Press Release Back Number(2003)

Development of the world's first technology for the utilization of ultra-heavy oil, an untapped resource
- Making it possible to utilize ultra-heavy oil in the same way as conventional oil resources, by treatment with supercritical water -

July 29, 2003

Chubu Electric Power has succeeded in developing technology that makes it possible to utilize ultra-heavy oil,*1 a promising untapped resource for the next generation, in the same way that conventional oil resources are used.

  • *1 Ultra-heavy oil lies underground throughout the world, particularly in Canada and Venezuela. Oil sand and heavy oil are included in this category.

Ultra-heavy oil is now virtually unused, due to poor characteristics such as high viscosity and high sulfur content. However, we have succeeded in reducing its viscosity and eliminating its sulfur content by refining the ultra-heavy oil with supercritical water (high-temperature, high-pressure water)*2.

We have developed the world's first technology for reforming ultra-heavy oil to enable it to be handled in the same way as conventional oil resources.

  • *2 Supercritical water is a water at conditions exceeding a temperature of 374(C and a pressure of 22 MPa. It is extremely reactive, with liquid-like solubility and gas-like diffusibility. It has the ability to quickly resolve materials that are not resolved in normal chemical reactions.

This research was jointly conducted by Chubu Electric Power and the International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer (ICETT) in FY 2002, supported by a subsidy from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for promoting the development of industrial technologies for global environmental conservation.

Ultra-heavy oil lies underground throughout the world, and its reserves are estimated to be at least as great as those of conventional oil resources. However, its high viscosity makes it difficult to pipe, while its high sulfur content requires sophisticated measures to reduce environmental impact.

We have discovered that the density of supercritical water (high-temperature, high-pressure water) is highly effective in removing sulfur from ultra-heavy oil. By controlling this reaction, we have succeeded in reducing its viscosity as well as eliminating its sulfur content.

This method has the following features:

  1. 1. Adding fluidity to clotted ultra-heavy oil
  2. 2. Changing ultra-heavy oil into high-quality fuel emitting less sulfur oxide
  3. 3. Reducing the environmental impact of ultra-heavy oil with water

Commercialization of the technology that we have developed will lead to further diversification of energy resources and contribute to the establishment of long-term energy security. We plan to start proof-testing of the continuous processing system for commercialization by the end of this fiscal year.
Research period: From July 2002 to March 2003
Research cost: Approximately 34 million yen