Frequently asked questions
Question:
What is the energy balance for oilsands production?
Answer:
The energy balance is simply the ratio between energy inputs and outputs for a given type of energy production. Energy balances are used as indicators of efficiency when comparing energy types and production methods.
Based on National Energy Board data for natural gas inputs and petroleum outputs, the energy balance for oilsands mining-upgrading projects is about 1:12 and it is about 1:6 for in-situ bitumen production. In addition, about 14 per cent of the raw bitumen is consumed to produce energy during upgrading or is converted into by products such as coke and sulphur. As a result if the raw bitumen from in-situ projects is then upgraded into synthetic crude oil, the energy balance is as low as 1:4.
The energy balance for oilsands is roughly comparable to that for ethanol produced from sugar cane in Brazil – where one unit of energy input produces about eight units of ethanol fuel energy – and it is much better than ethanol produced from corn in North America, where one unit of energy input only produces about 1.3 units of ethanol fuel energy.
Since the early 1990s, energy use per barrel in oilsands mining and extraction has been reduced about 45 per cent through the use of new technologies such as hydrotransport, which is more efficient than conveyors or truck transport. New, low-temperature extraction processes further reduce energy use.
Based on National Energy Board data for natural gas inputs and petroleum outputs, the energy balance for oilsands mining-upgrading projects is about 1:12 and it is about 1:6 for in-situ bitumen production. In addition, about 14 per cent of the raw bitumen is consumed to produce energy during upgrading or is converted into by products such as coke and sulphur. As a result if the raw bitumen from in-situ projects is then upgraded into synthetic crude oil, the energy balance is as low as 1:4.
The energy balance for oilsands is roughly comparable to that for ethanol produced from sugar cane in Brazil – where one unit of energy input produces about eight units of ethanol fuel energy – and it is much better than ethanol produced from corn in North America, where one unit of energy input only produces about 1.3 units of ethanol fuel energy.
Since the early 1990s, energy use per barrel in oilsands mining and extraction has been reduced about 45 per cent through the use of new technologies such as hydrotransport, which is more efficient than conveyors or truck transport. New, low-temperature extraction processes further reduce energy use.
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