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14-gallon EZ Flow pilot plant. SwRI’s patented EZ Flow™ technology reduces the viscosity of heavy crude oil by between 40-60% to make transporting more efficient.
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) advances transportation solutions for heavy crude oil that’s carried via pipelines, tankers, rail and maritime. Through applied R&D, our chemical engineers develop and identify new treatments, methods and techniques for cost-effective, lower carbon-intensity transportation of heavy crude oil. We work to ensure supply-chain reliability with mobile pilot unit designs, build-up and operations support. Our team also conducts hazard and safety analyses and can troubleshoot petroleum and biotechnology processes. We help our clients make strategic investments through small capital expenditure (CapEx) process improvements at connected terminals and production sites to unlock incremental growth, while pursuing technological advances for accelerated output.
- Lower carbon intensity (CI) per barrel-km
- Low cost. No hassle. High impact.
- Low technology demand and energy requirement
- Mobile heavy crude oil treatment
- Low chemical concentration, mixing technology
- Enhanced Oil Recovery applications
- Modularized systems
- Automated technologies
EZ Flow™ Technology
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SwRI’s patented EZ Flow™ technology reduces the viscosity of heavy crude oil by between 40-60% to make transporting more efficient.
North and South America are rich in heavy crude oil, oil sands and bitumen reserves but production, transportation and refining semisolid petroleum has remained far more costly than importing light and medium crude oils from elsewhere around the world. SwRI has developed technology to reduce the viscosity of heavy crude oil by 60% or more. Patented EZ Flow™ technology is designed to reduce transportation costs by allowing the movement of heavy crude through existing pipelines over long distances without retreatment or heating. The treated heavy crudes keep their reduced viscosity property for extended periods of time (months, even years). With the development of EZ Flow, transportation of heavy crude requires far less energy and chemical addition than existing shipping and transportation methods resulting in lower operations costs.
Interested in learning more? Call James Wood at +1 210 522 6788.
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From oil field to refinery, this graphic maps the transportation of heavy crude oil.
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Helping Heavy Crudes Go the Distance
EZ Flow™ process allows cost-effective pipeline transportation
How does SwRI reduce risks for clients seeking to advance sustainable or emerging petroleum technology?
SwRI combines deep multidisciplinary knowledge of core scientific fields of study with field-tested results. In our extensive chemical laboratories we provide analytical modeling, along with lab- and bench-scale testing to support clients with strategic scale up. We also provide design and operational support for demonstration pilot plants to ensure novel technology functions as desired prior to commercialization. This allows clients to test their processes and derisk investments. SwRI also operates a variety of industry-focused consortia that offer pre-competitive research for members with the added benefit of cost-sharing and targeted studies.
Expert Solutions
- Customization & Consulting
- Process Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
- Corrosion Control
- Recycling Technology