Released on June 25, 2001
The Government of Canada and the provincial government have formed apartnership to enhance the development of the Saskatchewan Research
Council's Pipe Flow Technology Centre.
Natural Resources Canada Minister (NRCan) Ralph Goodale and Minister
responsible for the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) Maynard Sonntag
today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that involves locating an
NRCan research engineer at the SRC Pipe Flow Centre for five years and a
contribution towards capital equipment. The total value of these
contributions is estimated at $600,000.
"The Centre is a big investment in Saskatchewan people, and it's a major
vote of confidence in Saskatchewan's future," Goodale said. "We are working
together to find the next generation of new technologies to maximize the
economic gains from our mineral resources and to minimize the environmental
impacts of their development. We can build the Centre into one of the most
significant mining research facilities in North America."
While the SRC main area of expertise is pipeline flow mixtures, NRCan has
developed a unique method for paste mixture preparation. With the new
agreement, the SRC and NRCan are joining forces to develop paste technology
for the Canadian mining and oil sand industries.
Paste is a mixture of a solids and water that contains only enough water to
allow it to flow. NRCan's contribution will improve the paste flow loop
equipment at SRC's Pipe Flow Technology Centre. The NRCan research
engineer will work with the SRC Research Group developing technology and
participating in SRC's projects.
"The oil, gas and mining sector is currently one of the largest
contributors to the Saskatchewan economy, and represents about six per cent
of our gross domestic product," Sonntag said. "With this investment, SRC
can continue to provide value-added service to this important sector of our
economy."
Paste flows are important to the Canadian mining industry, including the
potash and uranium producers. Oil-water flows are of interest to the
Canadian petroleum industry, and in particular, to heavy oil producers.
The Canadian oil sand industry uses both types of mixture flows in their
northern Alberta operations.
The oil sands industry, led by Syncrude Canada, is a major client and
provider of equipment for flow studies at the SRC. "Five oil sand
industries are participating in SRC's paste technology project which will
have direct applications for oil sands tailings management," Syncrude
Canada's Research Programs Manager John Oxenford said.
Government of Canada funding for this agreement was provided for in the
February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial
framework.
- 30 -
For more information, contact:
Randy Gillies Pat Breton
Manager PFTC Press Secretary
Saskatchewan Research Council Natural Resources Canada
Saskatoon Ottawa
Phone: (306) 933-5473 Phone: (613) 996-2007
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available on the Internet at
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca.