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6th UNITAR International Conference on Heavy Crude and
Tar Sands
 
The sixth was held in Houston, Texas during February 1995. The
sixth conference drew over 500 delegates and their spouses from 34
countries. The technical program featured 156 oral and poster
presentations from these twelve subjects:
- World Resource Development
- Production: Analytical Properties
- Production: Laboratory Studies
- Production: Field Projects
- Reservoir Modeling and Simulation
- Reservoir Characterization
- Well Completions and Artificial Lift Methods
- Extraction and Separation
- Conversion Technologies
- Upgrading and Refining
- Handling and Transportation
Through funds contributed by Alberta Energy, Pétroleos de
Venezuela, S.A., and the United States Department of Energy, the
Centre was able to provide financial assistance for delegates from
developing countries or countries in transition with heavy oil and/or
oil sands resources thus allowing them to attend the UNITAR
Conference. For the sixth conference, delegates were sponsored from
Albania, Cameroon, Hungary, India, Madagascar, Romania, and the
former Soviet Union.
These tri-annual conferences serve as a focal point for technology
transfer for both upstream and downstream processes and equipment.
They are a meeting place for experts in heavy crude and tar sands,
and the resulting Proceedings serve as a valuable reference tool for
those in the industry.
Conference Proceedings are available through the Centre, and are
sold on a cost reimbursement basis to cover the cost of printing,
shipping and handling. In addition to the oral and poster
presentations, the Proceedings include some of the Plenary Session
and luncheon speeches. You can contact the Centre C/O NPTO P.O. Box
3628 Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA 74101-3628. Phone: (918) 335-1299, FAX:
(918) 699-2048, e-mail: info@oildrop.org
for more information and pricing.
Sorry, but we only accept
Cheques or Money Orders, no Credit Cards. E-mail the Centre:
info@oildrop.org
for orders.
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Training and Workshops
In focus with the Centre's name, United Nations Institute for
Training and Research, workshops can be conducted in various areas of
energy production, transportation, refining/upgrading, and
environmental compatibility, in countries that require assistance in
technology, research, planning or development. Consultants and
industry experts are used (often volunteering their time) to conduct
technical training sessions.
In 1995, the Centre, together with the Albanian Energy
Ministry, Albpetrol, and the Anglo-Albanian Petroleum
Company, presented a training workshop in Patos, Albania, from
October 23&endash;27, 1995. This week-long course, entitled Heavy
Crude: Energy Alternatives for Development, averaged 40
participants per day. This five-day program began with an overview of
the Albanian heavy oil industry presented by the Albanian Energy
Ministry, Albpetrol, and the Anglo-Albanian Petroleum
Company. On days two through four, a number of topics were
covered with specific reference to Albania: primary production,
steam-based processes, in situ combustion processes, horizontal
wells, under balanced drilling, pumping technologies, reservoir
modeling and simulation, safety, and environmental concerns. A field
tour of Albania's fields, production facilities, and two steam pilot
projects took place on the final day of the workshop.
In 1996, a training workshop was presented in Romania from June
3&endash;6, 1996. The workshop focused on thermal methods, in situ
combustion, and horizontal wells for production of heavy oil.
Drs. Maria Tóth,
Gordon Moore, Raj Mehta, and Kenny Adegbesan
formed the team of facilitators for the workshop.
The feedback from both the Albanians and Romanians indicated that
they were very pleased with the content, presentation, and
organization of the workshop. The Albanians also stated that they
would be purchasing some of the equipment which was suggested during
the training program. Workshops have been requested in Venezuela,
Albania (follow up to the 1996 workshop), Madagascar, Cameroon, and
China.
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Round Robin Analytical Studies
Round Robin Analytical Studies have been performed with the goal
of standardizing downstream procedures for the evaluation of heavy
crude and bitumen, and to develop a comprehensive set of information
pertaining to the characteristics of the world's heavy oil deposits.
The First Round Robin Study was done on Boscan Crude, the second on
Athabaska Bitumen and the third on Cerro Negro Crude.
The fourth and most recent Round Robin Study was done on
Venezuela's Cerro Negro crude from the Orinoco Belt. It was
discovered that many laboratories no longer have the resources to do
these analytical studies. This concern was discussed at the Sixth
UNITAR International Conference on Heavy Crude and Tar Sands.
Questionnaires were issued requesting suggestions for future
activities in this project. Characterization of the crude help in
designing more efficient and cost effective upgrading / refining
units to convert the viscous oil to higher value, clean burning,
liquid fuels (gasoline, aviation fuel and diesel). The Fifth Round
Robin Study is currently being planned, and is expected to occur
mid-1997.
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Definition of Heavy Oil and Bitumen
The Centre is a recognized international organization. This
unbiased status allows the Centre to set worldwide standards such as
the accepted definition of Bitumen. In 1981, a committee of experts
was assembled by the UNITAR Centre. At the 1982 conference in
Caracas, the Centre's definitions of Heavy Oil and Bitumen were accepted as the worldwide standards.
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