Bitumen-derived crude (BDC) that is better suited for processing in refineries will enhance its access in North American markets. A better, more advanced understanding of how bitumen and heavy oil is refined is a pre-requisite for creating cost-effective ways of adjusting the properties of BDC to make ideal refinery feedstocks that ideally fit into the modern refineries.



Major S&T strategies include:

Understand process aspects of BDC refining
NCUT is constructing detailed process models of hydrocracking and catalytic cracking, the two major refining processes through which all BDC must pass. A key to achieving this goal will be model inputs that incorporate state-of-the-art commercial experience. NCUT gathers its world-class modeling database by performing catalyst testing and process development support for refiners on a fee-for-service basis.
Understand properties of BDC and BDC-derived products
The precise chemical and physical properties affecting BDC as the ideal refinery feedstock must be understood and managed during upgrading. NCUT is developing a set of advanced chemical characterization methods and using them to create a sophisticated model of the secondary upgrading and refining steps.
Build a virtual BDC refinery at NCUT
A next-generation predictive hydrotreating model currently is being developed at NCUT. The model will be used to devise optimum refining schemes for BDC. This requires the development of reliable correlations between product quality and distributed characterization from the NCUT knowledge base.
Develop new secondary upgrading and refining processes
We are creating technology that fills gaps in the state-of-the art processing of Canadian bitumen and heavy oil. These gaps, as identified in collaboration with industry and government, have led and are leading to advancements in novel processes for the creation of clean, superior transportation fuels.






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