Oil sand deposits are found at three depths; shallow, intermediate, and deep. Shallow deposits are processed by surface mining while deep deposits are processed using thermal extraction methods. There are currently no production methods to extract oil sand at intermediate depths. The motivation for this research is to demonstrate the technical applicability of methods to access oil sand that is too shallow for thermal extraction methods and too deep for economical surface mining. This work consisted of developing a system concept as a method for accessing, fragmenting, and removing oil sand at intermediate depths. A technical analysis and a cost estimate were also performed. In addition, the applicability of a comparative methodology was demonstrated with case studies. A key gap in the understanding of how to implement the system concept is tooling design and power requirements for fragmenting oil sand and interburden; and so a set of laboratory experiments was conducted to investigate the power required to cut oil sand. Oil sand blocks were formed from oil sand samples for the experiments. These blocks underwent various tests to examine their characteristics. Tests included: shear testing, extraction testing, porosity measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. Lab-scale experiments were conducted in dry, wet, and frozen conditions in support of the fragmentation aspect of the system concept. Thermal imaging was used to qualitatively view temperature variation during the testing process and cutter wear was viewed using a digital microscope. Results were compared against a steady-state cutting model with recommendations for future work.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio State University. / Bibliography: leaves 62-64. Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

An understanding of the processes involved in oil spills, and how they interact to alter the composition and behavior of the oil with respect to time is essential to determine an effective oil spill response. The review of past research has shown more focus on the laboratory methods and computerized modeling schemes to estimate the formation and breaking of emulsions after an oil spill. However, relatively less effort has gone into the study of emulsions corresponding to actual field conditions. This research aims to simulate an oil spill at sea by developing a new technique to make water in oil emulsions, without disturbing the marine wildlife. Further, this research also attempts to analyze the viscosities of water in oil emulsions and determine appropriate emulsion breakers for different crude oil emulsions. The overall test design for the study includes a test apparatus for spreading and evaporation, three different crude oils, a mixing chamber to form the emulsion, and emulsion breakers. Experiments in this research attempt to gain a better understanding of the processes that occur after oil spills at sea. In particular, the rate of evaporation of different crude oils and the formation of crude oil emulsions on the sea surface have been investigated. It was observed that different crude oils behave differently when subjected to the same weathering procedure. Results indicate that the behavior of the crude oil on the sea surface, subjected to spreading, evaporation, and emulsification, can be predicted by using the new technique developed in this research. This technique can also assist the development of effective recovery equipments and materials.

This research is a study of the in-situ upgrading of Jobo crude oil using steam, tetralin or decalin, and catalyst (Fe(acac)₃) at temperatures of 250 °C, 275 °C and 300 °C for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours using an autoclave. Viscosity, API gravity and compositional changes were investigated. We found that tetralin and decalin alone were good solvents for heavy oil recovery. Tetralin or decalin at concentrations of 9% (weight basis) could reduce the Jobo crude oil viscosity measured at 50 °C by 44±2% and 39±3%. Steam alone had some upgrading effects. It could reduce the oil viscosity by 10% after 48 hours of contact at 300°C. Tetralin, decalin or catalyst showed some upgrading effects when used together with steam and caused 5.4±4%, 4±1% and 19±3% viscosity reduction compared with corresponding pre-upgrading mixture after 48 hours of reaction at 300°C. The combination of hydrogen donor tetralin or decalin and catalyst reduced the viscosity of the mixture the most, by 56±1% and 72±1% compared with pre-upgrading mixture. It meant that hydrogen donors and catalyst had strong synergetic effects on heavy oil upgrading. We also found that 300 °C was an effective temperature for heavy oil upgrading with obvious viscosity reduction in the presence of steam, hydrogen donors and catalyst. Reaction can be considered to have reached almost equilibrium condition after 48 hours. The GC-MS analysis of the gas component showed that light hydrocarbon gases and CO₂ were generated after reaction. The viscosity reduction from decalin use is larger than that of tetralin because decalin has more hydrogen atoms per molecule than tetralin. A mechanism of transferring H (hydrogen atom) from H₂O and hydrogen donors to heavy oil, which can lead to structure and composition changes in heavy oil, is explained. The study has demonstrated that in-situ heavy oil upgrading has great potential applications in heavy and extra heavy oil recovery.

