Partially Upgraded Bitumen (PUB) Transportability and Processability

Start Date
December 2019

Background
This project was initiated to evaluate PUB materials for risks to transportation and refinery processes. The project is focused on developing standardized test protocols to allow comparison of PUB materials produced via different technologies/conditions. This project is an extension of the 2016 Alberta Innovates initiated a project focused on Bitumen Upgrading which was completed in 2018.

Milestones as of September 2024

• In June of 2019, a proposal for a follow up project focussing on the Transportability and Processability of Partially Upgraded Bitumen (PUB) was presented. Presenter (scott.r.smith@cenovus.com) requested feedback/expressions of interest from the membership to determine if the project should be participant of Association funded.
  
• First meeting for the new project “Transportability and Processability of Partially Upgraded Bitumen (PUB)” was held on Dec 3rd, 2019.
  
• PUB Workshop was held on March 12, 2020. Workshop focus was the selection of samples and tests for study to address areas of concern with refining and/or transport of PUB. Output of the workshop was a survey/worksheet sent to participants to prioritize activities.
  
• Sample selection and testing survey results were presented at the June 2020 project meeting.
  
• A survey was sent to refiners to gather information regarding what the key areas of concern are for processing PUB products.
  
• Refiner survey results were presented at the September 2022 project meeting. The following were the key area of concern:
    — Exchanger fouling (high priority)
    — Emulsion stability (high priority
    — Desalter operation (medium priority)
    — Olefins in PUB (medium priority)
    — Migration of contaminants, specifically metals (medium priority)
    — Odor (low priority)
  
• The six phases of the project have been identified based on the priorities and discussions with the various stakeholders. The phases are listed below:
    Phase 1 — Basic Characterization
    Phase 2 — Fouling
    Phase 3 — Blend Fouling
    Phase 4 — Emulsion Stability
    Phase 5 — Migration of poisons into distillates
    Phase 6 — Changes in PUB during storage due to reactions of olefins/diolefins
  
• Nine types of PUB samples have been identified plus a dilbit reference material. These include hydrotreated and non-hydrotreated PUBs.
  
• Refinements were made to the testing matrix at the June 2022 project meeting.
  
• A preliminary budget has been developed and was discussed at the June project meeting.
  
• Based on the prop\osed budget, the CCQTA Board of Directors has agreed to provide funding support to this project as a CCQTA sponsored project. Sept 2022.
  
• A questionnaire was sent to refiners in October 2022 looking for feedback regarding the quality of PUB’s for FCC Feed.
  
• A meeting was held with the CCQTA chemical suppliers in November 2022 to discuss emulsion testing methods, use of de-emulsifiers as well as the interest of companies to work with the project team on experimental work.
  
• Results of both the refiner questionnaire and the chemical supplier meeting were discussed at the December 2022 project meeting.
  
• A funding application has been approved by Alberta Innovates to support the project work. The premise of the application is the development of the sampling and testing protocol to allow any PUB materials to be tested and then compared to each other based on the characteristics of most concern to refiners. The comparative data provided by the protocol should improve market access for PUBs by alleviating refiner concerns about processability problems.
  

• Preliminary data for phases, 1, 2 and 4 was presented at the June 2024 project meeting. See June 2024 meeting minutes for details.
  
• Testing for phases 1, 2 and 4 has completed.
  
• Testing for phases 3, 5 and 6 are in progress.
  
• All available data will be presented at the October 2024 project meeting.
  
• PUB4 (solvent de-asphalted) has not been received to date therefore those results will not be included in presented data.