Dipo Omotoso
Research Scientist
Natural Resources Canada
ANMET Energy Technology Centre
Devon, Alberta CANADA

Education: PhD (1996) and MSc (1992) Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton Canada; BSc Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Ife, Nigeria, 1987;

Areas of Expertise:

"Quantitative mineralogy; crystallography; bitumen and heavy oil process engineering; tailings management.

How I Became Interested in Clays

"I did not become fascinated with clays until I started working in oil sands research in 1996. It quickly became evident to me that any serious advancement in bitumen extraction process development and tailings management requires extensive knowledge of clays - their mineralogy and how they interact with water and hydrocarbons. With a background in electron and X-ray crystallography, I devoted several years to learning about clay minerals, their properties and quantitative techniques."

What I do at my job

"I work for Natural Resources Canada at the Devon Energy Technology Centre. The research scope of the laboratory spans from developing new bitumen extraction technologies, froth treatment to remove residual water and solids, upgrading bitumen to lighter hydrocarbon fractions, to developing technologies for managing the almost 1 billion cubic meter of fluid fine tailings stored in containment ponds. I evaluate and develop processes for bitumen extraction and also develop fine tailings management technologies. To analyze clays, I use X-ray diffraction, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. I also work with colleagues in the laboratory who specialize in infrared, Raman spectroscopy and NMR especially when there is a need to understand hydrocarbon-clays interactions."