Oil Sands by Tony Green

What does the term “Oil Sands” mean to you? In the event you are not native to Canada the answer may be cloudy. Other terms used to describe may more familiar, some of which include extra heavy oil and tar sands. All of these are types of bitumen deposits which are naturally occurring mixtures of sand or clay, water and bitumen, a dense and viscous form of petroleum. The materials are so viscous that at room temperature its behavior resembles cold molasses.

They are found in large amounts in many countries throughout the world, but exist in extremely large quantities in Canada, Russia, and Venezuela.

Deposits of bitumen are formed from the remains of ancient, microscopic algae and other once-living things. At the time these organisms died, their remains were deposited in the mud on the bottom of the ocean or lake where they lived. Under the heat and pressure of burial deep in the earth, the remnants were transformed into this material.

The thick properties of the bitumen allow use for paving roads, waterproofing products and for sealing flat roofs. Naturally occurring crude bitumen is the prime feed stock for petroleum production from tar sands currently under development in Alberta, Canada. Canada has most of the world's supply of natural bitumen, giving our northern neighbor the second largest proven oil reserves in the world.

Why shouldn’t we tap this resource? The technology required to extract the crude oil in a format which in can be converted into material we use such as diesel and gasoline is still in beginning stages of development. In short, converting the bitumen to oil which can be processed involves injecting steam into the deposit to remove the water and extracting the petroleum rich deposits.

How is this for a thought? In the event non-traditional means of producing oil are not adopted soon why not turn our attention to Oil Sands as to a source of crude oil to our friendly neighbor to the north?

Think of it this way, in light of the recent calamity in the Gulf of Mexico it is very difficult to spill tar deposits from an oil tanker.

Photo Courtesy of http://ostseis.anl.gov

Biomass by Tony Green

We have all been using biomass for centuries. Do you remember roasting marsh-mellows over an open fire while camping? What was occurring is the energy which stored in the log was being released by burning. The wood within the log was formed through photosynthesis resulting from the sun’s energy being stored in the chemical bonds of the log. The result was the feeling of warmth and a damned tasty marsh-mellow.
Simply defined, biomass is all plant material, or vegetation, raw or processed, wild or cultivated. Examples include wood and agricultural waste and crop residue. As a source it is not so important about the type of biomass which goes in but the fact many types of these resources are for the most part discarded. And more importantly what comes out from these wood based materials and how it can be used to help solve our energy problems.
How is biomass processed? There are three ways to process biomass. The first one is Gasification in which biomass is heated without oxygen. The process converts the biomass to a mixture of CO and H2 which is called “Syngas” for synthetic gas. The gas mixes with oxygen without difficulty and is burned in turbines to generate electricity in a fashion similar to natural gas. Additionally the gas can be converted with ease to other fuels, chemicals, and valuable materials.
The second method of processing is Pyrolysis in which the bio-material is heated under high temperature and high pressure all while carefully controlling the air supply. The result is up to 75% of biomass being converted to liquid which is can be used in engines, turbines, or boilers.
The last method is referred to as anaerobic digestion in which the biomass is decomposed with micro-organisms in closed tanks known as anaerobic digesters. This process produces methane (natural gas), CH4 and carbon dioxide, CO2. Methane-rich biogas can be used as fuel or as a base chemical for bio-based products.
Regardless of the method the key is the biomass which until now would have been wasted can now be utilized to produce electricity or some other valuable by product. Consider the possibilities the next time you go camping.

Father’s Day 2010 By Tony Green

I checked the mail once I got home from work and I noticed I had received a card. I was surprised since my birthday had already passed and I figured it would be a while until any occasions where I should be receiving correspondence other than a billing statement.

The card was sent from my brother for father’s day. When I mentioned to my wife I received a card she replied,” Don’t worry we didn’t forget father’s day”, since the day was upcoming. Frankly I had.

I didn’t grow up with a father in the house so I grew accustomed to not planning for the day. Therefore Father’s day was not something that typically came up on my radar as something I needed to take care like Mother’s day. In my view the second Friday in June functioned as only another Sunday. The occasion still does not enter my mind even though I have been a father for over 10 years.

I do not need a gift of a card to realize the impact my children have made on me. I am grateful that I can at least participate in their upbringing, which is more than I can say about my father. My yearly gift is being a part of their lives.

How did I spend Father’s day this year? In the morning I played Wii with my daughter while on the afternoon I took my son to see Toy Store III, later the family went out to eat. Is it surprising I spent Father’s Day with my kids? I am father, after all, on this day and everyday are long as my children are with me.