The bitumen puzzle

Mix of methods provides new info

07-Jul-2021 - Although the history of bitumen dates back to the third millennium BC, only little is known about its surface structure. Researchers from TU Wien are now shedding light on the nature of the bitumen surface using physicochemical analyses. While atomic force microscopy and scanning electron ...

Artificial Intelligence has learned to estimate oil viscosity

Indirect measurements are a lucky alternative for a variety of sectors

09-Nov-2020 - A group of Skoltech scientists developed machine learning (ML) algorithms that can teach artificial intelligence (AI) to determine oil viscosity based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. The new method can come in handy for the petroleum industry and other sectors, which have to rely on ...

Heavy-petroleum fuels raising vanadium emissions

19-Dec-2017 - Human emissions of the potentially harmful trace metal vanadium into Earth's atmosphere have spiked sharply since the start of the 21st century due in large part to industry's growing use of heavy oils, tar sands, bitumen and petroleum coke for energy, a new Duke University study finds. "Human ...

Living organisms in oil

13-Aug-2014 - Miniscule water droplets in oil provide a habitat for a number of microorganisms. Scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum München have discovered that these communities of microorganisms play a part in breaking down the oil and have published their findings in the journal Science. Oil might not, at ...

Nature of solids and liquids explored through new pitch drop experiment

04-Jul-2014 - Physicists at Queen Mary University of London have set up a new pitch drop experiment for students to explore the difference between solid and liquids. Known as the 'world's longest experiment', the set up at the University of Queensland was famous for taking ten years for a drop of pitch – a ...

Established Construction Material: Ceresana publishes study on the European market for bitumen

04-Jun-2014 - For centuries, bitumen has been used in a wide variety of applications, mainly in the production of asphalt. The viscous mixture is very important in the construction sector in particular. Ceresana is currently publishing a complete overview of the European market for bitumen: Analysts expect ...

Aker Solutions awarded contract for Staatsolie refinery expansion project

10-Sep-2009 - Aker Solutions has been awarded the project management consultant (PMC) contract for Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V.'s refinery expansion project in Suriname. Once completed, the project will double the refinery's processing capacity to 15,000 barrels per day, producing diesel, gasoline, ...

Fluor Secures Kearl Oil Sands Contract in Canada

09-Jul-2009 - Fluor Corporation announced that it was awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for infrastructure and offlease facilities for the first phase of Imperial Oil’s Kearl oil sands project, a surface mining and bitumen extraction operation located 70 kilometers northeast ...

North West Upgrading Selects Praxair to Supply Oxygen in Alberta

22-Sep-2008 - Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) announced that North West Upgrading Inc. (NWU), has selected Praxair Canada Inc. to provide the industrial gases needed for its heavy oil Upgrader in Sturgeon County, Alberta, Canada. North West’s process eliminates production of coke, uses gasification to make hydrogen ...

Sasol to double production of hard waxes in South Africa

09-Sep-2008 - Sasol has approved R558 million for its Sasol Wax operation to complete basic engineering for a project to double its production of hard wax in two phases and for ordering long-lead items for the first phase of this expansion. Sasol Wax has production facilities in South Africa, North America, ...