Dr. Hong Zhang, Professor, Computing Science, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta; Syncrude/iCORE/Matrikon/NSERC Industrial Research Chair

SYNCRUDE/ASTECH INNOVATION IN OIL SANDS RESEARCH
Bringing Increased Efficiency to Industry

Alberta’s oil sands hold estimated reserves of 174 billion barrels of oil. And Dr. Hong Zhang is dedicated to finding ways to waste as little of that and process as much of the resource as is possible.

By working closely with industry, specifically Syncrude through a partnership with NSERC, iCORE, Matrikon and the University of Alberta, the professor of Computing Science developed advanced image processing software, which he thinks of as a suite of “visual analyzers”. They give equipment operators an effective means to measure ore particles, which must be under a certain size in order to pass through a screen before they are delivered to the extraction process.

Dr. Zhang has also developed image-processing software to allow operators to detect large frozen oil sand lumps and minimize the risk of jamming crushing machinery in winter operations.

Dr. Zhang’s advanced image processing software improves the oil sands industry business performance through an increased understanding of ore preparation process. 

“Given the vast volume of the reserves, if we improve the efficiency of the mining process by even a fraction of a percent, it could translate into billions of dollars,” Dr. Zhang explains. He adds the improved efficiency allows industry to reduce rejected material.

“That means there is less material that needs to be trucked and reprocessed,” Dr. Zhang says. “So we use less energy and cause less damage to the environment.”
Dr. Zhang began conducting oil sands-specific research in 1999. He was seeking a challenge as a researcher. His partnership with Syncrude allowed him to do that.