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Infographic: How Tar Sands Oil Is Produced

Andrew Prince

The oil product extracted from Canada's tar sands isn't like conventional crude. Known as bitumen, it's sticky and so thick, it can't flow down a pipeline without extensive processing. There are two methods for getting bitumen out of the ground and turning it into usable products. Both are complex, energy-intensive and expensive processes – but high oil prices are finally making tar sands profitable.

Infographic: Explaining the process of processing / refining tar sands into oil.

Source: Energy Information Administration, Government of Alberta/Alberta Energy

Credit: Alyson Hurt, Ayodha Ouditt and Andrew Prince / NPR

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