Oil Train Wagons

Liquid Hydrocarbon/Oil Analysis

Our laboratory testing services are customized to meet the unique needs of SADG and mining extraction operations. As part of our Green Line Services and Solutions, the Bureau Veritas Oil & Gas Division has a laboratory specializing in bitumen and oil sands lab testing methods in Edmonton, Alberta, to address both specific testing needs and the larger issues surrounding environmental and sustainability stewardship. Whatever your goals, our Green Line is here to advise our clients on how to implement, measure, and achieve the best sustainability practices that will lead to a greener future. 

  • Analysis of coal, coke, biomass & other solid fuels

    For coal, coke and biomass, customers can rely on bureau veritas analytical programs to assess the processability, performance and grade (of coal)

    The industry standard for solid fuel evaluation is Proximate Analysis (ASTM D3172) indicating the percentage of weight of the fixed carbon, volatiles, ash and moisture content and Ultimate Analysis (ASTM D3176) which is specific to the reporting of compositional data for carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. 

    Typical coal analysis parameters and methods
    Proximate Analysis  
    Proximate Analysis Package ASTM D7582
    Residual Moisture ASTM D3302
    Volatile Matter ASTM D3175
    Ash Content ASTM D3174
    Ultimate analysis  
    Ultimate Analysis Package ASTM D3176
    Sulphur Content ASTM D4239
    Ash Content ASTM D3174
    Residual Moisture ASTM D3302
    Miscellaneous Analysis
    Mercury ASTM D6722
    Chlorine ASTM D2361
    Heating Value ASTM D5865
    Loss on Ignition ASTM D7348
    Residual Moisture ASTM D3302
    Air Dried Moisture ASTM D3302
    Mineral Analysis ASTM D3682
    pH on Dried Ash ASTM D1293
  • Asphaltenes Testing

    Bureau Veritas provides analytical capability for asphaltenes determination

    Asphaltenes in bitumen are characterized by their solubility in aromatic solvents and their ability to precipitate in n-alkane solvents. This insolubility is what makes asphaltenes a concern for the Heavy Oil industry. Crude oil stability during storage and transport can cause significant problems throughout the storage and transportation life cycle.

    Heavy Oil requires the addition of diluent such as natural gas condensate or naphtha to facilitate pipeline transportation.  Diluents can be highly paraffinic, making the diluted bitumen unstable if introduced without consideration. Our customers look to us to measure asphaltenes in bitumen and stability in bitumen blends as well as to find innovative solutions for oil compatibility and blending to optimize process efficiencies and cost savings.

  • Biodiesel Fuel Testing

    Biodiesel is one of the fastest growing markets in Canada and the United States, and Bureau Veritas is well positioned to be part of this growth

    As Canada's largest testing laboratory, Bureau Veritas is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to ISO 17025 guidelines, with the ability to analyze biodiesel. We can complete all of the tests required by the ASTM D6751-11b specification.

    Example requirements for biodiesel (c100) blend stocks
    Property Test
    Sulfur, % mass (ppm), max D5453
    Cold soak filterability, seconds, max D7501
    Monoglyceride content, % mass, max D6584
    Calcium and Magnesium, combined, ppm (μg/g), max EN 14538*
    Flash point (closed cup), °C, min D93
    Alcohol Control  
    One of the following shall be met:  
     1. Methanol content, mass %, max EN 14110*
     2. Flash point, °C, min D93
    Water and sediment, % volume, max D2709
    Kinematic viscosity, mm2/s, 40 °C D445
    Sulfated ash, % mass, max D874
    Copper strip corrosion, max D130
    Cetane number, min D613
    Cloud point, °C D2500
    Carbon residue, % mass, max D4530
    Acid number, mg KOH/g, max D664
    Free glycerin, % mass, max D6584*
    Total glycerin, % mass, max D6584*
    Phosphorus content, % mass, max D4951
    Distillation temperature, D1160
     Atmospheric equivalent temperature,  
     90 % recovered, °C, max  
    Sodium and Potassium, combined, ppm (μg/g), max EN 14538*
    Oxidation stability, hours, min EN 15751*

    *sublet test not covered by accreditation

  • Bitumen & Oil Preparation

    Heavy crude oil and bitumen sampling and preparation

    Bureau Veritas customers require the highest quality measurement of physical and compositional properties of their product for custody transfer, royalty allocation, regulatory compliance and process optimization.  However, this measurement can be challenging for processes that create complex mixtures of oil, water, and solids that are bound together by chemical and physical forces.

    Trained specifically in standardized industry collection procedures, our sampling technicians are proficient in the use of pressure/evacuated and displacement collection vessels, cooling coils, and automated samplers that are designed to collect and preserve the integrity of a sample until it is analyzed by our scientific team. We have specific expertise and procedures customized for emulsion sampling and tank collection.

    Once back in the laboratory, the field samples go through a preparation process to remove all water and solids that may be present.  It is important that the light ends that are present must be completely captured and recombined with the cleaned bitumen.  Bureau Veritas has developed and industry-accepted practices that addresses this challenge, thus ensuring the most representative product that can them be used for assays, blend or compatibility studies, etc.

    Bureau Veritas provides sample preparation services for oil sand core,  bitumen froth samples, SAGD bitumen/water emulsions, Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand – CHOPS. 

