Transcript Alberta Tar Sands

Alberta Tar Sands
Is it good for Canada?
Alberta Oil Sands Area
The Resource
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Alberta's oil sands contain
the biggest known reserve
of oil in the world. An
estimated 1.7 to 2.5 trillion
barrels of oil are trapped in
a complex mixture of sand,
water and clay. Bitumen is
a heavy, carbon rich,
extremely viscous oil. The
percentage of bitumen in
oil sand can range from
1% -20%.
Mining Production
► Roughly
500 km2 of the 140,000 km2 oil sands
deposit in Northern Alberta is currently undergoing
surface mining activity. Oil sands within 75 m of
the surface are mined using electric and hydraulic
shovels with a capacity of 45 m3 and trucks that
can carry up to 400 tons of ore that take three
passes to fill.
In Situ Production
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In situ recovery is used for bitumen
deposits buried too deeply - more
than 75 m - for mining to be practical.
Most in situ bitumen and heavy oil
production comes from deposits
buried more than 350-600 m below
the surface.
Steam, solvents or thermal energy
make the bitumen flow to the point
that it can be pumped by a well to the
surface.
Cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) and
steam-assisted gravity drainage
(SAGD) are effective in situ recovery
methods.
No tailings ponds are required for in
situ methods of recovery. Sand
remains in the ground; only bitumen is
removed.
Refining the Bitumen
► Step
1: distillation. Separates various
compounds by physical properties.
► Step 2: coking, hydro-conversion, solvent
deasphalting. Improves hydrogen to carbon
ratio.
► Step 3: hydrotreating. Removes
contaminants such as sulphur.
Most Goes to the U.S.A.
Pipelines to U.S.A.
Environmental Issues
Approximately 2 tonnes of oil sands are needed
to produce 1 barrel of oil
► Non-renewable
Resource
► Global Warming (CO2)
► Water Pollution (Heavy Metals)
► Water Use (2-4L water needed to make 1L oil)
► Toxic “Tailings” Ponds (waste left over)
► Air Pollution (Hydrogen sulfide gas released from crude)
► Deforestation (clearing trees)
► Habitat Destruction (removing top soil)