Tar Sands
Major countries
Canada
United States
Russia
Middle East
Venezuela
Saudi Arabia
Markets for Oil from Tar Sands
Bitumen
from tar sands produced in Utah would be refined in PADD IV.
PADD IV
refining capacity (600 M Bbl/d, projected to double by 2025) could fully absorb
potential Utah syncrude production if expanded.
Refineries
in the region now process 555 M Bbl/d of crude; 260 M Bbl/d from Canada.
Utah
tar sands must compete with Alberta syncrude for market share on a $/bbl basis
Tar Sands Environmental Data
Emissions
Bitumen
and syncrude manufacture produces a slate of gases that includes carbon
dioxide, sulfurdioxide, and nitrous oxides.
Technology
is available to control and reduce emissions. Scrubbers on coking units can
reduce sulfur emission to acceptable levels, given the bitumen is low in sulfur
(~0.6 %) to begin with.
Land
Disturbance
The
area of disturbance depends on mining versus in-situ processing. A 50 M Bbl/d
surface operation would require 10,000 acres. Land can later be reclaimed with
cleanup and rejuvenation efforts.
Water
Impacts
Depending
on the process, a large volume of water may be needed to extract and process
tar sands and bitumen, albeit because of favorable mineral composition, less
than the 3 bbl/bbl current used in Alberta.
Use of
substantial volumes of water could affect regional water supplies.
The
release of treated water, could affect the regional water quality and supply.
Apex bodies
The Canadian
Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)
Suite 2100, 350 7th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2P 3N9
P: 403.267.1100
The Oil Sands Developers
Group
Mailing address:
613A -
Tel: (780) 790-1999
Canadian
Heavy Oil Association
Phone:
403-269-1755
Fax : 403-453-0179
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