Article: Overview of technical advances that encourage domestic US tar sand development Journal: International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology (IJOGCT) 2015 Vol.10 No.3 pp.233 - 249 Abstract: US domestic tar sand estimated resource exceeds 60 billion barrels (bbl). Production of this resource has been insignificant. Traditional petroleum production methods cannot be applied. Tar sand is highly viscous because over geologic time it was exposed to fluid pathways whereby the light ends could evaporate. The most easily accessible reservoirs are still available. The recent advances in oil/gas production technologies that have made other non-traditional resources capable of development have yet to be applied to tar sand development. Successful tar sand development would also displace some of the considerable imports of asphalt. There are two approaches to US domestic tar sand extraction: mining and subsequent surface processing, and in situ methods. Surface extraction falls into two categories: water or solvent extraction and pyrolytic techniques. In situ extraction attempts have focused on thermal methods [steam flood, electromagnetic radiation (EMR), etc.]. The desired end product determines the extraction method. [Received: December 10, 2013; Accepted: February 20, 2014] Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Overview of technical advances that encourage domestic US tar sand development

Authors: Thomas McLendon; Yee Soong; Sheila Hedges; Sinisha Jikich; William McLendon

Addresses: US DOE/NETL, 626 Cochran's Mill Rd., Pittsburgh PA 15236, USA ' US DOE/NETL, 626 Cochran's Mill Rd., Pittsburgh PA 15236, USA ' US DOE/NETL, 626 Cochran's Mill Rd., Pittsburgh PA 15236, USA ' US DOE/NETL, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., Morgantown WV 26507, USA ' American Power Group, 260 Circle S Ranch, Dawson PA 15428, USA

Abstract: US domestic tar sand estimated resource exceeds 60 billion barrels (bbl). Production of this resource has been insignificant. Traditional petroleum production methods cannot be applied. Tar sand is highly viscous because over geologic time it was exposed to fluid pathways whereby the light ends could evaporate. The most easily accessible reservoirs are still available. The recent advances in oil/gas production technologies that have made other non-traditional resources capable of development have yet to be applied to tar sand development. Successful tar sand development would also displace some of the considerable imports of asphalt. There are two approaches to US domestic tar sand extraction: mining and subsequent surface processing, and in situ methods. Surface extraction falls into two categories: water or solvent extraction and pyrolytic techniques. In situ extraction attempts have focused on thermal methods [steam flood, electromagnetic radiation (EMR), etc.]. The desired end product determines the extraction method. [Received: December 10, 2013; Accepted: February 20, 2014]

Keywords: tar sand development; oil sand; heavy oil; thermal EOR; enhanced oil recovery; surfactants; electromagnetic radiation; EMR; USA; United States; asphalt; steam flood; tar sand extraction; mining; surface processing; surface extraction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2015.071505

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2015 Vol.10 No.3, pp.233 - 249

Received: 11 Dec 2013
Accepted: 20 Feb 2014
Published online: 31 Aug 2015 *

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Title: Overview of technical advances that encourage domestic US tar sand development

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