OIL (petroleum)

MINERAL RESOURCES OF SASKATCHEWAN

CRUDE OIL - where does it come from?

Crude oil comes from plant and animal material that died millions of years ago. Heat and pressure turned the matter into a thick dark liquid. Crude oil is also called petroleum.

TYPES OF OIL

There are three types of crude oil produced in Saskatchewan.
heavy crude which is dark, thick and sticky
light crude which is a light golden color and flows easily
medium crude

WHERE IS OIL FOUND?

Crude oil and natural gas are found deep in the ground trapped in pools between layers of rocks. Alberta has Canada's richest oil fields. In Saskatchewan oil is found in the following areas :
heavy crude - Lloydminster and Kindersley
light crude - Weyburn, Estevan, Kindersley (southeast Saskatchewan)
medium crude - southeast and southwest Saskatchewan

DRILLING FOR OIL

Since oil is found deep underground it has to be brought to the surface. Companies drill deep wells to learn if there is an oil or gas field. Once the deposits are found most wells need help getting the oil out. Pumps are set up to lift the oil to the surface. There are over 20,000 active wells in Saskatchewan.

REFINING THE OIL

Refineries are factories that turn the crude oil into useful energy products.
The refineries "cook" the oil in high towers till it boils.
As it cools the oil separates and the oil that is left can be made into useful products.
- Regina - Consumers' Co-operative Refineries Ltd./ upgrader
- Lloydminster - Husky upgrader/asphalt plant

MOVING THE OIL

The oil is transported by pipeline (Interprovincial Pipe Line) to market. It is also delivered by truck, rail or ship. Over 60 percent of the oil produced is sold to the United States, over twenty percent is used in the province and some is shipped to Eastern Canada.

USES FOR CRUDE OIL
- gasoline for cars, vans and smaller trucks
- flight fuel for planes
- diesel fuel for large trucks, buses and trains
- heating oil
- asphalt (for pavement and roofs)
- lubricants (oil, grease)

OIL IS MADE INTO THOUSANDS OF PRODUCTS

Special chemicals called "petrochemicals" are made from oil.
This is what is used to make plastic.
(list of products)

PROBLEMS

- oil spills
- leaks from pipelines and underground storage tanks
- air pollution
- recycling (plastic does not decay quickly)
- recycling used oil instead of dumping it

*** MINERAL RESOURCES ***

more information at Saskatchewan Interactive