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Title: Geology of the Athabasca oil sands

Abstract

In-place bitumen resources in the Alberta oil sands are estimated at 1350 billion barrels. Open-pit mining and hot water extraction methods, which involve the handling of huge tonnages of earth materials, are being employed in the two commercial plants now operating. In situ recovery methods will be required to tap the 90% of reserves that are too deeply buried to be surface mined. Development of in situ technologies will be painstaking and expensive, and success will hinge on their compatibility with extremely complex geological conditions in the subsurface. 10 figures.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Alberta Research Council, Edmonton
OSTI Identifier:
5441584
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Science; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 207
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS; ATHABASCA DEPOSIT; GEOLOGY; BITUMENS; ECONOMICS; HOT-WATER PROCESSES; IN-SITU PROCESSING; OIL SAND DEPOSITS; RESERVES; SURFACE MINING; FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES; GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS; MINING; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PROCESSING; RESOURCES; TAR; 040201* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Site Geology- (-1989); 040300 - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Drilling, Fracturing & Mining

Citation Formats

Mossop, G D. Geology of the Athabasca oil sands. United States: N. p., 1980. Web. doi:10.1126/science.207.4427.145.
Mossop, G D. Geology of the Athabasca oil sands. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.207.4427.145
Mossop, G D. 1980. "Geology of the Athabasca oil sands". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.207.4427.145.
@article{osti_5441584,
title = {Geology of the Athabasca oil sands},
author = {Mossop, G D},
abstractNote = {In-place bitumen resources in the Alberta oil sands are estimated at 1350 billion barrels. Open-pit mining and hot water extraction methods, which involve the handling of huge tonnages of earth materials, are being employed in the two commercial plants now operating. In situ recovery methods will be required to tap the 90% of reserves that are too deeply buried to be surface mined. Development of in situ technologies will be painstaking and expensive, and success will hinge on their compatibility with extremely complex geological conditions in the subsurface. 10 figures.},
doi = {10.1126/science.207.4427.145},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5441584}, journal = {Science; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 207,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 11 00:00:00 EST 1980},
month = {Fri Jan 11 00:00:00 EST 1980}
}