UPC: Catalytic process test successfully separated oil, tar sands

Sept. 8, 2003
Uranium Power Corp. (UPC), Vancouver, BC, reported that a 3-4 tonne bulk sample of Athabasca tar sand was processed successfully Aug. 30 at Earth Energy Resources Inc.'s 500 tonne/day separation plant in Grande Prairie, Alta.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Sept. 8 -- Uranium Power Corp. (UPC), Vancouver, BC, reported that a 3-4 tonne bulk sample of Athabasca tar sand was processed successfully Aug. 30 at Earth Energy Resources Inc.'s 500 tonne/day separation plant in Grande Prairie, Alta.

In the initial test, the plant separated tar from the sand rapidly, UPC said, leaving oil, clean sand, and the catalyst slurry in separate holding tanks. A visual record of the test is available at www.apioil.net.

Maxxam Analytics Inc., an independent laboratory with expertise in Athabasca tar sand analysis, supervised the test and collected a variety of samples for analysis. The samples will determine the percentage of oil recovered and the quality of the extracted oil. Final analysis is expected this week.

Previous Maxxam laboratory analysis of a Utah tar sands sample, however, confirmed a 99.8% recovery of hydrocarbons by weight and the upgrading of the Utah crude oil to 25.6° gravity from 10°, resulting in a medium grade crude oil.

"The catalytic process of Earth Energy confirmed its ability to successfully separate hydrocarbons from Athabasca tar sand," said W.G. Timmins, a professional geological engineer and a UPC director. "Therefore, subject to analytical results, the company plans to move the 500 tonne/day separation plant to Fort McMurray and process a larger 2,000 tonne sample of Athabasca tar sands, using the Earth Energy process to complete a feasibility study." A UPC spokesman said the plant would be moved to Fort McMurray in about 30 days.

UPC said it has an exclusive license agreement with Earth Energy to commercialize the catalyst technology both in Canada and in Central and South America.