NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Heavy Oil Properties and Processing

加拿大油砂和重油储量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。在经济地开发这些资源的同时尽量减少对环境的影响，存在着相当大的技术挑战。工程师需要可靠的流体特性和相行为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)为重油和沥青的回收和加工过程中遇到的条件提供流体性质和相行为数据和模型；2)培训工程师具备实施这些流程的背景和技能。在主席的第一个任期内，建立了稠油和溶剂在高达200°C温度下的建模框架，并培训了9名研究生在该领域。该提案建立在第一学期的结果基础上，以解决我们对稠油知识的四个关键空白：1)高达300°C（蒸汽条件）和升级稠油的相行为和物理性质；2)各种稠油的流体特性（原生和反应）；3)影响乳状液稳定性的因素及油砂开采乳状液的处理；4)溶剂/沥青界面重力排水原理。主席还将为9名研究生提供培训，以满足技术要求越来越高的行业对HQP的需求。需要在这四个领域获得数据、模型、基本理解和训练有素的人员，以便能够发展现有的和新的就地和采矿过程。对加拿大来说，潜在的好处是提高了重油和沥青的采收率，同时降低了对环境的影响。

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.