Low prices don't yet favor Alberta partial upgraders

摘要

A recent recommendation by the Alberta royalty panel to build partial bitumen upgraders in the province would create a new crude aimed at US refiners keen on running medium-heavy grades. But investments in such facilities could still be far away given the current low oil prices, industry officials and analysts said. "It's a kind of a cool thing [partial upgrading] and some four or five companies are already working on demonstration units," said Dave Mowat, chairman of the royalty panel, without disclosing any names. "The technology is tested, and we are hopeful of its success soon on a commercial scale."