  • Commodities & crude oil by rail testing

    The key advantage of working with us is that our experts know what to test, when and how to sample

    As more and more crude oil producers are opting to transport their crude via rail, the rapid growth of this market presents complex challenges for sampling and analysis. At Bureau Veritas, we are able to support TDG classification and SDS documentation requirements related to new Canadian and US regulations. Our unique Crude Oil by Rail (attached) (CBR) analyses are designed to meet your needs for a wide range of scenarios.  

    “Whether your focus is quality, diluent content, commodity value, health & safety, or processing efficiency, you can count on Maxxam for expert help with sampling and analysis of your crude oil by rail.” – Branko Banjac, B.Sc., Director, Petroleum Laboratory Operations.

  • Crude oil distillation & assay

    Bureau Veritas petroleum technology center (PTC) is a best-in-class oil characterization laboratory 

    Our laboratories perform complex assays and evaluations of crude products and their boiling range fractions. A detailed characterization is essential in determining the value and processibility of unrefined petroleum feedstocks.  Data from these analyses are used by marketers to determine the commercial value and by refiners to optimize production processes.  

    Our distillation capabilities include: physical and vacuum distillation by ASTM D86, D1160, D2892 and D5236, simulated distillation by ASTM D2887, D6352 and D7169. 

    Bureau Veritas can provide assays based on customer specified fractions, or can recommend simple or comprehensive assay designs based on expert experience with similar products. Assay estimates are accompanied with recommended sample volumes required for the completion of an assay distillation and associated analytical assignments. Petroleum assays are reported in tabular form and include distillation and recovery data.

    Our assay experts have procedures and capabilities to perform oil cleaning processes required as pre-treatment that satisfy all material types: dewatering, centrifugation, emulsion testing, cold extraction, solvent dissolution, and more.

  • Crude Oil Quality

    Bureau Veritas specializes in crude oil testing for pipeline specification testing

    Samples of crude oil and their distillation fractions are analyzed to determine a variety of physical and chemical properties that will affect the value and treatment of the oil. These tests are normally performed according to industry recognized ASTM, CGSB, UOP and IP procedures. Bureau Veritas' capabilities are vast and range from simple tests such as sulfur and density to more elaborate testing such as vacuum distillations of petroleum products.

    In the petroleum industry, it is important to be involved in the decision-making process that determines the testing procedures and applications. To remain as current as possible, and to provide valued input, Bureau Veritas is a participant and voting member of ASTM, CGSB, CCQTA and COQA.   Our staff participate as instructors at the Canadian Hydrocarbon School of Measurement (CSHM) and frequently chair industry expert panels.

  • Dean Stark Extractions

    Dean stark extractions done at Bureau Veritas assist geologists in determining the value and process-ability of their lease

    The Dean and Stark test seems like it was designed with the Oil Sands in mind as it is ideally suited to quantify the three key fractions of Oil (Bitumen), Solids and Water in Cores, Froths, Tailings, and other materials within the Oil Sands industry. The apparatus is a continuous extraction or dewatering device that uses the fundamentals of distillation to continuously extract mixed-matrix samples with a clean solvent so they can be isolated and quantified or further analyzed.

    Our customers use Dean and Stark:

    • Data from core samples to determine Fluid Saturation of their core material which assists geologists in determining the value and process-ability of their lease
    • Data for tailings characterizations to report volumes to regulators (tailings characterization)
    • For oil sands froth and well emulsions to separate water and oil mixture allowing additional testing such as compositional assays on the recovered "cleaned" oil
  • Fuel Testing Services

    Bureau Veritas is a leader in fuel quality testing

    Fuel analysis can help determine solutions for filter plugging, loss of power or poor injector performance. Testing bulk fuel storage tanks can verify compliance with required supplier specifications. Bureau Veritas can perform the full spectrum of ASTM and CGSB specification testing on Diesel and Biodiesel samples, as well as several other refined fuels.  

    Typical Fuel Quality Testing Packages

    CGSB Diesel Specifications Package (As per CGSB 3.517-2017)

    ASTM D93, ASTM D445, ASTM D86, ASTM D1796 or ASTM D2709, ASTM D974, ASTM D5453, ASTM D130, ASTM D542, ASTM D482, ASTM D613, ASTM D6079, ASTM D2624

    ASTM Diesel Specifications Package

    ASTM D93, ASTM D445, ASTM D86, ASTM D1796, ASTM D974, ASTM D5453, ASTM D130, ASTM D4530, ASTM D482, ASTM D613, ASTM D2624, ASTM D2500

  • Mercury Analysis In Petroleum

    Bureau Veritas is a leader in innovation for mercury testing in the oil and gas sector

    Mercury is a concern to the petroleum industry not only to support its environmental monitoring and compliance programs but also for the risk associated to equipment by poisoning of catalysts, the creation of amalgams, Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME), and deposits in heat exchangers.

    Total Mercury analysis provides the benefit of simultaneously measuring all forms of Mercury that may be present in a sample including elemental Mercury, Mercury Sulfides (cinnabar), Inorganic Mercury salts (Methyl-Mercury), Mercuric Chloride, Mercuric selenide, and Diethyl-Mercury.