NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Heavy Oil Properties and Processing

加拿大油砂和重油矿床是加拿大的巨大资源，目前可采储量估计为270亿立方米，仅次于沙特阿拉伯。要在经济上开发这些资源，同时尽量减少对环境的影响，存在相当大的技术挑战。工程师需要可靠的流体性质和相态数据和模型来应对这些挑战。IRC在重油性质和加工方面的总体目标是：1）提供重油和沥青回收和加工中遇到的流体性质和相态数据和模型; 2）培训具有实施这些过程的背景和技能的工程师。在第一个任期内，我们建立了一个200°C以下温度下重油和溶剂的模型框架，并培训了9名研究生。该提案基于第一个任期的结果，以解决我们对重油知识的四个关键空白：1）温度高达300°C时的相行为和物理性质本论文的主要内容包括：1）原油（蒸汽条件下）和改质重油的性质; 2）各种重油（天然和反应后）的流体特性; 3）影响乳化液稳定性的因素和现场和油砂开采过程中产生的乳化液的处理; 4）溶剂/沥青界面重力泄油的基本原理。主席还将为9名研究生提供培训，以满足技术要求日益提高的行业对HQP的需求。需要在这四个领域获得的数据、模型、基本理解和训练有素的人员，以便能够开发现有的和新的原位和采矿工艺。对加拿大的潜在好处是提高重油和沥青的回收率，降低对环境的影响。

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.