In the Wabasca Field area,
the bitumen is a solid asphaltic substance composed of organic matter
and Asphaltenes which by definition are soluble in both toxic benzene
and toluene.i
According to Cenovus, one of the operators in the Wabasca area,
“Oil in the oil sands is much thicker. In some areas it can be as
hard as a hockey puck. We have to stimulate it to make it flow.”ii
This description of the bitumen in the reservoir is confirmed by
Total’s downhole viscosity comparison chart (shown below) which
shows that in the subsurface Wabasca Oil is more resistant to flow
(has the highest viscosity) globally than 50 other major heavy oil
producing fields in South America, Europe and the United States etc.
Figure
4
Global Viscosity Comparison of Heavy Oil Fields
(Top Is Most Resistant To Flow)
SOURCE: TOTAL
2003
Note that Wabasca occurs
at the very top of the chart with a viscosity of over 5 million
centipoise. When compared with other common substances (shown below)
this is 5 million times more resistant to flow than water, about 5
times that of molten glass or about the consistency of household
caulking compound. The key to producing this oil is to keep it liquid
and flowing as the companies fight a constant battle to prevent the
bitumen from precipitating and fouling the pipes.
Figure
5
Viscosity Comparisons of Common Materials
SOURCE: TRU-FLO
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