Current Active Projects |
New Project Proposals |
Bitumen Shrinkage Formula
This project has just been proposed and a project proposal document has not yet been prepared. The existing models for calculation of shrinkage during blending operations did not incorporate oils heavier than 980 kg/m3. The project concept is to conduct shrinkage testing on extra heavy oils and bitumens between 980 kg/m3 and 1020 kg/m3, and to either validate API 12.3 for this density range or to develop a modified formula for application to this density range.
Bitumen Cleaning Techniques
This project has just been proposed and a project proposal document has not yet been prepared. Several different methods exist for removal of water and solids from bitumen in preparation for analytical work. All of these existing methods have issues associated with them and their impact on bitumen properties after cleaning. The intent of the project is to examine existing methods and provide input on how to apply them; possibly to develop a new cleaning technique with less impact on the resulting clean bitumen properties than existing techniques.
Bitumen Density Measurement
This project has just been proposed and a project proposal document has not yet been prepared. Measurement of density of bitumens with densities in excess of 1000 kg/m3 is difficult and imprecise. This project is intended to examine means of improving analytical accuracy and precision such that it is possible to readily differentiate between bitumen densities that differ by a single kg/m3.
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.
Emulsion Characterization Protocol
This project has just been proposed and a project proposal document has not yet been prepared. The intent of the project is to develop a series of analytical tests to perform on any given desalter emulsion that will allow an understanding of the nature of the emulsion and its root causes. Knowledge of the root causes of an emulsion will assist a refinery, and potentially a crude oil producer, in developing an effective strategy for breaking the emulsion.
Heavy Oil Compatibility/Stability
This project is examining 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
The Canadian Crude Quality Technical Association (CCQTA) “H2S Measurement in Crude” project was established to adapt and validate an existing portable measurement device, currently used in the internationally accepted IP570 method (measurement of H2S in fuel oils), to accurately measure both liquid and vapor phase hydrogen sulphide in crude petroleum. The project will focus on a comparison of existing H2S measurement methods (ASTM D5705, UOP 163, and ASTM D5623) to an adaptation of test method, IP 570. The latter method, though not currently validated for crude oil, has been prototyped by Stanhope-Seta (UK) and has been modified for the realities of the crude oil matrix. This test method is capable of measuring both liquid and vapor phase H2S and is highly operator independent, thus requiring little technical training or support.
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.