FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta, July 29, 2004 – Providing the equivalent of 10 percent of a region’s oil requirements – without drilling for it – seems like a pipe dream. But that’s exactly what is happening here.
Using shovels, trucks and the world’s strongest conveyor belt, more than 336,000 tons of oil and sand mix are dug and transported daily from just below the surface of the Athabasca Oil Sands, the largest known hydrocarbon basin on earth – larger than the Saudi Arabia oil reserve.
A Goodyear Flexsteel ST7000 steel-cable conveyor belt, constructed for this project, is the highest total-strength belt ever produced and transports the oil and sand mix to a process that uses warm water to separate them, producing 155,000 barrels of bitumen daily. Bitumen is natural, thick oil comprised mainly of hydrocarbons.
The 315-ton conveyor belt, with a 6,000 pounds-per-inch width operating tension, has a full width minimum breaking strength of 4 million pounds.
More than 1.6 billion barrels of bitumen will be recovered over the next thirty years at this site, according to Bernie Billingsley, ore-preparation maintenance supervisor for Albian Sands Energy, operator of the Muskeg River Mine.
(more)
“Deposits just beneath the earth’s surface make this region ideal for oil sand mining,” explained Billingsley. “But it’s an abusive environment for a conveyor belt as 14,000 tons of raw material pound its surface hourly.”
“The Goodyear belt is performing very well,” he said.
The 5,000-foot belt was produced in seven equal rolls, using a patented system to evenly tension and space 124 steel cords running the length of each belt segment, according to Dennis Hare, marketing manager for Goodyear’s conveyor belt business.
“Precision cable tensioning and spacing give longer life expectancy to this mining lifeline, as it transports the oil and sand mix from crushers to stockpile,” said Hare.
Goodyear consultant Conveyor Belt Technology assembled the 94-inch-wide belt, using two on-site splice methods, including Goodyear’s new Splice Preform – a patented technology that allows reduced splicing time and improved splice performance, said Hare.
The world’s largest vulcanizer, designed for this project to cure the belt splices, measures 26-feet by 9-feet and weighs 24 tons.
“Goodyear is proud to be a part of the operation,” said Hare, “but we’re not done.
We continue to advance conveyor belt technology for all mining operations.”
In June, the Albian Sands Energy mining operation became the first of its kind to be ISO 14001 certified, ensuring that an environmental management system is in place. “We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the surrounding region, community and environment,” said Billingsly.
The Muskeg River Mine, located 345 miles north of Edmonton, Alberta, is a joint venture between Shell Canada, Chevron Canada Resources and Western Oil Sands, Inc.
In addition to conveyor belts, Goodyear Engineered Products manufacturers and markets industrial hose and hydraulics, power transportation belts and air springs.
World’s Strongest Conveyor Belt at Athabasca Oil Sands
World’s Strongest Conveyor Belt Helps Dig for Oil
FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta, July 29, 2004 – Providing the equivalent of 10 percent of a region’s oil requirements – without drilling for it – seems like a pipe dream. But that’s exactly what is happening here.
Using shovels, trucks and the world’s strongest conveyor belt, more than 336,000 tons of oil and sand mix are dug and transported daily from just below the surface of the Athabasca Oil Sands, the largest known hydrocarbon basin on earth – larger than the Saudi Arabia oil reserve.
A Goodyear Flexsteel ST7000 steel-cable conveyor belt, constructed for this project, is the highest total-strength belt ever produced and transports the oil and sand mix to a process that uses warm water to separate them, producing 155,000 barrels of bitumen daily. Bitumen is natural, thick oil comprised mainly of hydrocarbons.
The 315-ton conveyor belt, with a 6,000 pounds-per-inch width operating tension, has a full width minimum breaking strength of 4 million pounds.
More than 1.6 billion barrels of bitumen will be recovered over the next thirty years at this site, according to Bernie Billingsley, ore-preparation maintenance supervisor for Albian Sands Energy, operator of the Muskeg River Mine.
(more)
“Deposits just beneath the earth’s surface make this region ideal for oil sand mining,” explained Billingsley. “But it’s an abusive environment for a conveyor belt as 14,000 tons of raw material pound its surface hourly.”
“The Goodyear belt is performing very well,” he said.
The 5,000-foot belt was produced in seven equal rolls, using a patented system to evenly tension and space 124 steel cords running the length of each belt segment, according to Dennis Hare, marketing manager for Goodyear’s conveyor belt business.
“Precision cable tensioning and spacing give longer life expectancy to this mining lifeline, as it transports the oil and sand mix from crushers to stockpile,” said Hare.
Goodyear consultant Conveyor Belt Technology assembled the 94-inch-wide belt, using two on-site splice methods, including Goodyear’s new Splice Preform – a patented technology that allows reduced splicing time and improved splice performance, said Hare.
The world’s largest vulcanizer, designed for this project to cure the belt splices, measures 26-feet by 9-feet and weighs 24 tons.
“Goodyear is proud to be a part of the operation,” said Hare, “but we’re not done.
We continue to advance conveyor belt technology for all mining operations.”
In June, the Albian Sands Energy mining operation became the first of its kind to be ISO 14001 certified, ensuring that an environmental management system is in place. “We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the surrounding region, community and environment,” said Billingsly.
The Muskeg River Mine, located 345 miles north of Edmonton, Alberta, is a joint venture between Shell Canada, Chevron Canada Resources and Western Oil Sands, Inc.
In addition to conveyor belts, Goodyear Engineered Products manufacturers and markets industrial hose and hydraulics, power transportation belts and air springs.
For further information, please visit:
https://edir.bulk-online.com/oldedirredirect/28973.htm ■