Unit 3: Natural Resources Oil and Gas Canadian Geography 1202

5.4.1 Canada’s Sedimentary Basins Nonrenewable Resources: Nonrenewable resources are those that cannot be replaced by any natural means. Fossil Fuels: Formed from the remains of plant and animal life that once lived in tropical swamps or shallow areas. (Petroleum, natural gas, and coal) Fuels form in sedimentary basins These basins are found everywhere in Canada except for the Canadian Shield, and the Appalachian Mountains.

Sedimentary Basins: A sedimentary basin is an area of the earth that has a natural dip in the land that over time fills with sediment. Canada has seven sedimentary basisn 1. Western Canada 2. Cordilleran 3. Beaufort Sea Mackenzie Delta 4. Arctic Islands 5. Eastern Canada-Offshore 6. St. Lawrence 7. Hudson Bay The Eastern Canada-Offshore basin offers the greatest potential for offshore oil development

Western Canada Sedimentary Basin is the largest on land Oil sands found in Alberta 4

… Eastern Canada Offshore Basin is the largest offshore basin Oil Fields Hibernia Terra Nova White Rose 5

5.4.2 Oil and Gas Traps What do these traps all have in common?

Oil and gas traps need three things: 1. Cap Rock: Non porous rock that prevents oil flowing out of the trap 2. Reservoir Rock: Porous rock in which oil can accumulate 3. Source Rock: Rock that contains the decomposing material, usually dense metamorphic rock. How oil and gas traps work Over millions of years organisms in sedimentary rock decay and release their oils (hydrocarbons.) Petroleum mixes with ground water and floats to the top Cap rock prevents the petroleum from moving up, and causes it to pool.

8 Fault trap  A type of trap which is caused by the movement of rocks along a “fault line”.  The rock has generally moved near a layer of impermeable rock.  Impermeable layer blocks hydrocarbons from moving from the reservoir to the surface.

Anticline trap A type of hydrocarbon trap whose closure is controlled by the presence of an anticline.

Salt dome trap A type of trap made by a salt dome. This is a “mushroom-shaped made of salt, commonly having an overlying cap rock.

continued… 11 Limestone Reef Trap A stratigraphic trap collects oil due to changes of rock rather than faulting or folding of the rock This is the case with a limestone reef trap

5.4.3 Drilling in the High Arctic Drilling in the Arctic has several issues. 1. Exploration for oil is expensive. 2. Extraction damages the environment. 3. Extraction and shipping can be expensive. To extract oil in an acceptable companies use 1. Pipelines 2. Directional Drilling “License to Drill”License to Drill

5.4.4 Oil Drilling Platforms There are four types of offshore drilling platforms. Submersible (Platform) Jack-up Anchored semi-submersible Dynamically positioned semi-submersible See Page 223 in your text.

Offshore Drilling Platforms Submersible (Platform): Built of concrete or steel. Anchored to the seabed. Economically feasible in water up to 520m deep.

Offshore Drilling Platforms Submersible: Advantages: Stability Safety Tend to be massive with room for Production, crew quarters, and drilling. Disadvantages: Expensive Not reusable

Offshore Drilling Platforms Jack Up: Designed to move from place to place Deploys legs to anchor itself Used at relatively low water levels

Oil Drilling Platforms Jack Up: Advantages: Moveable Economically Feasible Reusable Disadvantages: Cannot operate in deep water like other platforms

Oil Drilling Platforms Dynamically Positioned Semi-Submersible: Have pontoons that allow for the rig to float. But are heavy enough to keep the rig floating upright Uses thrusters to remain in position Effective in areas where water is between 180m and 1800m deep

Oil Drilling Platforms

Dynamically Positioned Semi-Submersible: Advantages: Moveable Can be used in deep water Disadvantages: Bad weather often causes problems Unsafe? Ocean Ranger

Oil Drilling Platforms Anchored Semi-Submersible: Usually towed into a particular location Legs filled to a point with water for stability Anchored to the sea floor so that it does not move out of place

Oil Drilling Platform Anchored Drilling Platform: Advantages: Operate in deep sea Cost effective Has some space for crew and production but not as big as platform Disadvantages: Not as easily moved

Gravity Based Structure (GBS) 23

Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) 24

Economic Benefits of Oil A story close to home million barrels in 2007 Terra-Nova, White Rose, Hibernia Total value of production $10.3 billion Creates Jobs in many fields Not only those directly involved with pumping oil.

Jobs Fields Related to Oil Industry Coatings, insulation Hydraulic, pumps and compressors Lifting/crane operations Rigging Fluids and chemicals Lighting Marine safety equipment Flowlines, valves and fittings Oilfield industrial supplies Equipment rentals Cargo and Freight Handling Catering and accommodations Offshore/marine fabrication Engineering and design consultants Environmental consultants Medical services Seismic and survey Tubular goods Leak detection Electrical/instrumentation personnel & services Testing and inspection Remote Operated Vehicle support Health and safety Drilling Well services Subsea Opt., maint. & const. personnel Warehousing and logistics Marine logistics & transportation Oil shipment & storage Oil Companies Sub-Contractors Contractors