The research group employs a range of techniques using
state-of-the-art apparatus such as:
 
PVT cell equipped for solids
detection:
o
Maximum of 70
MPa and 200oC
o
High Pressure
Microscope stage
o Near IR solids
detector
o
Modified to
collect and separate
asphaltenes
in a "centrifuge tube"
pressure vessel
o
In-line
Cambridge viscometer
o
In-line Anton
Parr density meter
Capillary viscometer:
o
Capable of
measuring viscosities up to one hundred
thousand centipoise
o
Measurements
at temperatures from
20 to 150oC
and pressures up to
70 MPa
Diffusivity Apparatus (gas-liquid):
o
Diffusivity up
to 200oC
and 1500 psi
o
Diffusivity up to 300oC
and 1500 psi
Modified Hele-Shaw Cell:
o
Dynamics of
drainage of Heavy
Oil-Solvent Systems
o
Measure liquid
flow rates, density
& interface profile over time
Drop shape analyzer tensiometer:
o
Capable of measuring interfacial rheology
over a
range of temperatures and pressure
o
Equipped to measure interfacial tension,
visco-elastic properties, time dependent
behaviour and contact angles
o
Equipped to measure
interfacial tension,
visco-elastic properties, time dependent
behaviour & contact angles
Vapour pressure osmometers (VPO):
o
used to determine molar mass of asphaltenes, resins, aromatics and saturates and to define self-association
behaviour *
Deep vacuum fractionation & vapour pressure apparatus:
o static high vacuum apparatus with operating range of 100 to
1x10-9 kPa and 25 to
300oC
o capable of generating physical fractions of heavy oil and
bitumen up to 60% in mass
o
capable of measuring vapour pressures from 1 to 1x10-4 kPa
and 25 to 200oC
Advanced Distillation Curve (ADC)
o For atmospheric distillation of light to
heavy oil
o Capable of dewatering oil
o Convert data to TBP without collecting fractions
Spinning Band Distillation (SBD)
o Ideal for separation of close-boiling compounds
o Collects 4 fractions
o
May be run under light vacuum, 2 to 760 Torre
A broad range of other oil characterization and
surface science apparatus, including:
 
SARA Analysis for
determination of
Saturates, Aromatics, Resins and Asphaltenes in heavy oil
Rag Layer Apparatus
Emulsion Preparation & Stability Determination
for measurement of growth/decay
of emulsion
rag layers
Zeiss Axiovert
S100 Microscope Kruss K12 Tensiometer Anton Paar
Abbemat Refractometer
(Wilhelmy Plate, Du Nuoy Ring) operating range 10-70oC
*
A broad range of other laboratory apparatus,
including:
Analytical Balances Batch Extraction Unit (BEU) Karl Fischer Titration
for oil sand (froth) extraction for water determinations
Centrifuges *
Anton Paar DMA4500 Density Meter
operating range 10 - 80oC
 
Vacuum ovens * Ovens
Rotary evaporators
The PVT laboratory is located in EEEL
433. The Emulsion & Characterization Lab is located in EEEL 567.
We are on the main
University of Calgary campus in
beautiful Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
* photo credit to James
McMenamin
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