High-pressure, high-temperature testing for aquathermolysis and thermal recovery
We offer full-service laboratory testing and applied research at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, to investigate oil sands and bitumen behaviour under elevated pressure and temperature, with a focus on aquathermolysis and thermal recovery.
Our capabilities support studies of interactions between oil sands, bitumen, water, steam, and injected gases. Custom experimental programs can examine how temperature, pressure, gas composition, and contact history influence gas generation, fluid behaviour, and bitumen liberation.
Testing and research opportunities include: • Aquathermolysis experiments using heated, pressurized reactor systems. • Evaluation of non-condensable gas effects on thermal recovery processes. • Gas sampling and compositional analysis, including investigation of H₂S, CO₂, and methane. • Comparison of operating conditions and treatment strategies. • Single-contact and repeated-contact experimental programs, with configurations agreed during scoping. • Post-test fluid characterization and interpretation of experimental results.
Services include experimental planning, sample requirements, test execution by our research team, data analysis, and technical reporting. Additional analytical work can be coordinated according to project needs.
We welcome oil sands operators, technology developers, service companies, and research partners seeking targeted testing or broader industry-sponsored research. Partners may provide representative oil sands or fluid samples and help define operating conditions and practical objectives.
Each project is scoped individually. Operating limits, sample compatibility, analytical methods, test capacity, schedule, costs, and deliverables are confirmed before work begins. Please contact us with your research question, sample type, proposed conditions, and desired timeline.
About University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a large, comprehensive public research university in Edmonton with multiple campuses and a strong applied research culture. Industry engages through co-located labs and pilot-scale facilities, as well as established co-op and internship programs that place talent with partners year-round. Integration with Alberta’s province-wide hospital system supports clinical research and accelerates translation. Companies also benefit from proximity to regional industry clusters and collaboration hubs on and near campus for joint R&D and prototyping. Supported by NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, and Canada Foundation for Innovation funding—plus provincial and industry support—the tech transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup formation with streamlined sponsored-research agreements.
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