OIL SUPPLY 237
The development of such programs will reduce the consumption
of traditional petroleum sources as well as affect the timing of peak
oil and the shape of the Hubbert curve.
8.6 The Impact of Heavy Oil and Tar Sand
Bitumen
Tar sand, called oil sand in Canada, is a deposit of sand containing bitumen that is so viscous it will not flow and is immobile in
the deposit unless heated (Chapter 2). As described elsewhere
(Chapter 1), the definition of tar sand bitumen is derived from the
definition of tar sand that has been defined by the United States
government (FE-76-4):
[Tar sands]...the several rock types that contain an extremely
viscous hydrocarbon which is not recoverable in its natural
state by conventional oil well production methods including currently used enhanced recovery techniques. The
hydrocarbon-bearing rocks are variously known as bitumenrocks oil, impregnated rocks, oil sands, and rock asphalt.
By inference, heavy oil is a resource that can be recovered in its
natural state by conventional oil well production methods, including currently used enhanced recovery techniques. Under this definition, the Cold Lake oil being covered by cyclic steam stimulation
(one of the methods enumerated in the US Congressional Record
would not be classified as tar sand bitumen but as heavy oil. While
most conventional crude oil flows naturally or is pumped from the
ground, tar sand bitumen must be recovered by mining or recovered in-situ before being converted into an upgraded crude oil
that can be used by refineries to produce gasoline and diesel fuels.
Alberta, Canada, contains at least 85% of the world's proven oil
sands reserves. In the United States, tar sand deposits are located in
Alabama, Alaska, California, Texas, and Utah.
Heavy oils are dense, viscous oils that generally require advanced
production technologies, such as enhanced oil recovery, and substantial processing to be converted into petroleum products. Heavy
oils differ in their viscosities and other physical properties, but
advanced recovery techniques, such as enhanced oil recovery, are
required for both types of oil.
The development of such programs will reduce the consumption
of traditional petroleum sources as well as affect the timing of peak
oil and the shape of the Hubbert curve.
8.6 The Impact of Heavy Oil and Tar Sand
Bitumen
Tar sand, called oil sand in Canada, is a deposit of sand containing bitumen that is so viscous it will not flow and is immobile in
the deposit unless heated (Chapter 2). As described elsewhere
(Chapter 1), the definition of tar sand bitumen is derived from the
definition of tar sand that has been defined by the United States
government (FE-76-4):
[Tar sands]...the several rock types that contain an extremely
viscous hydrocarbon which is not recoverable in its natural
state by conventional oil well production methods including currently used enhanced recovery techniques. The
hydrocarbon-bearing rocks are variously known as bitumenrocks oil, impregnated rocks, oil sands, and rock asphalt.
By inference, heavy oil is a resource that can be recovered in its
natural state by conventional oil well production methods, including currently used enhanced recovery techniques. Under this definition, the Cold Lake oil being covered by cyclic steam stimulation
(one of the methods enumerated in the US Congressional Record
would not be classified as tar sand bitumen but as heavy oil. While
most conventional crude oil flows naturally or is pumped from the
ground, tar sand bitumen must be recovered by mining or recovered in-situ before being converted into an upgraded crude oil
that can be used by refineries to produce gasoline and diesel fuels.
Alberta, Canada, contains at least 85% of the world's proven oil
sands reserves. In the United States, tar sand deposits are located in
Alabama, Alaska, California, Texas, and Utah.
Heavy oils are dense, viscous oils that generally require advanced
production technologies, such as enhanced oil recovery, and substantial processing to be converted into petroleum products. Heavy
oils differ in their viscosities and other physical properties, but
advanced recovery techniques, such as enhanced oil recovery, are
required for both types of oil.