Energy Intensity Reduction through Flow Control Devices and Non-Condensable Gas

Athabasca Oil Corporation

  • Project Type

    Research & Development

  • Project Value

    $8,700,000

  • Project Status

    Complete

  • Location

    Alberta

  • Funding Amount

    $4,336,260

This project will implement flow control devices (FCD) and non-condensable gas (NCG) injection at Athabasca Oil Corporation’s in situ facilities in the Alberta oil sands. FCDs are valves installed downhole that improve the inflow distribution of oil along the well, enabling improved recovery without additional steam generation. NCG complements this by offsetting some steam injection with gas co-injection that helps develop and insulate the steam chamber, improving the overall efficiency of steam-assisted gravity drainage process.

• The project estimates GHG reductions up to 76,000 tCO2e in the next three to five years.
• FDCs are anticipated to reduce steam-oil-ratio by 15 to 20 per cent on a wellpair basis, whereas NCG is a 10 to 15 per cent reduction. Both proposed technologies are applicable to many in situ oil-sands operation and are under consideration by several operators
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