Syncrude & Pexgol: A Collaboration Set to Reshape Slurry Transport

Syncrude Canada Ltd, a leader in the synthetic crude oil industry, faces a unique challenge in its production process. The extraction of raw oil called bitumen from oil sands is an intensive operation involving the transport of high-temperature slurry, which comprises water, sand, bitumen, and high oxygen content. Their existing pipeline, made from Schedule 80 carbon steel, was proving insufficient. This line was failing prematurely – in as little as 6 months, especially in high wear areas such as elbows and horizontal runs. The principal culprits were the the combination of the erosion and the corrosion from the high oxygen content that created the unique conditions accelerating the failure time for the carbon steel.