Upstream
The exploration and production of crude oil and extra-heavy crude oil from oil sands, followed by further processing in refineries are becoming increasingly profitable. GEA's innovative process lines support the mineral oil industry in producing bitumen while providing flexibility, reliability and safety.
Bitumen, a crucial component in the oil sands industry, requires careful processing to ensure its quality and usability. The presence of contaminants such as water, fine sand and clay can significantly impact the efficiency and safety of processing operations. Effective bitumen processing is essential to remove these impurities, ensuring that the final product meets the required standards for further refining and use. This not only extends the lifetime of the equipment but also enhances performance and reduces downtime.
GEA offers state-of-the-art bitumen processing solutions based on advanced centrifugal separation technology that deliver high-performance results. Our centrifuges are designed to handle high throughput rates with exceptional separation accuracy, removing water, fine sand and clay from the bitumen. Continuous purification is critical, and GEA's reliable processing equipment, proven in the extreme conditions of oil sands mining, ensures optimum performance and minimal wear.
In the bitumen process, our separators can be used for the conventional truck & shovel process as well as for the SAGD process (steam-assisted gravity drainage).
Optimizing truck & shovel mining operations with integration of advanced centrifugal technology
Enhancing SAGD processing efficiency with cutting-edge centrifugal technology
A further area of application for our centrifuges is to be seen in the treatment of the produced water from bitumen production. They separate the process water into a re-usable oil phase as well as a de-oiled water phase. The treated produced water has a much lower impact on downstream water treatment plants and the environment, while the recovered oil increases the efficiency of the entire process.
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GEA separators are designed for liquid-based applications. Using centrifugal force, they are used for separating suspensions consisting of two or more phases of different densities, i.e. they can be used for liquid-liquid separation, for liquid-liquid-solid separation or for liquid-solid separation. They are equally as effective at separating liq...
The decanter’s hour has come as soon as the solids content in the suspension to be processed is particularly high. These machines provide the benefits of high clarifying efficiency and maximum dewatering as well as the separation of liquids with the simultaneous removal of solids. The main requirements in this respect include a high bowl speed, a...
What if your favorite chocolate didn’t require cocoa beans and your coffee was locally produced? As climate disruption, price hikes and ethical concerns hit two of our most beloved indulgences, scientists are reimagining how we produce them – using microbes, not monocultures. The goal: preserve the flavor and properties of coffee and chocolate while minimizing carbon emissions and improving food resilience.
Ports now compete not just on logistics, but on sustainability. At Greece’s Piraeus port, an advanced processing and recovery facility recycles ship waste oil into fuel. Equipped with GEA’s high-performance centrifuges, it sets a new benchmark for state-of-the-art, environmentally responsible port operations.
The 2022 CO2 shortage forced breweries to review their dependency on global supply chains. Many were forced to close, unable to carbonate their products. At its breweries in Germany, OeTTINGER GETRÄNKE is turning its own CO2 into a powerful lever for independence and sustainability – with the help of CO2 recovery technology from GEA.