Oil Sands Investigations ― a team approach Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation University of Alberta

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE2 Inside Education A1: oil sands mine (< 75 m) overburden stripper oil sands shovel oil sands truck B1: bitumen extraction unit hydrotransport separation tanks naphtha dilution system centrifuge B2: insitu extraction of bitumen unit (e.g., SAGD) C1: vacuum distillation unit D1.1: thermal- cracking unit E1: distillation unit (e.g., gas, naphtha, kerosene & gas oil) F1: hydrotreaters G1: synthetic crude blender F1.2.1: Claus converter Bitumen to Synthetic Crude Oil (5) Upgrading of bitumen to synthetic crude oil Extraction of bitumen from oil sands H 2 S(g) H1: refinery further cracking and distillation pipe(line) F: H 2 (g) generator bitumen dilbit C1.3: naphtha recycle system naphtha S 8 (l) H 2 (g) NH 3 (g) B1.1: tailings pond coke sulfur ammonia oil F1.2: amine scrubber H 2 S(g) sour gas water sand gasoline, diesel, etc. steam CH 4 (g) NH 3 (g) C(s) D1.2: hydro- cracking unit F: H 2 (g)

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE3 Research Program & Projects: Variables Affecting Bitumen Extraction Research Projects 1. temperature 2. quantity of air 3. pH 4. Ca 2+ (aq) concentration 5. quality of oil sands

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE4 Testing Hypotheses (H) ― replicating scientific research The extraction of bitumen from oil sands: H1: increases with temperature H2: increases with pH H3: increases with air H4: decreases with air exposure to oil sands H5: decreases with addition of Ca 2+ (aq)

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE5 Design & Materials from Procedure Design: Manipulate one variable; control all other variables (e.g., temp., pH, and air) Materials: e.g., glass vials, oil sands, water, air, NaOH(aq), and CaCl 2 (aq) Procedure: Prepare vial with oil sands, water and air. Adjust temperature or pH. Observe and measure the effect. (Students write Design and Materials from the Procedure provided.)

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE6 Some Procedures heating samples on a hot plate keeping temperature for 5 min preparing to shake hot vial for 1 min (horizontally and then vertically)

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE7 1.Manipulating Temperature (sustained for 5 min) Place one vial in water at about 20 ºC. Place second vial in water at about 50 ºC. Place third vial in water at about 80 ºC. Shake horizontally for 45 s and vertically for 15 s, then let settle.

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE8 2. Affect of pH (What is the right value?) Heat each of the vials marked pH 7, 9 and 11 at 80 ºC for 5 min. Shake each of the vials for 1 min—45 s horizontally and 15 s vertically (or some other constant ratio). rich oil sands; 80 o C; air clay froth for pH of 11

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE9 3. Manipulating Air ( by length ) Heat each of the vials at 80 ºC for 5 min. Shake each of the vials for 1 min—45 s horizontally and 15 s vertically (or some other constant ratio). Record evidence. air volume manipulated air starts no air

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE10 4. Affect of Ca 2+ (aq) Concentration Calcium ions build up in the tailings pond water and adversely affect the process. Hypothesis: Increasing the [Ca 2+ ], decreases the extraction of bitumen from oil sands. Heat each of the vials at 80 ºC for 5 min. Shake each of the vials for 1 min—45 s horizontally and 15 s vertically (or some other constant ratio). Observe the vials. 10 mmol/L Ca 2+ (aq) pH of 9 at 80ºC with air

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE11 5. Affect of Quality of Oil Sands Heat each of the vials at 80 ºC for 5 min. Shake each of the vials for 1 min—45 s horizontally and 15 s vertically (or some other constant ratio). Record evidence. Some dried oil sands—acts like lean oil sands. L7 = lean; pH 7 R9 = rich; pH 9

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE12 6. Bonus Lab: Affect of Solvents Do not heat these vials. Three contain flammable liquids. Record the evidence; shake the vials and record any further evidence.

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE13 Research Program/Team This series of investigations is aimed at  testing hypotheses by manipulating one variable at a time  improving the extraction of bitumen from oil sands—especially to reduce energy and water usage and environmental impact.  illustrating a research team approach that is common within scientific research programs.

Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation & CMASTE14 Acknowledgements COSI staff: Imperial Oil- Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation Andree Koenig (demo) Cam McGregor Pam Seager Dr. Zhenghe Xu Dr. Steve Kuznicki Dr. Murray Gray Alberta Ingenuity  Sandra Robertson CMASTE  Dr. Bob Ritter Authors  Art Bauer  Dr. Frank Jenkins teachers who have provided feedback on these lessons