Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – The Pipe Flow Technology Centre™ at the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is now one of Canada’s first research facilities equipped to test conditions with volatile materials such as crude oil in a high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) physical model.
SRC expanded an existing specially-designed building at the Centre to accommodate research on light and heavy crude oils and refined petroleum products, all of which are flammable and require special equipment for safe storage and handling. The facility has been equipped with a 100 millimeter diameter pipe flow loop designed to simulate industrial conditions. The loop will be used to research the flow of complex mixtures in pipes under HPHT conditions.
“Congratulations to the Saskatchewan Research Council on the completion of the expansion of the Pipe Flow Technology Centre,” said the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. “Our Government’s investment in the upgraded Centre will result in economic benefits through job creation, increased productivity, and technological advancements in the oil and gas industry.”
“SRC is committed to benefiting Saskatchewan through its products and services and this project is no different,” said the Honourable Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Innovation and Minister Responsible for SRC. “We expect the expansion will facilitate several research projects to improve efficiency and business productivity for oil, gas and mining companies in our province and around the world.”
With the new research capabilities that the expansion has provided, the Centre can now test a wider range of substances and help the provincial, and national, oil and gas industry enhance oil recovery, reduce operating costs and improve processes.
“The expansion to SRC’s Pipe Flow Technology Centre will enable industry to test new ideas and solve current problems with effectively designed solutions,” said Dr. Laurier Schramm, President and CEO of SRC. “The Centre has been in business for over 55 years now and it’s well-known for providing world-class service offerings. This expansion has increased the Centre’s capabilities even further.”
The expansion will formally be known as the Shook-Gillies HPHT Test Facility in honour of two pioneers in the area of slurry testing and research who were cornerstone contributors to SRC’s Pipe Flow Technology Centre over the past 55 years, Dr. Clifton Shook and Dr. Randall Gillies.
The federal and provincial governments jointly invested $1,730,000 through the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA) for this project. SRC contributed a further $1,460,000.
SRC’s Pipe Flow Technology Centre™ is acknowledged as an international leader in its field and has collaborated with Canadian and international clients on a range of ground-breaking pipeline and fluid mechanics applications.
SRC is one of Canada’s leading providers of applied research, development and demonstration, and technology commercialization. With more than 350 employees, $59 million in annual revenue and 67 years of experience, SRC provides services and products to its 1,400 clients in 20 countries around the world.
