Remove 2013 Remove Oil-Sands Remove Transportation Remove Water
article thumbnail

Univ. of Calgary team developing nanocatalysts for underground upgrading of heavy oil and bitumen; possible “next generation” of oil sands production

Green Car Congress

Researchers at the University of Calgary are developing ultra-dispersed (UD) nanocatalysts for the in situ upgrading of heavy oil and bitumen from deep reservoirs. One of the challenges of such an approach is the placement of the catalyst deep into the heavy oil plume by transporting a catalyst suspension through the sand medium.

Oil-Sands 358
article thumbnail

NRC report finds transporting diluted oil sands bitumen through pipelines does not increase likelihood of release

Green Car Congress

Diluted bitumen has no greater likelihood of accidental pipeline release than other crude oils, according to a new report from the National Research Council (NRC). The NRC committee was not asked to address whether the consequences of a diluted bitumen release differ from those of other crude oils. Earlier post.).

Oil-Sands 186
article thumbnail

Consortium completes successful test of new oil sands recovery process using electromagnetic heating technology

Green Car Congress

A technology and energy production consortium has successfully completed initial proof-of-concept testing of a novel oil sands extraction method that has the potential to improve environmental performance and reduce development costs. The consortium of Laricina Energy, Nexen Inc., Approximately 1.6

Oil-Sands 231
article thumbnail

Joint Canada/Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring begins summer air monitoring project

Green Car Congress

A comprehensive environmental field study to gather information on air contaminants in the Wood Buffalo region in northeast Alberta, Canada (home to major oil sands projects) will occur from 12 August to mid-September 2013. Evaluate high-resolution air quality models for use in the oil sands region. Earlier post.).

Oil-Sands 199
article thumbnail

Sustainable Development Canada Awards C$6M to Project to Reduce Water and Energy Consumption for Oil Sands Processing; Three Other Projects Supported to Reduce Energy and Environmental Impact of Oil Sands

Green Car Congress

SOLVE adds a solvent to the steam in SAGD (basic operation depicted above) to reduce energy input and water consumption. The production well extracts the bitumen to surface heavy oil production facilities. SAGD is the predominant in-situ recovery method currently used in Canada’s oil sands. Source: StatoilHydro.

Oil-Sands 218
article thumbnail

First production from Imperial’s Kearl oil sands project; “about the same” lifecycle GHGs as average of crudes consumed in US

Green Car Congress

Imperial Oil Limited has begun the initial development of the Kearl oil sands project ( earlier post ), which incorporates technology innovations to enhance environmental performance. Kearl will be the first oil sands mining operation that does not require an upgrader to make a saleable crude oil.

Oil-Sands 231
article thumbnail

Shell moves ahead with 80,000 barrel per day Carmon Creek oil sands project

Green Car Congress

Royal Dutch Shell plc will proceed with its Carmon Creek project in Alberta, Canada, expected to produce up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day. Once the project is up and running the aim is to virtually eliminate the need for freshwater use for steam generation through recycling of water produced with the oil.

Oil-Sands 231