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Rising petroleum prices and new high-tech processes now make it possible, and profitable, to extract "synthetic" oil from the world's great tar sand deposits.
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 Big Deposits: Up to two thirds
of the world's known oil reserves
are thought to reside in the two
largest tar-sand deposits, for an
estimated total of 3 trillion barrels.
Not Rigged: Though getting oil
out of sand does require high-tech
equipment, a company doesn't
need to build a massive structure
in order to begin production.
Friendly Relations: The largest
tar-sand deposits in the world
are located in Canada and
Venezuela, which are generally
on good terms with the U.S.,
the world's largest consumer of oil.
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The Environment: The surface-
mining techniques used to extract
tar sand from beneath the earth
leave substantial scars on the
land, sometimes 75 meters deep.
Big Money: Turning tar sand
into crude oil requires costly
procedures such as hydrotransport
and centrifuging. The process is
up to three times more expensive
than getting regular crude.
Climate: The world's largest
known oil deposits are located
in northeastern Alberta, Canada,
and the heavy machinery required
for tar sands break down more
easily in extreme conditions.
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| Trucks such as this work in the tar sands of Alberta, Canada. Click above to learn more. |
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