe

http://www.technologyreview.com/NanoTech/wtr_16059,318,p1.html

Tar Sand History -Most Canadian tar sands located in three major deposits in northern Alberta-Sands have been in production since the 1967 Suncor mine-In 1998, the Syncrude mine shipped its billionth barrel of oil-For the period 1996 to 2016, approximately 87 billion dollars of investment

Reserves-As of 2005, 174.1 billion barrels in proven recoverable reserves-Estimated 315 billion barrels in recoverable reserves-Total resource base of 1.7-2.5 trillion barrels-Canada has 15% of the world’s proven oil reserves-At current production rates (1.1 mm bbl/d), it would take ~433 years to deplete these reserves

Surface Mining

-Tar sands typically lie 40-60 meters beneath the surface-Tar sands first mixed with hot water and caustic-Resulting bitumen froth is separated and further

purified-Water purification and recycling is the key to a

successful operation-2 tons of oil sands required per barrel of crude- Each barrel of crude produced requires 3-6 barrels of

water and 730 scf of natural gas

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Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage

(SAGD)

http://www.oilsandswatch.org/album/osf-illustrations/projector.php?slide=7

Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS)

Vapor Extraction Process (VAPEX)

-Used since the 1950s-First, the steam at 300-400 degrees Celsius is pumped into a well for a period of weeks-Second, the steam is left to soak in for a few days-Finally, the hot oil is pumped up from the ground until production dies down-The process is then repeated

-Uses hydrocarbon solvent vapors much like SAGD uses steam-Potential for much greater efficiency than steam-Still a new technology

Economic Viability-Average cost per barrel in 2007 is $28-Current labor shortage in Alberta is raising costs-A growing material shortage is hurting the oil sands as well-Environmental concerns have led the Canadian government to phase out tax breaks for the tar sand industry in the near future-Royal Dutch Shell reported an average 2006 profit of 21.75 $/bbl-Current oil prices ~90 $/bbl-Canada has been the largest single provider of crude to the US for almost a decade

Environmental Impact

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-According to current production rates, tar sands mining and processing uses ~293.1 billion scf of natural gas per year and ~1.2 billion barrels of water per year

-All the water used for tar sand mining comes from local rivers and lakes-Once the water is used, it cannot be purified enough to return to the environment-As water supplies run low, refineries will be forced to switch to deeper, brackish aquifers

http://www.oilsandswatch.org/album/osf-illustrations/projector.php?slide=7

Water Treatment Options-Water treatment can cost up to 20% of invested

capital-Evaporation -- technical road blocks, waste disposal-Inorganic/Ceramic Membranes – successful pilot

work, not economical enough to be implemented in the market

-Polymer Softening Membranes – risk of damage due to process temperature, risk of organic fouling

-Membrane Bioreactors – excellent separation, new technology

Conclusion

-Canadian tar sands have proven, stable reserves-Production of tar sands has been profitable-Promising new technology gives the indistry a

brighter future-Serious environmental concerns-Material and labor shortages already

Questions?

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/6/65/Oil_sands_open_pit_mining.jpg

References• Alberta Energy. “Fact Sheet Link.” Oil Sands Fact Sheet. June 2006. 17

Nov. 2007 <http://www.energy.gov.ab.ca/ oilsands/ 954.asp#Facts>.• Barbajosa, Alejandro. Energy Bulletin. 17 Nov. 2007

<http://www.energybulletin.net/ 4385.html>.• Robertson, John. “Emerging technologies and challenges in water use

and re use .” CHOA Technical Luncheon. 2 Oct. 2007.• Spragins, Frank. “Oil Sands History.” Syncrude Canada. 16 Nov. 2007

<http://www.syncrude.ca/ users/ folder.asp?FolderID=5657#top>.• United press. Sustainable Transport Coallition. 16 Nov. 2007

<http://www.stcwa.org.au/ index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1255>.