Describe the oil mining process?

Question

Describe the oil mining process?

Answer 1

Are you talking about the oil sands in Alberta?

Basically, that is just an open pit mine. The oil is a very heavy (thick and viscous) grade that is embedded in the sands. Once mined, steam and other processes are used to liberate the oil from the sand. Standard refining techniques (catalytic crackers, for example) are used to improve the quality of the oil, which is unuseable in its native form.

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_sands