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Heavy oil discovery could revolutionize oil sands production

Nature paper outlines natural microbial processing of crude oil reservoirs

Dr. Steve Larter, Canada Research Chair in Petroleum Geology at the University of Calgary, and colleagues from the U of C, the University of Newcastle and Norsk Hydro Oil & Energy, have shown how crude oil in oil deposits around the world – including in Alberta’s oil sands – are naturally broken down by microbes in the reservoir.

Their discovery could revolutionize oil sands production by leading to more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly ways to produce this valuable resource – instead of using thermal, or heat-based, processes (such as steam-assisted gravity drainage).

The findings by the international team will be published in the prestigious science journal Nature, and will be available online at Nature’s website (http://www.nature.com/index.html) on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 1300 (1:00 pm) Eastern Time.

Reporters are invited to a news conference with Dr. Larter and Dr. Jennifer Adams, a co-author on the paper, at 1400 (2:00 p.m.) Mountain Time on Monday, Dec. 10, in the Earth Sciences Building, Room 553, on the University of Calgary campus. Reporters will be required to sign in, agreeing to honour the embargo strictly enforced by Nature.

Nature's press office is also hosting a dial-in telephone briefing for science media *under embargo* on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 1400 London time (GMT) / 0900 US Eastern time.

Numbers to phone in for Nature media briefing:

From UK: 0203 003 2666;
All other countries: +44 203 003 2666
*Request: Nature Press Briefing*

WHAT: Media availability: Heavy oil discovery could revolutionize oil sands production

WHEN: Monday, Dec. 10, 1400 (2:00 pm) Mountain Time.

WHERE: Earth Sciences Building, Room 553 (fifth floor)
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive N.W.

Marked media vehicles may park free in Lot 22. (Place business card in dashboard of non-marked vehicles). Please do not park in handicap, reserved or parking meter spots.) See campus map: http://www.ucalgary.ca/map/

To confirm your attendance, please contact:

Mark Lowey, Communications Director
Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy
Phone: (403) 210-8659 or Email: mlowey@ucalgary.ca

**NOTE: This story is embargoed for release until Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007 at 1300 (1:00 pm) Eastern Time**

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