Processing Partially Upgraded Non-Conventional Heavy Oil in a Full Conversion Refinery

Processing Partially Upgraded Non-Conventional Heavy Oil in a Full Conversion Refinery

Abstract

In the last six years total crude production in Canada increased by approximately 40% to over 3.5mmBPD. As indicated by increased production of Synthetic and Non-Conventional Heavy Crudes, this growth was achieved through the expansion of existing facilities and new production in the Oil Sands.

Over the short and long term, taking into consideration projects currently under construction and planned projects, this trend will continue. From the perspective of the operators of full conversion refineries, the most important trend is the increased production of Non-Conventional Heavy Crude from In-Situ and Mining operations from the Oil Sands over Conventional Heavy Crude production.

An important consideration for downstream refiners evaluating the benefit of processing Canadian Heavy Oil Crudes is the standard cut yield / quality profile as represented by the feed Assay. Assay properties of crudes produced from the Oil Sands differ from each other, and Conventional Heavy Oil, due to the characteristics of the Oil Sands formation the facility is extracting bitumen from and employed recovery technology. Generally, In-Situ Oil Sands facilities produce a Bitumen Crude using Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) technology while stand alone Oil Sands mining operations use Paraffinic Froth Treatment  (PFT) technology to produce a partially upgraded bitumen product.  

Taking into consideration key Crude Assay attributes, this paper will provide processing insight for a refiner considering the processing of incremental volumes of partially De-Asphalted Bitumen in the crude slate in a full conversion Delayed Coking based facility.