Surface mining uses truck and shovel technology to move sand saturated with bitumen from the mining area to an extraction facility. Surface mining is used to recover oil sands deposits less than 75 metres below the surface, while in-situ technologies are used to recover deeper deposits.
How big are the heavy hauler trucks used in an oil sands operation?
Giant shovels dig the oil sand and place it into heavy hauler trucks that range in size from 240 ton to the largest trucks, which have a 400-ton capacity.
What replaced draglines?
TRANSITION TO TRUCK-AND-SHOVEL MINING By the early 1990s, draglines and bucketwheels were replaced by cheaper and more efficient trucks and shovels. This transition was credited to have saved the oil sands mining industry, bringing operating costs down to a more reasonable price per barrel.
How is sand extracted?
Sand mining took off only decades ago. The method of extraction depends on where the sand is located. On land or along rivers, it is often dug up with backhoes, shovels or bare hands. Along coastlines, miners use dredging boats or suction pumps.
What is truck and shovel mining?
The terms ‘truck and shovel’, ‘shovel-truck-‘ or ‘truck-shovel’ refers to a load-haul-dump mining. system, involving any combination of loading units and trucks (Figure 1). Truck and shovel operations. generally involve high costs.
Where is oil found in Alberta?
The Athabasca oil sands, also known as the Athabasca tar sands, are large deposits of bitumen or extremely heavy crude oil, located in northeastern Alberta, Canada – roughly centred on the boomtown of Fort McMurray.
Why was Big Muskie scrapped?
Increased EPA scrutiny and a rapid drop in demand for high sulfur coal following the passage of the 1977 Clean Air Act, coupled with regular yearly increases in electricity costs and continued public opposition to strip mining operations in Ohio, eventually made Big Muskie unprofitable to operate, and it was removed …
Can tar sands make gasoline?
Tar sands (also known as oil sands) are a mixture of mostly sand, clay, water, and a thick, molasses-like substance called bitumen. Bitumen is made of hydrocarbons—the same molecules in liquid oil—and is used to produce gasoline and other petroleum products.
What are Alberta’s oil sands?
Alberta’s oil sands are among the world’s largest deposits of crude oil—in fact, there are more than 165 billion barrels of bitumen in the ground. But with big energy reserves come big responsibilities.
What type of mining equipment is used in the oil sands?
Learn more about mining equipment used in the oil sands. Originally, oil sands was mined and transported to the process plant using technology borrowed largely from the coal industry, specifically draglines, bucketwheels and mobile conveyors. Oil sands deposits were excavated by dragline and arranged in heaps along the sides of the mine.
Where can I find a map of approved oil sands projects?
For a map of approved oil sands projects in Alberta, visit the Government of Alberta’s website. Visit our Oil Sands Requirements page for a full list of our oil sands development regulations and requirements. For more general information, read our EnerFAQs Oil Sands.
Are Canada’s oil sands a sustainable way to produce oil?
These factors indicate that Canada’s oil sands in Alberta are far from being a responsible and climate-friendly way to produce oil. Rather, the oil sands have been extremely destructive to our environment. This is not just a problem for Canada. It affects the whole world.
