Reference number : GC-2017-Q4-00645, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Gates, Ian (University of Calgary), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Alberta, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Idea to Innovation, program name french : De l'idée à l'innovation, program purpose english : Bitumen produced in Alberta is transported to Canadian and North American downstream processors via pipelines or rail. Both modes of transportation present the risk of significant environmental, financial and societal costs if the bitumen spills occur. The spilled bitumen can release toxic chemicals into potable water resources (rivers, lakes), groundwater and significantly affect wildlife and flora and fauna around the spillage._x000D_
The oil sands industry in Alberta is encountering extreme resistance from various stakeholders because of this potential risk and its social license to operate is being threatened. The Research Team has developed a technology to solidify the bitumen so that it is amenable to ground and sea transportation and minimizes or eliminates potential environmental mishaps._x000D_
_x000D_
While many different methods for solidifying bitumen are known, the Research Team has proposed to investigate ultrasonics for polymerizing bitumen to a solid or more viscous semi-solid form. Therefore, the objective of this technology development/commercialization plan is to demonstrate a scaled-down version of a device that will generate solid or semi-solid bitumen 'bricks (or pellets)' and generate technical information that would form the design basis for a larger scale device to produce solid or semi-solid bitumen 'bricks/pellets' that could easily fit in a rail car._x000D_
_x000D_
A portion of GHG emissions in the oil sands industry originate from the transportation of bitumen or heavy oil to markets. This often involves dilution with diluent (condensates from gas fields) to create dilbit. The solid form bitumen pellet can be safely transported in rail cars with no requirement of diluent or heating._x000D_, program purpose french : Bitumen produced in Alberta is transported to Canadian and North American downstream processors via pipelines or rail. Both modes of transportation present the risk of significant environmental, financial and societal costs if the bitumen spills occur. The spilled bitumen can release toxic chemicals into potable water resources (rivers, lakes), groundwater and significantly affect wildlife and flora and fauna around the spillage._x000D_
The oil sands industry in Alberta is encountering extreme resistance from various stakeholders because of this potential risk and its social license to operate is being threatened. The Research Team has developed a technology to solidify the bitumen so that it is amenable to ground and sea transportation and minimizes or eliminates potential environmental mishaps._x000D_
_x000D_
While many different methods for solidifying bitumen are known, the Research Team has proposed to investigate ultrasonics for polymerizing bitumen to a solid or more viscous semi-solid form. Therefore, the objective of this technology development/commercialization plan is to demonstrate a scaled-down version of a device that will generate solid or semi-solid bitumen 'bricks (or pellets)' and generate technical information that would form the design basis for a larger scale device to produce solid or semi-solid bitumen 'bricks/pellets' that could easily fit in a rail car._x000D_
_x000D_
A portion of GHG emissions in the oil sands industry originate from the transportation of bitumen or heavy oil to markets. This often involves dilution with diluent (condensates from gas fields) to create dilbit. The solid form bitumen pellet can be safely transported in rail cars with no requirement of diluent or heating._x000D_, agreement title english : Lower GHG intensive transport of bitumen or heavy oil in solid phase, agreement title french : Lower GHG intensive transport of bitumen or heavy oil in solid phase, agreement number : I2IPJ, agreement value : 125000.0, agreement start date : 2018-01-10, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada