Sucking up all that carbon dioxide will effectively reduce the emissions from the upgrader by 35%.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

We made our way out of the pit and headed on, following the bitumen to its next stop, the upgrader.

NEWYORKER: Unconventional Crude

Here are five funds and ETFs currently held in our Upgrader portfolio: Utilities Select Sector SPDR ( XLU), Vanguard Consumer Staples ( VDC), TCW Select Equity ( TGCNX), Yacktman Fund ( YACKX) and iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend ( DVY).

FORBES: ETFs Or Mutual Funds? Why I'm Agnostic

The primary difference between bitumen and ordinary crude is the size of the hydrocarbon molecules: in liquid oil, these molecules contain between five and twenty carbon atoms, while in bitumen they contain more than twenty. (At room temperature, pure bitumen is so viscous that it will not flow.) The main job of the upgrader is to break down the oversized hydrocarbons into smaller units.

NEWYORKER: Unconventional Crude