Synthetic crude
Encyclopedia
Synthetic crude is the output from a bitumen/extra heavy oil upgrader
facility used in connection with oil sand production. It may also refer to shale oil
, an output from an oil shale
pyrolysis
. The properties of the synthetic crude depend on the processes used in the upgrading. Typically, it is low in sulfur and has an API gravity
of around 30. It is also known as "upgraded crude".
Synthetic crude is an intermediate product produced when an extra-heavy or unconventional oil source is upgraded into a transportable form. Synthetic crude is then shipped to oil refineries where it is further upgraded into finished products.
Syncrude Canada
and Suncor Energy Inc.
and Canadian Natural Resources Limited
are the three largest worldwide producers of synthetic crude with a cumulative production of approximately 600000 oilbbl/d. The NewGrade Energy Upgrader became operational in 1988, and was the first upgrader in Canada, now part of the CCRL Refinery Complex
.
Upgrader
An upgrader is a facility that upgrades bitumen into synthetic crude oil. Upgrader plants are typically located close to oil sands production, for example, the Athabasca oil sands in Alberta, Canada or the Orinoco tar sands in Venezuela....
facility used in connection with oil sand production. It may also refer to shale oil
Shale oil
Shale oil, known also as kerogen oil or oil-shale oil, is an unconventional oil produced from oil shale by pyrolysis, hydrogenation, or thermal dissolution. These processes convert the organic matter within the rock into synthetic oil and gas...
, an output from an oil shale
Oil shale
Oil shale, an organic-rich fine-grained sedimentary rock, contains significant amounts of kerogen from which liquid hydrocarbons called shale oil can be produced...
pyrolysis
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is a thermochemical decomposition of organic material at elevated temperatures without the participation of oxygen. It involves the simultaneous change of chemical composition and physical phase, and is irreversible...
. The properties of the synthetic crude depend on the processes used in the upgrading. Typically, it is low in sulfur and has an API gravity
API gravity
The American Petroleum Institute gravity, or API gravity, is a measure of how heavy or light a petroleum liquid is compared to water. If its API gravity is greater than 10, it is lighter and floats on water; if less than 10, it is heavier and sinks...
of around 30. It is also known as "upgraded crude".
Synthetic crude is an intermediate product produced when an extra-heavy or unconventional oil source is upgraded into a transportable form. Synthetic crude is then shipped to oil refineries where it is further upgraded into finished products.
Syncrude Canada
Syncrude
Syncrude Canada Ltd. is the world's largest producer of synthetic crude oil from oil sands and the largest single source producer in Canada. It is located just outside Fort McMurray in the Athabasca Oil Sands, and has a nameplate capacity of of oil, equivalent to about 13% of Canada's consumption...
and Suncor Energy Inc.
Suncor Energy
Suncor Energy Inc. is a Canadian integrated energy company based in Calgary, Alberta. It specializes in production of synthetic crude from oil sands...
and Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Natural Resources Limited is an oil and natural gas exploration, development and production company centered in Calgary, Alberta. Operations are focused in western Canada, the North Sea and offshore West Africa. It ranks number 251 on the Forbes Global 2000 list for...
are the three largest worldwide producers of synthetic crude with a cumulative production of approximately 600000 oilbbl/d. The NewGrade Energy Upgrader became operational in 1988, and was the first upgrader in Canada, now part of the CCRL Refinery Complex
CCRL Refinery Complex
The CCRL Refinery Complex is an oil refinery spread over located in the city of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada owned by Consumers' Co-operative Refineries Limited that is in turn owned by Federated Co-operatives Limited . The refinery provides oil products to the member co-operatives of FCL...
.
See also
- Albian SandsAlbian SandsAlbian Sands Energy Inc. is the operator of the Muskeg River Mine, an oil sands mining project located north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. It is a joint venture between Shell Canada , Marathon Oil Canada and Chevron Canada . The company's legal headquarters are located in the Shell Tower in...
- Canadian Centre for Energy InformationCanadian Centre for Energy InformationThe Canadian Centre for Energy Information is a non-profit organization created in 2002 to meet an urgent need for information on all aspects of the Canadian energy system from oil, natural gas, coal, thermal, and hydroelectric power through to nuclear, solar, wind, and other sources of energy...
- History of the petroleum industry in Canada (oil sands and heavy oil)History of the petroleum industry in Canada (oil sands and heavy oil)Canada's oil sands and heavy oil resources are among the world's great petroleum deposits. They include the vast oil sands of northern Alberta, and the heavy oil reservoirs that surround the small city of Lloydminster, which sits on the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan...
- Manure-derived synthetic crude oil
- Scotford UpgraderScotford UpgraderThe Shell Scotford Upgrader is an oilsand upgrader, a facility which processes crude bitumen from oil sands into a wide range of synthetic crude oils. The upgrader is owned by Athabasca Oil Sands Project , a joint venture of Shell Canada Energy , Marathon Oil Sands L.P. and Chevron Canada Limited...
- Suncor
- SyncrudeSyncrudeSyncrude Canada Ltd. is the world's largest producer of synthetic crude oil from oil sands and the largest single source producer in Canada. It is located just outside Fort McMurray in the Athabasca Oil Sands, and has a nameplate capacity of of oil, equivalent to about 13% of Canada's consumption...