Borehole mining oil sands is compatible with environment

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Bur. Mines Technol. News; (United States)

OSTI ID:6328122

The US Bureau of Mines borehole mining system for oil sands is discussed. The object of the program was to develop an environmentally feasible method of mining shallow oil sands without removing the overburden. The method entails extracting oil sands through a single borehole by cutting into the sands around the borehole with a high pressure water jet, and pumping the resulting slurry to the surface. The system was successfully field tested at a site in the Midway-Sunset Oil Field near Taft, in Kern County, California. During the two-month period during and following mining operations, no significant ground surface subsidence of ground water pollution was detected. (JMT)

• OSTI ID: 6328122
• Journal Information: Bur. Mines Technol. News; (United States), Journal Name: Bur. Mines Technol. News; (United States) Vol. 97; ISSN TNBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040300* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Drilling
Fracturing & Mining
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BOREHOLES
CALIFORNIA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MINING
MINING EQUIPMENT
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SANDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
USA
WATER
WESTERN REGION