FOSSIL FUELS IV Tar Sand and Oil Shale

Tar Sands (Oil Sands) Tar sands are simply sands that contains a hydro carbon product called butumen. Tar sands are simply sands that contains a hydro carbon product called butumen. Bitumen is a viscous petroleum product Bitumen is a viscous petroleum product Must be treated by cracking or blending to convert it to crude oil before it can be used in refineries to produce gasoline and other fuels. Must be treated by cracking or blending to convert it to crude oil before it can be used in refineries to produce gasoline and other fuels. Bitumen is about % of the actual oil sands found in Alberta. Bitumen is about % of the actual oil sands found in Alberta.

Oil Sand occurs in more than 70 countries. Oil Sand occurs in more than 70 countries. The two largest deposits are Canada and Venezuela, with the bulk being found in four different regions of Alberta. The two largest deposits are Canada and Venezuela, with the bulk being found in four different regions of Alberta. Alberta’s reserves that are deemed to be technologically retrievable today is estimated at Gb (billion barrels). Alberta’s reserves that are deemed to be technologically retrievable today is estimated at Gb (billion barrels). This comparable to Saudi Arabia. This comparable to Saudi Arabia.

Canadian Oil Sands

Oil sands are unconsolidated sandstone deposits, containing bitumen or heavy crude oil Oil sands are unconsolidated sandstone deposits, containing bitumen or heavy crude oil Bitumen is a viscous or semi-solid form of petroleum Bitumen is a viscous or semi-solid form of petroleum The sand is mined or recovered by steam injection The sand is mined or recovered by steam injection Refined by cracking or blending, then processed in conventional refinery Refined by cracking or blending, then processed in conventional refinery

Surface Tar Sand Deposit

Deep Tar Sand Extraction

Potential (Actual) Problems Tar sand extraction is results in gasoline estimated to have a burden of "at least five times more carbon dioxide" than conventional "sweet crude" oil production. Tar sand extraction is results in gasoline estimated to have a burden of "at least five times more carbon dioxide" than conventional "sweet crude" oil production. A problem under Kyoto protocol. A problem under Kyoto protocol. Large amounts of land need to be reclaimed after production ends. Large amounts of land need to be reclaimed after production ends. Large amount of water used/lost Large amount of water used/lost r2zbWc r2zbWc r2zbWc r2zbWc

Should the use of tar sands be encouraged? 1. Yes 2. No

Oil Shale Oil shale is a combination of the rock shale (very fine grained) and the solid petroleum product kerogen Oil shale is a combination of the rock shale (very fine grained) and the solid petroleum product kerogen When kerogen is heated to 800  F it breaks down into a liquid similar to crude oil. When kerogen is heated to 800  F it breaks down into a liquid similar to crude oil. Total world resources of oil shale are conservatively estimated at 2.6 trillion barrels. (unproven reserves) Total world resources of oil shale are conservatively estimated at 2.6 trillion barrels. (unproven reserves)

Good shale produces gallons (0.6 barrels) of shale oil per ton of rock processed. Good shale produces gallons (0.6 barrels) of shale oil per ton of rock processed. Even modest production requires processing a lot of rock. Even modest production requires processing a lot of rock. Estimates of 500-1,000 billion barrels in US alone. (Way more than Saudi Arabia. Estimates of 500-1,000 billion barrels in US alone. (Way more than Saudi Arabia.

Oil Shale Reserves in US

US Average Rainfall

Production requires a lot of people and water. Both are rare in the regions of the deposits. Production requires a lot of people and water. Both are rare in the regions of the deposits. What do you do with the left over rocks? What do you do with the left over rocks? Oi Shale Video Oi Shale Video Oi Shale Video Oi Shale Video

Should we develop the oil shale deposits in the US? 1. Yes 2. No