Because this is the misunderstanding that just won’t die, yes the 2007 Kinder Morgan spill WAS bitumen. A dilsynbit specifically called Albian Heavy Synthetic. It is NOT fully upgraded. At API = 19.2, it is among of heaviest dilbits in existence. If anything sinks, it will. 
I’m just going to pin this and leave it here until further noticr. Use/copy/cite at your leisure. No credit to me needed. I’m more interested in the public being properly informed.
I can see why there is confusion. Albian Heavy Synthetic is not a synthetic in the proper term (synthetic usually denotes fully upgraded bitumen). It is a dilbit / syth blend that is *partially* (not fully) upgraded. It’s less acidic and has lower sulfur, but it is heavy as hell.
Many contemporary reports just called it “crude oil,” which is accurate as dilbit and dilsynbits are types of crude and nobody cared as much about the difference in 2007.
It was a synthetic dilbit blend.
100 tons went in the water.
95 tons recovered.
5 tons sank.
The end.
It was a synthetic dilbit blend.
100 tons went in the water.
95 tons recovered.
5 tons sank.
The end.
Scientists who study this matter tell us it was a useful datapoint. With an API of 19.2 (water is 10. Lower numbers are heavier), AHS is the heaviest bitumen product regularly shipped. It will sink the fastest. It sets a lower bound for how long any dilbit will float. We got 95%
I think some people have mixed up the dilsynbit 2007 spill with Premium Albian Synthetic, which *is* a fully upgraded (very light and buoyant) synthetic. It has an API of 32. Not heavy at all.
AHS & PAS are *totally* different things. 2007 was a bitumen spill.
AHS & PAS are *totally* different things. 2007 was a bitumen spill.
This information is publicly available and out there for anybody who cares to look. I can’t believe this is still somehow an issue and I’m having to counter misinformation for weeks. vancouversun.com/news/local-new…
