GEOL 1151 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Asphalt, Surface Mining, Directional Drilling
Document Summary
Dewater the mining area and depressurize the basal aquifers. Backfill the mined-out pit with tailings, waste. Relies on correct well placement and successful propagation of steam. Begin by injecting high pressure steam into reservoir though single well for several weeks. Steam chamber grow and heats heavy oil = less viscous. High pressure team injected into top of well. Hot steam heats surrounding bitumen = liquefies and flows. Higher production rate than css but depends on geology. Large local drawdown at en =d of channels. Tailings ponds impact = mix of contaminants. Climate impacts = high greenhouse gas emissions. Water impacts = high water usage/potential contamination. Air quality impact = greenhouse gases/other pollutants [nox/sox] Reclamation = chemicals make this a challenge. Ratio of waste material to oil sands ore must be relatively low. One of the main drivers for econ recovery in us. Special bc its very fine grained = impermeable so gas and oil going through the holes are.
