Canadian Petroleum Research —Digging In For The Long Term
Authors: Bowman C.W. 
Published: March 2010

Canadian petroleum research ranges from exploration technology to development of highly refined petrochemicals. Studies on permafrost and ice mechanics are examples of diversified Arctic research programs being undertaken by many industry, university and governmental research groups. New seismic evaluation methods, the forerunner of advanced expert systems, are assisting exploration directed toward relatively small complicated oil reservoirs in the western basin. More efficient processes for recovering the large resources of heavy crude and natural bitumen are under active testing, including horizontal wells and follow-up processes to apply after steam stimulation. Research on the extraction of mined oil sands is improving the commercially applied technologies as well as providing technology alternatives for new projects. New approaches for upgrading heavy oil and bitumen have been identified and are under active study. Research in the petroleum products area has led to the introduction of new, high-detergency gasoline. Field testing of various alternative fuels, including oxygenated fuels and dual gaseous/liquid fuels, is under way. The severity of Canadian winters has provided fertile ground for the development of advanced low temperature lubricants, and increased attention is being applied to lubricants suitable for the new high-temperature engines coming on the market.

Introduction

The recent downturn in the petroleum industry has had a significant effect on the level, and nature, of the industry's commitment to research and development. Many companies have trimmed their R&D budgets and focused more of their remaining effort on shorter-term projects closer to the mainstream of their business. In spite of this retrenchment, technology development and application is still recognized as a key ingredient for competitive survival. Significant research activity in the core areas continues, and important longer term step-out technologies are being aggressively pursued. The shortage of funds has put renewed emphasis on collaborative work, and a number of joint industry programs have been established.

One of the remarkable features of petroleum R&D in Canada is its breadth, From off-shore exploration to the development of highly refined petrochemical products, It has not been possible to include all current projects in the following summary statements, but the ones which have been described amply demonstrate the scope and complexity of the research under way. Expected impacts of the projects are provided in Table 1.

Upstream R&D

Exploration

Research in the Arctic

The earliest application of marine technology in Canada's Arctic (at least by Europeans) was in support of whaling or for exploration (such as the search for the Northwest Passage). Today, the major incentive to Arctic operations is the recovery of minerals, primarily oil and gas, and this has led to a complex set of research requirements. Under the auspices of the Arctic Petroleum Operator's Association (APOA) (now Frontier Division of the Canadian Petroleum Association) well over 200 joint industry research studies have been conducted in the general topic areas of:—permafrost,—ice mechanics and ice forces,—waves and wave action of islands,—offshore soils and foundations,—oil spill control,—environmental base line studies,—offshore platforms, including caisson islands, and—pipelines.