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Extracting petroleum from tar sands is much more complex than the traditional way of recovering oil. There are two processes that have to be completed to extract the bitumen (the desired oil) from the tar sands: extraction and separation. After extraction, the bitumen has to be upgraded before it is refined. Finally, because bitumen is so thick it has to be diluted by hydrocarbons for it to be transported by pipelines. Open pit mining is one technique for which tar sands, near the surface, can be recovered. Large electrical or hydraulic shovels are used to dig up the tar sands and then dumped into a truck that carries it to an extraction plant. In this plant, the sands are placed in a hot water process which separates, in the separation cells, the elements of the tar sands. First, hot water is mixed with the sand and then piped into the extraction place where it is agitated. This agitation along with the hot water causes the bitumen in the tar sand to stick to the tiny air bubbles and floats to the top of the separation vessels. The bitumen is then skimmed off of the air bubbles and processed until the water (and/or any other solids) is removed. This bitumen is then to be upgraded and refined into synthetic crude oil. For tar sand deposits that are buried deep below the surface, the in-situ production methods is used to recover it. Techniques used to recover deeply buried oil sands include steam injection, firefloods and solvent injection. Steam injection is the most favoured method. These methods, however, requires a lot of water and energy.
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Why are the tar sands a valuable resource?
The Canadian Tar Sands in the Athabaska Valley of Northern Alberta are the world's largest deposit of a heavy oil called bitumen. That's the stuff that is used in asphalt on our major highways and byways. This form of oil is much more expensive to extract from the earth but, as the price of crude oil increases with the diminishing supply of world reserves, the tar sands deposits become increasingly more important as a source of energy. If we could stop using oil altogether, then the tar sands would no longer be important to our lifestyle.
Why could tar sands and oil shale become important energy resources in the near future?
They could supply fuels that now come from petroleum
Are tar sands and oil shale a good long-term energy solution?
No, they are non renewable sources, more difficult to extract than oil or coal and themselves will eventually run out.
What is an example of an environmental cost of tar sands extraction?
Habitat loss
Is oil sands a non renewable resource?
yes it is non renewable since the field itself consists of Tar which is a fossil fuel and thus being non renewable
What type of resources does tar sands come from?
Tar sands or oil sands are consist of clay, sand, water, and bitumen. Its bitumen content is extracted and separated to purify it into oil.
Would plants die in tar sands?
Tar sands, also known as oil sands or bituminous sands, consist of clay, sand, water and a form of petroleum known as bitreum. Wheatgrass is one plant which will grow in tar sands.
Where is tar sands produced?
Tar sands, also known as oil sands, are primarily produced in Canada, with the largest reserves located in the province of Alberta. Other countries, such as Venezuela and the United States, also have smaller deposits of tar sands.
Why might we have to start using tar sands instead of normal oil?
There are larger known US supplies of tar sands than petroleum.
What has the author Frederick W Camp written?
Frederick W. Camp has written: 'The Tar sands of Alberta' -- subject(s): Oil sands 'The tar sands of Alberta, Canada'
What are bituminous sands?
Bituminous sands are oil sands , tar sands and more tecnically they're an unconventional petroleum deposit . I hope I hlped you!!
Why are the tar sands a valuable resource?
The Canadian Tar Sands in the Athabaska Valley of Northern Alberta are the world's largest deposit of a heavy oil called bitumen. That's the stuff that is used in asphalt on our major highways and byways. This form of oil is much more expensive to extract from the earth but, as the price of crude oil increases with the diminishing supply of world reserves, the tar sands deposits become increasingly more important as a source of energy. If we could stop using oil altogether, then the tar sands would no longer be important to our lifestyle.
Why do we need tar sands?
Tar sands are needed for their potential to produce oil, which can be refined and used in various applications such as transportation fuels and petrochemical products. However, the extraction and processing of tar sands can have significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions and habitat destruction. Alternative energy sources and technologies are being developed to reduce the reliance on tar sands and other fossil fuels.
What is the difference between oil sands and tar sands?
they are both the same. i dont think there is a difference because in wikipedia they have the same page for both.
What are the Athabasca Tar Sands?
The Athabasca Tar Sands, also known as the Athabasca oil sands, are deposits of bitumen in Alberta, Canada. They are a major source of unconventional oil production but are controversial due to environmental concerns surrounding their extraction process, which is energy-intensive and produces high levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
Why don't you use Tar Sands from Canada instead of Middle Eastern Oil?
Canadian tar sands are being used as an energy source, but it is a lot harder, and thus more expensive, to derive oil from the tar sands than to drill it direct from the ground. At the current price of oil, however, it make economic sense to do so. The Canadian Oil Sands are the largest deposit of recoverable oil in the western hemisphere but oil needs to be above $60 a barrel for it to be economically feasible. With oil prices only being above the $60 a barrel for the last 2 years or so, companies are only now moving into develop the sands. Unfortunately, the oil discovery and extraction process for the sands is a slow capital intensive process that will require more time to be fully be online. For a look at who is developing the oil sands, you might look at http://www.canadianoilsand.org. They have a number of articles on the oil sands.
What are some energy sources is nonrenewable?
coal, natural gas, oil, oil shale and tar sands, nuclear power
