Ikelic - Alliance Digital Repository

OIL SANDS
The conclusions based on the recovery potential
of the U.S. tar sand resource may not apply to
the exploitation of the massive and richer
deposits of tar sands found in other parts of the
world, particularly in Canada and Venezuela. In
fact, a study of worldwide crude oil supply shows
that this source of hydrocarbons may contribute
over one-half of the world's energy supply by mid
21st century (Figure 2). This figure is particularly
Interesting for its depiction of sequential contribu
tion of various hydrocarbon resources to the
world crude oil supply. Following the contribu
tion of enhanced oil recovery, which is shown to
peak at around 2025, the extra heavy oil and
bitumen contribution continues to rise until about
2075.
FIGURE 2
Conclusions
Stosur and Karia conclude that large-scale
development of the world tar sand resources will
not materialize in this,
or even the next decade;
but it will likely be harnessed early in the coming
century.
WORLD CRUDE OIL SUPPLY AND
U.S.-based tar sand resources, while significant
on a worldwide scale, are still much smaller than
those found in Canada and Venezuela, geographi
cally less concentrated, generally not as rich, and
located in environmentally sensitive areas. A
large-scale commercial development of U.S. tar
sand resources will require a higher level of tech
nology than available today, combined with im-
THE RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION OF EXTRA HEAVY OIL AND TAR SANDS
Million Barrels Per Day
60
SOURCE: STOSUR AND KARLA
-
1900 1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 2050 2075 2100
3-13
THE SYNTHETIC FUELS REPORT, JANUARY 1995