article thumbnail

U Calgary study finds oil shale most energy intensive upgraded fuel followed by in-situ-produced bitumen from oil sands

Green Car Congress

A team at the University of Calgary (Canada) has compared the energy intensities and lifecycle GHG emissions of unconventional oils (oil sands and oil shale) alongside shale gas, coal, lignite, wood and conventional oil and gas. This is not the same as crude oil occurring naturally in shales, as in the Bakken.

Oil-Sands 150
article thumbnail

Understanding the variability of GHG life cycle studies of oil sands production

Green Car Congress

In a paper published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology , Stanford University assistant professor Adam Brandt reviews a number of recent life cycle assessment (LCA) studies calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oil sands extraction, upgrading, and refining pathways—the results of which vary considerably.

Oil-Sands 225
article thumbnail

Suncor Energy cancels Voyageur oil sands upgrader project; acquires Total’s stake

Green Car Congress

Suncor Energy is not proceeding with the Voyageur bitumen upgrader project in the Canadian oil sands. The oil market environment in the North America has changed significantly, Total notes. Since 2010, market conditions have changed significantly, challenging the economics of the Voyageur upgrader project.

Oil-Sands 225
article thumbnail

Alberta publishes report assessing non-combustion uses for bitumen, opens $2M call for projects

Green Car Congress

Following a 2017 report that identified potential products that could be made from Alberta oil sands bitumen, this new study identifies the top potential uses to help Alberta diversify its economy outside of conventional fuels and chemical feedstocks. Vanadium is contained within oil sands bitumen in significant quantities (200 ppmw).

Oil-Sands 199
article thumbnail

Rice University to Collaborate with nanoAlberta on Oil Sands Research

Green Car Congress

The collaboration will tackle issues surrounding the production of petrochemicals from Alberta’s oil sands. Adams noted America is the biggest market for Canadian oil. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology. Rick Perry and business leaders and visited Rice and the Smalley Institute. Wade Adams.

Oil-Sands 199
article thumbnail

Building materials recycler switches fleet to Neste renewable diesel

Green Car Congress

Since forming in 2013, Argent Materials, a San Francisco Bay Area recycler of concrete and asphalt, and supplier of aggregate such as crushed rock, entry, cutback, sand, backfill and base rock for construction projects, has diverted more than a billion pounds of waste from local landfills. —Bill Crotinger.

Renewable 448
article thumbnail

Study finds plausibly high volumes of Canadian oil sands crudes in US refineries in 2025 would lead to modest increases in refinery CO2 emissions

Green Car Congress

An analysis of the US refining sector, based on linear programming (LP) modeling, finds that refining plausibly high volumes of Canadian oil sands crudes in US refineries in 2025 would lead to a modest increase in refinery CO 2 emissions (ranging between 5.4% to 9.3%) from a 2010 baseline, depending upon the supply scenario.

Oil-Sands 247