Technolgy Overview

Increasing the Value of Heavy Oil
VHTL^® is a unique thermal conversion process based around a simplified version of a conventional oil process known as Fluidised Catalytic Cracking (FCC), used extensively in refineries today. The key differences are lower reaction temperatures, lower atmospheric pressure and the use of readily available sand instead of expensive catalysts. Heavy oil can be upgraded from 6.5 API gravity to produce a synthetic crude oil up to 29 API in one operation.

Global Opportunity
Global oil demand is set to grow until 2040 and lighter oil resources are being rapidly depleted. Our technology creates an opportunity for developing the vast global resources of heavy oil. However, world-wide production of heavy oil has been constrained because conventional methods of extraction, transportation and refining are too cost intensive and therefore uneconomic.

VHTL^® is the perfect solution to the heavy oil challenge.

FluidOil VHTL Texas Test Facility