Q1. Where Do the Wabasca Heavy Crudes Come From? WCSB!

Most already know that the Tar Sands oil that spilled into Mayflower, Arkansas originated in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) of Alberta, Canada near the Wabasca Oil Field. However, knowing that the Wabasca Field area is also known as the Pelican Lake Field area allows us to investigate some of its unique properties. On a global basis, Wabasca Tar sands contain some of the dirtiest, most difficult to produce and most contaminated oils of all the major hydrocarbon provinces. Tar Sands generally represent the bottom of the barrel when it comes to oil production but the Wabasca Heavy Crudes are some of the worst of the worst. This is some of the same grade of crude oil which is proposed to be transported by the Keystone XL Pipeline Project to the US Gulf Coast.ⁱⁱⁱ

Figure 3 Bitumen Viscosity

Source: Conoco Phillips^iv

i Rigzone 2005

http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/25269/Strata_Acquires_Oil_Sands_Acreage_in_Drowned_Area_of_Northern_Alberta

ii Legacy Oil and Gas 2013 http://www.sayeradvisors.com/uploaded/Legacy_1310_Web.pdf

iii US Department of State 2013

Draft Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)

http://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/draftseis/index.htm

iv Conoco Philliips 2009 Conoco Phillips Explains Bitumen Viscosity

http://newenergyandfuel.com/http:/newenergyandfuel/com/2009/08/13/at-conocophillips-oil-sands-site/

http://newenergyandfuel.com/http:/newenergyandfuel/com/2009/08/13/at-conocophillips-oil-sands-site/conocophillips-explains-bitumen-viscosity/