Oil sands refinery, Canada
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Oil sands refinery, Canada
Oil sands refinery, Canada, at twilight. The water in the foreground is one of the settling pools used to dispose of waste material after processing. Oil sand is a mixture of sand, water and bitumen, and is mined from the surface using open-cast mining techniques. Around two tonnes of oil sand has to be processed to obtain a single barrel of crude oil. This is the Suncor processing plant, in the Athabasca Oil Sands, Alberta, Canada. In 2007, Suncor produced more than 260, 000 barrels of oil a day. The Athabasca oil reserves are among the largest in the world
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6304837
© MARTIN BOND/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
2008 Albert A Athabasca Oil Sands Atmospheric Pollution Bitumen Bituminous Sands Building Canada Canadian Crude Oil D Usk Energy Energy Industry Energy Source Environmental Evening Factory Fossil Fuel Fuels Inland Light Lights Mine Mining Facility Nonrenewable North American Oil Plant Oil Reserves Oil Resources Oil Sands Pollutant Polluted Pollution Ponds Power Industry Processing Plant Sand Sands Settling Pond Smoke Suncor Surface Mining Tar Sands Toxic Twilight Water Pollution
EDITORS COMMENTS
The mesmerizing twilight hues cast a surreal glow over the Oil Sands Refinery in Canada. This print captures the industrial beauty of this technological marvel nestled in the Athabasca Oil Sands, Alberta. As dusk settles, the refinery's lights illuminate the landscape, creating an otherworldly scene. In the foreground, we see one of the settling pools used to dispose of waste material after processing. The water reflects a mixture of sand and bitumen - oil sands extracted from open-cast mining techniques. It is astonishing to think that around two tonnes of oil sand are required to obtain just a single barrel of crude oil. This Suncor processing plant stands as a testament to Canada's vast energy resources. In 2007 alone, it produced over 260,000 barrels of oil per day from these immense reserves. However, amidst its grandeur lies concerns about pollution and environmental impact. The smoke rising from chimneys reminds us that this facility operates within an industry heavily reliant on fossil fuels – nonrenewable energy sources contributing to atmospheric pollution. The settling ponds themselves serve as poignant reminders of water pollution caused by such processes. Yet despite these concerns, this photograph encapsulates both awe-inspiring human ingenuity and our complex relationship with nature's resources. It serves as a visual reminder that progress often comes at a cost – prompting us to seek sustainable solutions for our ever-growing energy needs in the 21st century.
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