Articles tagged with Oil Sands
Researchers used foam-entrapped supercritical CO2 to prevent stored carbon from moving back to the surface. The approach shows promise for enhancing oil recovery and reducing CO2 migration.
Researchers at UBCO's School of Engineering have developed a new, faster method for analyzing toxic waste materials using fluorescence spectroscopy and convolutional neural networks. This method can detect key toxins such as naphthenic acids in oil sands samples, providing a low-cost alternative to current methods.
Research by McGill University scientists found that nanosized metal particles from the Athabasca oil sands accelerate ice nucleation, leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events. The pollution is also significantly higher near the oil sands than in a Canadian city.
Researchers have developed a method to extract hydrogen from oil sands, which can be used to power hydrogen-powered vehicles and generate electricity. The process is cheap, with costs estimated at around 10-50 cents per kilo, making it potentially more economically viable than current methods.
Recent studies have identified off-road diesel vehicles in oil sands production as a major contributor to regional levels of isocyanic acid pollution. Laboratory experiments show that these vehicles release up to 6 kilograms of the compound per hour, with secondary emissions potentially being up to four fold larger.
A new study by University of Guelph researchers found that exposure to diluted bitumen impairs swimming ability and changes heart structures in young salmon. The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project is expected to increase oil sands products reaching the Pacific coast.
The study found that fuel extracted and refined from Canadian oil sands releases approximately 20% more carbon into the atmosphere over its lifetime. This is due to energy-intensive extraction and refining processes, as well as methane emissions and land disturbance.
A new study by the University of Waterloo has found that heavy metal emissions from Alberta's oil sands have not increased contaminant levels in the Athabasca River, despite concerns from local communities. The research developed a novel approach to determine pre-industrial baseline levels of metals in river sediment.
Researchers found lower concentrations of lead and other heavy metals in moss samples from the oil sands area, contrary to current scientific knowledge. The study, published in Environmental Science and Technology, suggests that other factors may be affecting lead pollution levels.
A new solar-powered treatment process can accelerate oil sands tailings reclamation by up to 84% and reduce costs. The technology has the potential to also treat municipal wastewater and could make it safer for rivers.
Approval of Keystone XL would increase oil sands extraction, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions, according to a survey of experts. The study suggests that KXL could raise CO2 emissions by 1-40 million metric tons per year, depending on market responses.
A new study by University of Toronto researchers finds that reported oil sands emissions of hazardous air pollutants are greatly underestimated. The team's comprehensive modeling assessment indicates that evaporation from tailings ponds may introduce more pollutants into the atmosphere than direct emissions.
Researchers developed a new model to analyze 'well-to-wheel' greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands and conventional crude oils. They found that lifecycle emissions vary widely depending on project conditions and technology used.
Scientists used satellites to measure nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions from oil sands mining in Alberta, Canada. The levels of these pollutants are comparable to those over a large power plant or medium-sized cities.
New research finds that human activity related to oil production and the timber industry may be more important than wolves in caribou population decline. The study advocates for specific options to control human impact on habitats before resorting to predator removal.
Researchers found high levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds along the Athabasca River and its tributaries, with concentrations increasing near major oil sands up graders. The study challenges government and industry assertions that pollution is a naturally occurring seepage.
BioTiger has shown a 50% improvement in separation of oil from sand particles within 4 hours and a five-fold increase at 25 hours. It also reduces energy costs and environmental impact by producing chemicals for industrial uses.
The RAND Corporation study concludes that oil sands and coal-to-liquids have the potential to ease upward pressures on oil prices and expand global fuel supplies. However, these alternatives also pose significant environmental risks, including water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers developed a radar-activated system that uses cannons and falcon decoys to deter birds from oil sands mining ponds, showing promise for reducing bird deaths. The system detects birds more effectively than traditional deterrents and can be used in conjunction with industry efforts to reclaim mines and reduce hazardous waste.