During the year of 2008, the world has experienced historically high oil prices reaching an all time high of 147 USD per barrel in midsummer. The extreme volatility of what is consider the number one source of energy reopened discussions about energy sustainability and the plausible effects of an oil shock in the global economy.   How reliable oil price is as an economic variable predicting fluctuations in GDP growth remains controversial. Several models have been developed by scholars targeting different relations between oil price and GDP growth, from its effects on stock markets to its effect to unemployment. The authors extended the model of Mork & Olson (1994) since it focuses on the consequences that an oil shock effect on GDP growth. The model is extended from 1993 to the third quarter of the year 2008 in order to draw conclusions and test crude oil prices fluctuations affect GDP growth in the modern economy.   The U.S.A and Sweden were chosen to compare their GDP sensitiveness to oil price volatility. The reason is that the U.S.A remains as the largest economy and consumes 25% of the oil produced in the world and is the most oil dependent among developed countries according to the EIA. Sweden on the contrary energy efficient and consumes relatively less oil per capita than many developed countries, it is also believed to be one of the most progressive countries in developing and using renewable energy resources and therefore less sensitive. The bivariate results does not show a pattern of negative correlations for Sweden between GDP growth and real oil price increases, however the U.S.A showed to be more sensitive to oil price increases.

This paper explores the relative benefits of command and control, reflexive law and social licensing in ensuring oil industry compliance with environmentally sustainable practices and obligations. Recognizing why oil sands and their development are significant, the background and development are reviewed first, and then the focus is shifted to look at its economics including the benefits, uncertainties and environmental costs of development. This paper examines how lawmakers in Canada have failed to meet their respective obligation. Drawing on environmental provisions, case law and legal scholars’ articles, books and reports, this paper examines the very problematic issue of oil sands regulation. It proposes to provide an in depth analysis of each regulatory forms and their application to the oil sands. It concludes that in order to solve the oil sands regulation challenges, a collaborative stringent enforcement of regulation from both federal and provincial governments, oil industry and public Pressure is required.

This paper explores the relative benefits of command and control, reflexive law and social licensing in ensuring oil industry compliance with environmentally sustainable practices and obligations. Recognizing why oil sands and their development are significant, the background and development are reviewed first, and then the focus is shifted to look at its economics including the benefits, uncertainties and environmental costs of development. This paper examines how lawmakers in Canada have failed to meet their respective obligation. Drawing on environmental provisions, case law and legal scholars’ articles, books and reports, this paper examines the very problematic issue of oil sands regulation. It proposes to provide an in depth analysis of each regulatory forms and their application to the oil sands. It concludes that in order to solve the oil sands regulation challenges, a collaborative stringent enforcement of regulation from both federal and provincial governments, oil industry and public Pressure is required.

This study investigates the relationship between the oil industries of Canada and the United States in the years leading up to the 1973 oil crisis. Shortly after the Second World War it became apparent that American domestic production would not sustain that nation’s energy demands. As a result, an important energy relationship developed between Canada and the United States in the 1960s and early 1970s. The 1973 oil crisis represented a turning point in energy relations between Canada and the United States. Historically, through multinational oil company influence and the general reality of petroleum surpluses, Canadian oil policy was defined by its reliance on exporting oil to the United States. Exemptions to the American mandatory oil import quota system led to the excessive output of Canadian petroleum resources, which in conjunction with a legacy of overstated reserve estimates created Canadian energy shortages by 1973. In an effort to prevent the 1973 oil crisis from further hindering the Canadian petroleum industry, Canadian officials transitioned Canada’s oil policy towards the nationalistic strategy of self-sufficiency. The harsh reality of the oil embargo, elevated prices, and supply shortages that occurred as a result of the oil crisis placed an emphasis on the necessity of nations providing for their own energy needs. Canada’s embrace of the goal of self-sufficiency was thus viewed with a sense of legitimacy. The similar self-sufficiency goals of American policy limited the degree to which they could protest a policy that placed the United States in a disadvantaged position. Canada’s move towards a more self-sufficient oil policy represented the desire of the Canadian government and people to take greater control of their oil industry.

This study investigates the relationship between the oil industries of Canada and the United States in the years leading up to the 1973 oil crisis. Shortly after the Second World War it became apparent that American domestic production would not sustain that nation’s energy demands. As a result, an important energy relationship developed between Canada and the United States in the 1960s and early 1970s. The 1973 oil crisis represented a turning point in energy relations between Canada and the United States. Historically, through multinational oil company influence and the general reality of petroleum surpluses, Canadian oil policy was defined by its reliance on exporting oil to the United States. Exemptions to the American mandatory oil import quota system led to the excessive output of Canadian petroleum resources, which in conjunction with a legacy of overstated reserve estimates created Canadian energy shortages by 1973. In an effort to prevent the 1973 oil crisis from further hindering the Canadian petroleum industry, Canadian officials transitioned Canada’s oil policy towards the nationalistic strategy of self-sufficiency. The harsh reality of the oil embargo, elevated prices, and supply shortages that occurred as a result of the oil crisis placed an emphasis on the necessity of nations providing for their own energy needs. Canada’s embrace of the goal of self-sufficiency was thus viewed with a sense of legitimacy. The similar self-sufficiency goals of American policy limited the degree to which they could protest a policy that placed the United States in a disadvantaged position. Canada’s move towards a more self-sufficient oil policy represented the desire of the Canadian government and people to take greater control of their oil industry.