Innovation Anthology #633:
One by-product of oil sands production is petroleum coke.
Dr. Matthew Lindsay is researching how petroleum coke behaves chemically in the environment under different conditions.
He holds the NSERC/Syncrude Industrial Research Chair in Mine Closure Geochemistry.
DR. MATTHEW LINDSAY: The petroleum coke is a by product of the bitumen upgrading process. We’re trying to break down some of the more complex carbon molecules within the bitumen, produce lighter molecules that can then be upgraded to synthetic crude oil. The material coke itself is what is leftover during that process. And so this material is about 80 percent carbon and then it contains sulphur and it contains some other trace elements as well. Now this material is stored currently in the mining landscape, but it will ultimately be integrated in the closure landscape. So, for example, if we have petroleum coke stored at the land surface where it’s exposed to the atmosphere, there’s oxygen present, the reactions that occur might be very different from those that would occur if this material is stored under a deep water cover where there’s much less oxygen and potential for a different set of reactions to occur.
Dr. Lindsay says his research will help oil sands companies develop better reclamation techniques and reduce environmental impacts.
Thanks today to SYNCRUDE
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I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
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Syncrude
Program Date: 2014-09-02