March 18, 2011
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The Pipe Flow Technology Centre™ at the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) will become one of Canada's first research facilities equipped to handle hazardous explosive materials such as crude oil, thanks to an expansion funded jointly by the federal and provincial governments. The funding was announced today by Brad Trost, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Humboldt, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification and the Honourable Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Enterprise and Minister Responsible for Trade.
"Energy producers depend on constant improvements in production methods, materials and processes to meet the growing demand for energy," said MP Trost. "Our Government's investment in the SRC's Pipe Flow Technology Centre expansion will help fill a research gap for the Canadian petroleum industry to help it increase productivity, lessen environmental impacts and create more jobs."
"This project will generate significant benefits for Saskatchewan," said Minister Harrison. "We expect that it will lead to the commercialization of new innovations that will assist oil, gas and mining companies in improving productivity."
The SRC will expand an existing explosion-proof building at the centre to accommodate research on light and heavy crude oils and refined petroleum products, all of which are flammable and require special equipment for safe storage and handling. New labs outfitted to handle hazardous research samples will be added to the main building. With these new research capabilities, the centre can test a wider range of substances and help the provincial, and national, oil and gas industry enhance oil recovery, reduce operating costs and improve processes.
The federal and provincial governments are jointly investing $1,730,000 through the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA) for this project. Saskatchewan Research Council will contribute a further $305,000. The expansion will create two jobs.
"The expansion and enhancements to SRC's Pipe Flow Technology Centre will enable industry to test new ideas and solve current problems with effectively designed solutions," said Dr. Laurier Schramm, President and CEO of SRC. "The Centre has been undertaking pipe flow research for 50 years and this expansion will help it continue to evolve to meet industry needs."
The SRC's Pipe Flow Technology Centre™ is acknowledged as an international leader in its field and has collaborated with Canadian and international clients on a range of ground-breaking pipeline and fluid mechanics applications.
Both Canada and Saskatchewan are contributing $25 million each over four years to the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement to strengthen economic activity and improve quality of life in western Canadian communities.
For additional information, contact:
Joanne Mysak
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 975-5942
Joanne Johnson
Communications Director
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 798-0503
Cam Zimmer
Communications Advisor
Saskatchewan Research Council
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 933-6367
WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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