WRI Establishes a Heavy Oil Technology Center

The new Heavy Oil Technology Center at Western Research Institute in Laramie, Wyoming, will includes facilities, expertise and activities devoted to the development of field technology for oil sands upgrading in the U.S., Canada and Venezuela. The Center is housed in a 4,500-sq ft facility that includes offices, laboratories, conference room and high bay for pilot-scale technology development.

Activities will include full analytical testing, including modified Fischer assays on western and eastern U.S. oil shales, liquid upgrading (hydrotreating) of process-derived liquids, and development of the WRITE Process. The WRITE (WRI Thermal Enhancement) process is designed to upgrade bitumen in the field to pipeline-ready heavy oil.

WRI''s association with the newly established University of Wyoming Energy Resources School affords new opportunities for educational exchange and graduate training.