Simultaneous transportation of CO2 and diluted bitumen (DilBit) is proposed. CO2 dissolution capacity of DilBit is measured. Simultaneous transportation of CO2 and DilBit facilitates more efficient detection of Dilbit spill from pipelines. Simultaneous transportation of CO2 and DilBit improves reduces environmental impact of oil sands operations. Environmental impact and economics of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and bitumen transportation are among the major challenges of oil sands operations. We propose and assess a new approach to address these important challenges by using diluted bitumen (DilBit) as a carrier for large-scale CO2 transportation. The proposed approach provides a unique prospect to significantly reduce the cost of CO2 transportation from the carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain, facilitate more efficient detection of DilBit spills from pipelines, utilize CO2, and improve public perception of both oil sands and CCS operations. These opportunities will offer the possibility of sustaining access to oil resources while reducing environmental impact and improving the economics of CCS and oil sands operations. Through experimental measurements, we have shown that 80–200 kg of CO2 per m3 of DilBit can be dissolved and transported. We also report simulation results from the simultaneous transportation of DilBit and CO2 and DilBit spill detection through monitoring concentration of leaked CO2. CO2 emissions Bitumen transportation CO2 transportation Oil sands operations CCS operations Recommended articlesCiting articles (0) © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Simultaneously transporting CO2 and diluted bitumen (DilBit) in oil sands operations is an effective method of large-scale CO2 transportation, results in a more efficient detection of DilBit spills from pipelines, and reduces environmental impacts, according to research from the University of Calgary. It shows 80-200 kg of CO2 can be dissolved and transported per cubic metre of DilBit. They say the proposed approach will significantly reduce the cost of CO2 transportation in the carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain, and improve the public's perception of CCS and oil sands operations.