Geology of the Athabasca oil sands

Journal Article · Fri Jan 11 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.207.4427.145· OSTI ID:5441584

Mossop, G D

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.

• Research Organization: Alberta Research Council, Edmonton
• OSTI ID: 5441584
• Journal Information: Science; (United States), Vol. 207
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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