Current Active Projects |
New Project Proposals |
Condensate Quality
This project is currently in operation. The project's current focus is on solids contamination in the condensate streams, attempting to identify the nature of elevated particulate contents and their source.
Contaminant Monitoring
The objective of this project is to develop on-line monitoring tools for the purpose of measuring targeted contaminants in crude oil charged to a refinery. The ultimate goal of the project will be to use this equipment to quantify the impact of contaminant concentration on plant operation.
Fluorocarbons in Crude Oil
This project is assessing the potential refinery impacts of the use of fluorocarbons in various Oilfield Chemicals (OFC), and especially as foaming agents in certain types of hydraulic fracturing fluids ("foam fracs"). Information from fluorocarbons manufacturers is being assembled, and a literature search is planned. No funding is required for participation at this time.
Heavy Oil Compatibility/Stability
This project is intended to examine the impacts of blending Canadian heavy crdue oil with multiple crude oils, with regards to compatibility and stability, as well as the impact of blending order and addition of water. The project is also proposed to examine the impacts of such blending on fouling during transportation and refining, as well as the impact on desalting. The topic material is more complex than can be described here. Download the project proposal document for a more detailed description.
Hydrogen Sulfide in Crude Oil
Information to come.
Iron Fouling Project
This project is designed to investigate the role of iron in Canadian
crude oils and condensates as an emulsion stabilizer, a process
foulant, and a process contaminant. Impacts to desalters, hydrotreaters,
and FCCU catalysts are also included in the scope.
Oilsands Bitumen Processability
This project is examining the contaminants in oilsands bitumen commonly held to impact on its processability. The investigation is initially targetting salts and solids (quantity, composition and size distribution), TAN, and asphaltenes content. Targetted streams are the currently produced SAGD oilsands bitumens, along with Western Canadian Select.
Phosphorus in Crude Oil
This project was initiated in 1995, in response to fraction tower fouling observed at three Canadian refineries. Phosphorus was determined to be a significant component of the foulant and traced back to additive usage within the production industry. Since its inception, the project has dealt with various phases of contaminant and key additive identification, elucidation of the fouling mechanism, the development of both chemical and process alternatives, and the implementation of crude oil specifications.
A limit was established, effective July 1, 2005, of a maximum of 0.5 ppm voltile phosphorus in crude by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Enforcement of this limit has begun effective January 1, 2007.
Further information on this issue can be found on the phosphorus in crude page.
TAN Project - Phases I - IV
In Phase I of this project, the focus is on acid
numbers (TAN & NAN) and their concentration in whole crudes,
their distribution in product fractions, the impact on the TAN &
NAN values of blending with common diluents, as well as the impact
of transporation. The project is focusing on Athabasca oilsands
SAGD crudes.
Phase II of this project is now completed. In Phase II, additional
work was done optimizing the TAN & NAN methods for application
to heavy crude oil, as well as corrosion testing on an Athabasca
oilsands syn-bit (bitumen diluted with synthetic crude) and benchmark
world market corrosive crudes. Investigation of the naphthenic acid
species present was also performed by FT-ICR mass spectrometry.
In Phase III, further investigation of the corrosivity of Athabasca bitumen gas-oils and other benchmark crude oils will be carried out utilizing a new vacuum autoclave system. This new system will utilize a continuous sample feed, under vacuum, temperatures and shear conditions representative of vacuum tower operation. Further work is also planned to establish which of the naphthenic acid species present are corrosive, using FT-ICR mass spectrometry.
Phase IV of this project is in the proposal/design stage. Interest exists in studying the impact of higher shear rates, the impact of crude oil blending on corrosivity, and study on the interaction of various types of nap acids and sulphur compunds and their impact on corrosivity.
Water Free Desalting
This project proposes to examine alternatives to the existing open loop system of desalting, i.e., to look at means and methods of providing zero water discharge desalting systems. These systems could be water free, or they could be simply 100 % recycled water.