top of page

FTCrude® TECHNOLOGY
The Ultimate Bitumen Value Chain

Expander’s FTCrude® technology transforms how heavy oil and bitumen are refined and shipped. By converting the heaviest 25% of the bitumen barrel (the asphalt portion) into light distillate (diesel or kerosene / jet fuel), the process eliminates the need to add thinning agents (diluent). This frees up to 30% more pipeline capacity, increasing total volume of marketable product to market.

 

Additionally, using the FTCrude® process eliminates the need for a coker unit and the sulfur and CO2 emissions typically released when petcoke is burned.

Golden-Hour Tanker Train in Motion.png
Benefits of FTCrude®:

  • Maximize pipeline utilization / export volume / revenue

  • Floatable Pipeline Product – lower cleanup risk - social license

  • Energy Security – made in Canada strategic jet and diesel fuel supply

  • Capital cost competitive with existing upgrading technologies 

​​​

Benefits & Characteristics of FTCrude®:

 

Transport & Market Access:

​

  • Crude Product is Float-able (Specific Gravity <1.0): same as conventional crude - eliminates added complexity of cleanup related to high density crude spill cleanup. 

  • No Diluent Needed: The upgraded product can move by pipeline, rail or tanker without blending in diluent.

  • More Pipeline Capacity: Without diluent taking up space, up to 30% more revenue generating product can move through existing pipelines.

  • Higher Market Value: A lighter, cleaner product is expected to have higher revenue potential.

 

Production of Strategic Transport fuels - Energy Security / Sovereignty:

​

  • Energy Security: Additional domestic production of kerosene (jet fuel) reduces the Canadian aviation industries dependance on imports.  Approximately 3 billion liters of jet fuel was imported in 2025.  

Technical Papers

 

  1. Bitumen Upgrader Residue Conversion to Incremental Synthetic Fuels Products (World Heavy Oil Congress 2014?)[Download Link]

  2. Convert Heavy Oil Residue into Synthetic Fuel (Hydrocarbon Processing, March 2014)[Download Link]

  3. Bitumen Partial & Targeted Upgrading the Next Step (World Heavy Oil Congress 2015)[Download Link]

bottom of page