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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Special report: Athabasca tar sands

Journal Article · · Oil Gas J.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6160484
A synthetic crude oil is being produced from the Athabasca oil sands region of northeastern Alberta. The Athabasca operations are broken down into 3 divisions: mining, extraction of oil from the sand, and pipelining to market. The entire project, operated by Great Canadian Oil Sands, Ltd., an affiliate of Sun Oil Co., is self-sufficient except for the water supply. By- products of the upgrading operation supply all of the energy requirements. The hydrotreaters used for desulfurizing the crude operate at 1,500 psi. Six coking drums with 26-ft diameter are also used. The mining operation involves the unique use of 2 huge bucket-wheel excavators. A hot-water separation process used to extract the bitumen from the tar sands.
OSTI ID:
6160484
Journal Information:
Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 65:43; ISSN OIGJA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English