Synergy Technologies Corp., Calgary, has claimed �excellent� results for a proprietary heavy oil upgrading process, dubbed CPJ, which it said converted 13� gravity oil to 30� plus oil while achieving liquid volume yields of more than 90%.
The process utilizes an instantaneous thermal transfer in conjunction with mechanical shear from high-temperature steam to split the very large hydrocarbon molecules, forming lighter oils.
Carbon Resources Ltd., a Synergy subsidiary, performed the testing at a laboratory in Calgary. The National Center for Upgrading Technology, a research alliance of the Canadian and Alberta governments, also analyzed the products.
Synergy said �The tests substantiated CPJ's unique ability to maximize production of specific, higher value distillates such as diesel and naphtha, while minimizing production of the vacuum gas oils, and 'bottoms.' In effect, the CPJ process can tailor upgraded heavy oil to suit refineries with regards to product slate."
Synergy also claimed the upgraded heavy oil could be pipelined to refineries without the addition of costly condensate diluents usually used to reduce the viscosity of the heavy oil.
