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U.S. Department of Energy
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Oil sand hydrotransport tests at Syncrude Canada Ltd.

Conference ·
OSTI ID:45131
In the Athabasca region of Northern Alberta there are major deposits of oil sands. Two large scale commercial plants are involved in mining oil sands and production of synthetic crude oil. Suncor (previously Great Canadian Oil Sands or GCOS) has been in operation since 1968 and currently produces over 25 M barrels of oil per year. Syncrude Canada Ltd. plant started operation in 1978 and currently produces over 65 M barrels (10.4 {times} 10{sup 3} m{sup 3}) of light sweet synthetic crude oil per year. Together the two operations provide 16 % of Canada`s oil output The plant located 50 km north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, is a joint venture of 9 participants. The oil sand typically contains 9 to 12 % bitumen, up to 30 % clay and 5 % water. The remainder is silica sand, finer than 150 {mu}m. Properties of oil sand are described in detail by Nonth, Ruhl and Tissot. The bulk of the plant feed is in the form of lumps ranging in size from several mm to 10 cm. It also includes lenses of soft clays and large rocks. The material is difficult to handle; sticky in summer and hard in winter. It requires special materials and design considerations for belt conveyors, transfer points, feeders etc..
OSTI ID:
45131
Report Number(s):
CONF-930413--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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