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Resource Technology As of December, 2012, Alberta bitumen reserves under active development (mainly by surface mining, compare cumulative production in Tables 3 and 4) accounted for only 4.8% of the remaining established reserves of 169 billion BBLs (2.68 billion m3) since commercial production began in 1967 (Table 4) (ERCB 2012). In 2011, in situ production from all three oil sand areas in Alberta grew by 12.7%, com- pared with a 4.1% increase in production for mined bitumen. If this present rate of production growth is maintained, it is expected that in situ production will overtake mined production by 2015 (ERCB 2012). Unlocking the huge potential of the remaining bitumen resources in Alberta will require enhancing other in situ technologies. The most commonly used in situ technologies are SAGD and CSS. SAGD and CSS utilize considerable energy and water to pro- duce steam; good permeability (both vertical and horizontal), relatively thick pay zones (>10 m; 32.8 ft), and an absence of barriers (cemented zones, thick laterally continuous shales) and the lack of significant top/gas, top/lean, or bottom water thief zones are also required. Generally, the cross-bedded sands of lower point bar depositional environments are characterized by vertical permeability ranging from 2 to 6 D. Associated inclined heterolithic stratification from upper point bar deposits exhibits a 2–3 order of magnitude decrease in permeability, and siltstone in abandoned channel and point bar strata also exhibits a 2–3 order-of-magnitude de- crease in permeability (Strobl 2007, 2013; Strobl et al. 2011). Depositional heterogeneities at vertical and lateral scales influence bitumen recovery from in situ processes. A comprehensive, two-volume edition book entitled: ‘‘Handbook on theory and practice of bitu- men recovery from Athabasca oil sands’’ (Masliyah et al. 2011) focuses on the extraction of bitumen from oil sands mainly using surface mining methods, and also includes a chapter on in situ processes. Volume I covers the basic scientific principles of bitumen recovery, froth treatment, diluents recovery, and tailings disposal; Volume II is devoted to industrial practices (editor, Jan Czarnecki, at jc7@ualberta.ca). Some of the focus of recent in situ technology and advances includes: Integration of future oil sands technology with that of emerging oil shale coproduction in the western U.S. New developments concerning in situ recov- ery and underground refining technologies for oil sands in western Canada include underground combustion and refining. Use of CHOPS as a specialized primary type of production where progressive cavity pumps assist in lifting bitumen and sand to the surface, and utilize this sand production to create wormholes in the strata to increase permeabil- ity in the reservoir. Liberatore et al. (1912) examined alternative seismic methods for in situ monitoring of CHOPS heavy oil recov- ery. Seismic modeling indicates that signature of wormholes developed during CHOPS pro- duction can be detected. Search for alternative sources of energy for steam production, including the use of nuclear energy in conjunction with in situ oil sands production plants (Peace River, Alberta). Further development and integration of technologies that include solvent co-injection, electromagnetic heating, wedge (in-fill) wells, in situ combustion, hot solvent gravity drainage, Supercritical partial oxidation, and various hybrid developments, including CO2 flooding (Rudy Strobl, Nov. 14, written com- munication). Critical technology needs include enhancing current methods and developing new more envi- ronmentally-friendly methods of extraction, pro- duction, and upgrading of oil sands. Emphasis of surface mining operations is on reclamation of tail- ings and consolidated tailings, and on re-vegetation of open-pit mine sites. In early February 2009, the ERCB issued Directive 074 that outlines new cleanup rules and harsh penalties for non-compli- ance regarding tailings ponds regulations for the oil sands areas. This directive resulted from the ERCB acknowledgment that, although operators invested heavily in improved tailings reduction strategies, targets set out in the original development applica- tions have not been met. Firm performance criteria are defined for reclaiming the tailings ponds, with performance inspections, and subsequent penalties due to neglect, omission, or commission. Most of the bitumen resources are extracted by in situ technologies (mainly thermal, such as SAGD and CSS). Since there is significant coproduction of green- house gases with bitumen production and upgrading, critical technology needs to involve research into: (1) alternative sources of heat for generation of steam (e.g., American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Energy Minerals DivisionPDF Image | Unconventional Energy Resources
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