Industrial research chair Arno De Klerk (right centre) with students, Nexen-CNOOC, Alberta Innovates partners, tour his lab. De Klerk's research program is aimed at partial upgrading of bitumen.
(Edmonton) The unique chemical makeup of Alberta's oil sands presents major challenges in refining and transportation. But a collaboration between industry, governments and the University of Alberta is setting its sights on solving these challenges.
These research relationships and their impact were in the spotlight during a May 24 event to celebrate an industrial research chair dedicated to the science of partial upgrading of bitumen.
Chemical engineering professor Arno De Klerk, who holds the NSERC/Nexen-CNOOC Industrial Research Chair in Field Upgrading and Asphaltenes, told a crowd of about 100 supporters at the event that the keys to a successful research collaboration like this are relationships, infrastructure, and people.
"In order to get to this point there had to be a relationship and this relationship began many years ago," he said, referring to an endowed professorship in catalytic reactions established by Nexen nearly a decade ago.
"Relationships are built on trust," he added. "And successful research and technology doesn't' happen overnight, so trust is key."
De Klerk's research chair, established three years ago with support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Nexen-CNOOC, and Alberta Innovates, brings together the combined power of industry, government and academia to tackle important challenges.
The Government of Alberta has committed $1 billion toward full commercialization of partial upgrading and Alberta Innovates has set a goal of upgrading 20 per cent of all in-situ oil sands production by 2030, observed Alberta Innovates director of processing and products Shunlan Liu.
"No one can be successful in this by themselves," she said. "But put all these partners together and we can be champions."
Partially upgraded oil sands do not require the use of dilutents, are easier to transport, have greater value on world markets, and have lower greenhouse gas intensities during refinery processing.
But the developing commercially viable technology is challenging. Nexen-CNOOC senior research and development advisor Nestor Zerpa outlined a series of existing technical approaches and costs that would not work for industry, but added that De Klerk had come up with a promising pathway.
"Technology doesn't stay stagnant," said Zerpa. "We need to create new technologies for the future and that is the reason we are behind this research chair. We're breaking ground and if we are successful this is a future opportunity not just for Nexen but for Canada."
Randy Cormier, Nexen-CNOOC's vice president of technology, added that the company has taken a leading partnership positon in U of A research into pipeline transport, petroleum thermodynamics and clean mineral processing.
"Our investment in energy research is for the long term and is focused on the responsible development of Canada's resources," he said, adding that De Klerk's research chair builds on "long-standing and rewarding relationships with the U of A."
Speaking on behalf of the U of A, Larry Kostiuk associate vice president (research), said the university is "the partner of choice in industry collaborations" with more NSERC industrial research chairs than any other university in Canada, and more than 75 companies working in partnership with U of A researchers.
"The University's strategic plan is entitled "For the Public Good", and a key objective in the plan is to enable University of Alberta researchers to succeed and excel," aid Kostiuk. "Dr. De Klerk is an excellent example of the importance of talented people to the University achieving its vision."
Ken Cadien, chair of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, said the partnership is also having a long-term impact on and off campus.