Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 3

Canada has a vast and diversified portfolio of energy resources and produces large quantities of energy for bothdomestic consumption and export. About two thirds of crude oil production is exported, making the pipelineindustry crucially important. Crude oil transported by pipeline varies widely in density, viscosity, sulfurcontent, and other fluid properties. As the product is transported throughout the pipeline system, it passesthrough the custody of various parties. During these ""custody transfer"" events, both parties are concerned withthe quantity and the quality of the crude oil since this determines the monetary value of the transaction. In orderto establish the 'true volume' of the petroleum products being transported, accurate determination of the densityand sediment and water (S&W) is crucial, which requires proper sample mixing and handling procedures.NAIT's Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability will work with Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI),Enbridge Pipeline Inc., and TransCanada to investigate the impact of composite sample mixing methodologyand centrifugal forces on both density and S&W determination. Two different mixing systems will beemployed allowing two methods for density measurement and two methods for S&W content determination tobe conducted for each mixing system. Comparison of the data collected will provide important informationabout the impact of mixing methodology and centrifugal force on density and S&W determination of liquidcrudes, promoting improvements to existing ASTM/API. This project is critical to improve the accuracy ofcustody transfer processes throughout the pipeline community and to enhance Canada's ability to transportcrude oil domestically and internationally.