II international conference on heavy crude and tar sands. Summary report
The Second International Conference on Heavy Crude and Tar Sands clearly demonstrated that the world has abundant heavy and extra heavy crudes that will sustain the petroleum age for decades. Perhaps even more important for many developed and developing countries is that these resources are widely distributed throughout the world, for deposits are known to exist in at least forty-nine countries. Moreover, the rapid expansion over the last two and a half years of knowledge of the magnitude of these resources suggests there is much more to be added to the world's list of useful energy assets. The current ample supply of crude oil does not appear to have lessened the resolve to develop heavy crude and tar sands. Major industrial countries are eager to develop their heavy oil resources to free themselves from dependence on OPEC and the developing nations hope to reduce their cash outflows for imported oil which they can ill afford. Venezuela and Canada, which both have massive heavy crude reserves, are intent on developing their resources to supplement declining supplies of light oil. Despite the weakening international price of oil, the economics for many heavy crude ventures seem favorable. Statistics quoted at the conference suggest considerable heavy crude production can be brought on stream at costs approaching the finding costs of light conventional crude. At the same time, it has to be acknowledged that those large tar sands projects, like Alberta's multi-billion dollar ventures, are sufficiently marginal that they may be held back by current soft oil demand. This summary report covers the following areas: resources; international cooperation; production; environment; technological developments; upgrading and refining; marketing; and future of heavy crude oil and tar sands.
- Research Organization:
- United Nations, New York (USA). Inst. for Training and Research
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG01-81FE30005
- OSTI ID:
- 6842336
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/FE/30005-T1; ON: DE84008895
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Important for the Future, Vol. VII, Nos. 1 and 2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
OIL SANDS
MEETINGS
PETROLEUM
ENVIRONMENT
GLOBAL ASPECTS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
MARKETING
PRODUCTION
REFINING
RESOURCES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COOPERATION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
PROCESSING
020000* - Petroleum
040000 - Oil Shales & Tar Sands
294002 - Energy Planning & Policy- Petroleum
294003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Natural Gas