(133d) Combined Energy and Water Analysis for the Oil Sands Industry

In oil sands processing water and energy are closely interrelated. Water is the main carrier of energy either as hot water or steam. The various site configurations that are in place or in the planning stages for the production of synthetic crude oil in the Canadian oil sands face several technological challenges, one of which is reduction of water and energy demands. Integration between steam and power systems has been shown to bring about economic and efficiency benefits for various industrial sites. Further expansion of the system boundary to include the site water system should also reveal interesting opportunities for improvement. The links between steam generation, cooling water demands and process water should be explored in more detail as these have usually been evaluated independent from each other. CETC-Varennes is working in extending the boundaries of the utility system in order to produce a comprehensive understanding of the trade-offs involved in the design and operation of an efficient system. In a number of scenarios it is possible to reduce energy consumption and water simultaneously with significant economic gains from greenhouse gas emissions reductions and fuel savings.