Images from Alberta's Inventors and Inventions

Scientist Karl Clark began his experiments on separating oil from the oilsands with a pilot project in the basement of the power plant at the University of Alberta. Then in 1924, he built a larger plant, this one at the Dunvegan Railway Yards in Edmonton. As historian Michael Payne points out, it had some problems, so Clark refined the design.

This second version of his experimental plant, in Dunvegan Yards, was actually reasonably successful. It managed to process about 500 tons of oilsands in its first year and it ran relatively smoothing when it was running. Clark used these calculations that he was able to make on how fast a plant could process oil sand, how effectively it could extract bitumen from the oilsands, etc, to then extrapolate to the idea of a commercially-sized plant. And he estimated that a plant with the capacity of processing a thousand tons of oilsands a day, in fact could be built and could be run profitably based on the experience of this pilot plant.

Clark's next stop was to open a pilot plant on the Clearwater River near Waterways at Fort McMurray. His work was supported by the newly formed Scientific and Industrial Research Council of Alberta and through the 1920's and 1930's, Clark continued trying to develop refined products from oilsands bitumen.

In a way, he realized that these high value products, like fuel oils and lubricants, etc., had a commercial potential that high volume, low value materials like asphalt or roof tar did not. Particularly given the remoteness of the resource.

In the mid 1930's, Karl Clark left the research council and joined the University of Alberta as a professor. Despite his effort, the dream of bringing the oilsands into full commercial production eluded Clark. That was still four decades away. But Karl Clark was still right about hot water extraction and it's still the primary process used in oilsands production today.



	Athabasca Oilsands, Early Exploration: Part Ten Scientist Karl Clark began his experiments on separating oil from the oilsands with a pilot project in the basement of the power plant at the University of Alberta. Then in 1924, he built a larger plant, this one at the Dunvegan Railway Yards in Edmonton. As historian Michael Payne points out, it had some problems, so Clark refined the design. This second version of his experimental plant, in Dunvegan Yards, was actually reasonably successful. It managed to process about 500 tons of oilsands in its first year and it ran relatively smoothing when it was running. Clark used these calculations that he was able to make on how fast a plant could process oil sand, how effectively it could extract bitumen from the oilsands, etc, to then extrapolate to the idea of a commercially-sized plant. And he estimated that a plant with the capacity of processing a thousand tons of oilsands a day, in fact could be built and could be run profitably based on the experience of this pilot plant. Clark's next stop was to open a pilot plant on the Clearwater River near Waterways at Fort McMurray. His work was supported by the newly formed Scientific and Industrial Research Council of Alberta and through the 1920's and 1930's, Clark continued trying to develop refined products from oilsands bitumen. In a way, he realized that these high value products, like fuel oils and lubricants, etc., had a commercial potential that high volume, low value materials like asphalt or roof tar did not. Particularly given the remoteness of the resource. In the mid 1930's, Karl Clark left the research council and joined the University of Alberta as a professor. Despite his effort, the dream of bringing the oilsands into full commercial production eluded Clark. That was still four decades away. But Karl Clark was still right about hot water extraction and it's still the primary process used in oilsands production today. On the Heritage Trail, I'm Cheryl Croucher.

Athabasca Oilsands, Early Exploration: Part Ten