A double gain if Singapore imports oil sands

business-times.asia1.com.sg :

Energy-hungry Singapore could potentially source cheaper oil to generate electricity and also increase the supply of sand in the island republic by exploring Canada's oil sands resources. Oil sands, located mostly in North Alberta, Canada, have an estimated reserve of 1.7 trillion to 2.5 trillion barrels. The Athabasca Oil Sands deposit, Alberta's largest and most accessible source of bitumen, contains more than one trillion barrels of bitumen over an area encompassing more than 30,000 square kilometres.

Oil sands are sand grains surrounded by bitumen, a heavy thick form of crude oil with a molasses-like consistency. Shallow oil sands deposits can be mined from the surface. It requires upgrading to make it transportable by pipeline and usable by oil refineries and utility companies but can be transported as dry cargo by railcar.

What have oil sands got to do with Singapore power companies and supply of sand to Singapore? If Singapore utility companies can import Orimulsion - 80 per cent bitumen and 20 per cent water - from Venezuela to be burnt in power plants to generate electricity, then with some investment, Singapore power companies can import raw oil sands, separate the oil and use the bitumen for burning while selling the sand to the domestic construction industry. At current crude oil (WTI) prices, raw oil sands cost about than US$10 per barrel or less.

Post a Comment:

Comments are closed for this entry.

« Airlines must consol... | Main | Sanyo, VW to co-deve... »

Most popular blog postings on lowem.log :

1. Singapore MRT rail network length to double by 2020
2. 2010 Nissan Leaf electric car specifications : 107hp, 24KWh lithium-ion batteries, 100-mile range
3. Live spot gold price quotes chart on COMEX
4. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
5. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 direct download link
6. Real-time live gold and silver price quotes chart on COMEX
7. Singapore electric vehicles : Government agencies EMA and LTA to study EV introduction
8. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn

Featured articles on lowem.log :

1. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn
2. Singapore electric cars testing starts with 9 electric vehicles
3. Honda, GS Yuasa JV to make lithium-ion batteries for 2010/2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
4. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
5. 2010 Honda CR-Z hybrid, 2010 Honda Fit/Jazz hybrid models confirmed
6. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
7. NYMEX crude oil recovers from $32.40 low after 2.2 mbpd OPEC production cut announced
8. Singapore : Nuclear power not ruled out