Bitumen Upgrading & Extraction

Research programs are studying all aspects of bitumen recovery in commercial operations. These programs include investigating the reasons for the variability of bitumen recovery from oil in sand ores, and examining ways to increase recovery levels.

New initiatives include:

• Enhancing hydrotransport effectiveness of the mined sand
• Developing means of reducing forces binding bitumen to sand
• Improving the effectiveness of the demulsification process
• Optimizing temperature adjustments and additives in low temperature extraction
• Improving the recycling of water
• Improving sulphur extraction and hydrogenation and coking of bitumen to produce high quantity crude oil