NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Heavy Oil Properties and Processing

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Canadian oil sands and heavy oil deposits are a huge resource for Canada with currently recoverable reserves estimated at 27 billion cubic meters, placing it second only to Saudi Arabia. There are considerable technical challenges to developing these resources economically while minimizing the environmental impact. Engineers require reliable fluid property and phase behaviour data and models to meet these challenges. The overall goals of the IRC in Heavy Oil Properties and Processing are: 1) to provide the fluid property and phase behaviour data and models for the conditions encountered in the recovery and processing of heavy oils and bitumens; 2) train engineers with the background and skills to implement these processes. In the first term of the chair, a modeling framework was established for heavy oil and solvents at temperatures up to 200°C and nine graduate students were trained in this field.This proposal builds on the results of the first term to address four critical gaps in our knowledge of heavy oil: 1) phase behavior and physical properties at temperatures up to 300°C (steam conditions) and for upgraded heavy oils; 2) fluid characterization for a broad range of heavy oils (native and reacted); 3) factors affecting emulsion stability and treatment for emulsions produced in in situ and oil sands mining processes; 4) fundamentals of gravity drainage at the solvent/bitumen interface. The Chair will also provide training for nine graduate students to meet the need for HQP in an increasingly technically demanding industry. The data, models, fundamental understanding, and trained personnel to be gained in these four areas are required to enable the development of existing and novel in situ and mining processes. The potential benefits to Canada are increased recovery of heavy oil and bitumen with lower environmental impact.