Domestic tar sands and potential recovery methods--a review

The purpose of this paper is to review and evaluate present knowledge of United States tar sands including physical properties, occurrence, reserves, and recovery methods. Tar sands are oil, bitumen, asphalt, tar, or petroleum-impregnated rock from which little hydrocarbon material is recoverable by conventional crude oil production techniques. Tar sand oil has been produced by steam injection and underground combustion techniques and by mining methods. However, efficient application of nonmining recovery techniques is hindered because of difficulties in establishing and maintaining formation permeability. Mining and processing methods being used in or proposed for Canadian commercial operations are also discussed.