Simulation of bitumen upgrading processes.

The article focuses on two different methods employed by the oil sands industry in Canada to produce synthetic crude oils (SCO) for refineries in Canada and the U.S. these refineries make use of bitumen to manufacture SCO. Coaking is one method which easily handles high solid and water content in mining-based bitumen. Hydroconversion is the other method which utilizes ebullated-bed hydrocracking. However, both the method is affected by fouling. Hence, a combination of methods is employed.