Abstract A world-wide suite of 82 crude oils and 21 solid bitumens was analyzed for concentrations of cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, vanadium, and zinc. The oils analyzed are predominantly heavy oils, having a mean API gravity of 17.4° and a mean asphaltene content of 15.5%. Preliminary tests indicated that the metal content cannot be reduced by passing the oils through a 5 micron filter. For both the oil and solid bitumen data sets, vanadium, nickel, and iron are in highest concentration. The concentrations of nickel, cadmium, vanadium, chromium, and molybdenum show negative correlations with API gravity, although no correlation coefficients (r) are greater than 0.80. The remaining elemental concentrations show no correlation with either API gravity or asphaltene content. Mean metal concentrations in the solid bitumens are higher than those in the oils in every case. The consistent relationship between mean concentrations for the two groups suggests the existence of a genetic continuum containing conventional oils, heavy oils, and solid bitumens. These data are useful in a beginning effort to apply transition metal data to petroleum exploration efforts. Ultimately, metal data will be useful in predicting oil type and volume capable of generation from an oil source rock.

Abstract For many, the idea of an energy crisis has passed, but it behooves those who accept the vagaries of government and international dissent to prepare for the future, when spot shortages of energy are likely to occur again. Since petroleum has selected uses and properties for which few or no substitutes are available, we need to reevaluate continually the potential of unconventional recovery of petroleum from heavy crude oils and tar sands. Several methods are worthy of consideration. Among these are (1) recovery using selected fluids (EOR), to find the best mobilization fluids, e.g., CO 2 ; (2) recovery by conventional mining methods, e.g., room and pillar, long-wall mining, modified block caving, pressurized block caving coupled with hydrofracing, etc.; (3) remote mining, using robots; (4) possible mobilization using gases other than CO 2 and steam; (5) consideration of solidification techniques coupled with conventional mining; (6) geothermal energy; (7) biological methods; and (8) electrical methods. While these approaches are, at present, completely uneconomic and impractical, we cannot predict when the next technological breakthrough will occur that could make these concepts possible. I urge a searching look down the long corridors of the future. The only hold-back is our own timidity to consider “far-out” ideas.

ABSTRACT Although Mississippi’s toehold on the Gulf of Mexico extends less than 110 km from border to border as the crow flies, human modification of the coastal zone has been extensive. Two of the three major subcomponents of the state’s terrestrial coastal environment–the mainland shoreline, the estuarine embayments, and the barrier islands–have been substantially modified by human activity. Almost half of the 130 km long mainland shoreline has been altered by seawall construction and artificial beach nourishment. The wetland-fringed estuarine embayments of St. Louis Bay and Back Bay of Biloxi became popular loci of recreational development in the boom years of the 1950s and 1960s, and dredge-and-fill activity was widespread. Likewise, industrial development proceeded rapidly during that period, and not until passage of the Mississippi Wetlands Protection Law of 1973 did wetland modification become significantly reduced. Only the barrier islands have escaped extensive human alteration, although development plans have been (and still are) proposed from time to time. The erosion and destruction of the casino resort of Isle of Caprice (presently the Dog Keys shoals) in the 1930s effectively halted offshore resort development plans for several decades, and today three of Mississippi’s four barrier islands are included in the Gulf Islands National Seashore.