Alberta Oil Sands

Question 1

What is the composition of the Alberta Oil Sands?

Answer 1

10% Bitumen
5% Water
85% Solids (mostly coarse silica sand)

Question 2

What is Bitumen?

Answer 2

• dense, viscous form of crude oil found in oil sands (too thick to flow naturally, almost solid at room temp)
• has a high [] of nitrogen, sulfur and heavy metals

Question 3

What are two ways to extract bitumen from oil sands?

Answer 3

1. Mine the entire deposit and gravity separate the bitumen
2. Extract the bitumen in-place (in-situ) using steam without disturbing the land
   (technique depends on depth of deposit)

Question 4

What is the correct sequence of Oil Sand Proessing?

Answer 4

1. Extraction of the bitumen from oil sands
2. Upgrading of heavy bitumen to synthetic crude oil
3. High conversion refining synthetic crude oil
4. Final Refining: produces fuels and other end products