Handbook on Theory and Practice on Bitumen Recovery from Athabasca Oil Sands (original) (raw)

History has shown how oil sands development has progressed by building on existing technology platforms. As such, this handbook is a consolidation of the current technological foundation. It is intended to be a living document that is updated and augmented over time with ongoing technological and operational advancements. It is meant to engage the minds of professors, students, researchers, engineers, and technical operating staff. It will provide them with the technology foundation that will serve as the springboard for the future enhancements required for the sustainable development of our vast oil sands resource. It is their bright ideas and innovations that will be so vitally important if we, as Canadians, are to realize the huge socio-economic potential of this strategic global resource. The lead authors and the many others who have contributed to this handbook deserve our gratitude. It is a monumental undertaking that will have immediate application and impact. Dr. Eric P. Newell, O.C., AOE, FCAE, P.Eng Canada's crude bitumen resource is present mainly in the northeastern part of the province of Alberta, within three core oil sands areas (OSAs): Athabasca Wabiskaw-McMurray, Cold Lake Clearwater, and Peace River Bluesky-Gething (Figure .1). Together, these three OSAs occupy an area of approximately 142 000 km 2 (Energy Resources Conservation Board [ERCB] 2009, p. 2-4). The Athabasca Wabiskaw-McMurray OSA, known commonly as the Athabasca oil sands, is the largest of the three oil sands areas in Alberta. Other crude bitumen reserves are present within the Devonian and Mississippian carbonate deposits that unconformably underlie the Athabasca and Peace River unconsolidated sands. The deposits at Peace River, referred to as carbonate bitumen deposits, have not been commercially produced. Within the three OSAs, there are 15 separate oil sands deposits across different geological zones . Figure .2 shows the locations of bitumen-in-clastic sands and bitumen-in-carbonate rocks that form the main deposits in Alberta. Collectively, Alberta's oil sands contain one of the largest known hydrocarbon deposits in the world. With initial established reserves estimated at 28.092 10 9 m 3 (176.7 billion bbl), 4 the province was ranked second in the world in terms of oil reserves, after Saudi Arabia (Radler 2003). Conversion to barrels is rounded off in agreement to cited references. One cubic metre is equivalent to 6.29 barrels. A barrel is 42 US gallons. Cold Lake W a b is k a w -M c M u r ra y D e p o s it Fort McMurray At ha ba sc a Pe ac e Ri ve r B lu e s k y -G e t h in g D e p o s it C le a rw a te r D e p o s it