DEVELOPMENT OF A PROCESS MODEL AND ENGINEERING DESIGN FOR NEXENS PARTIAL UPGRADING TECHNOLOGY – Year two

Production of bitumen in Canada has increased considerably in the last decade. Due to its heavy nature, bitumen needs upgrading in order to make it marketable. Partial upgrading, where bitumen is upgraded into transportable oil that meets pipeline specifications, has the potential to maximize the benefits of bitumen commercialization. However, there is not any economical commercial-ready partial upgrading technology in Canada. In addition, there are technical aspects that need to be investigated in detail before proceeding to the engineering design of a field pilot test for the new technologies. For example, lack of information regarding kinetic modeling of deasphalted oil thermal cracking or unconventional alternatives for reduction of olefins. This Postdoctoral research aims to provide answers to some of those aspects and filling up a knowledge gap in the area of crude oil upgrading. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Arno de Klerk

Student:

Fredy Cabrales Navarro

Partner:

Nexen Energy ULC

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Oil and gas

University:

Program: