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P-talk Newsletter Back to Menu PDF (195KB) 2000 09 19 HKM |
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Technical Areas Conventional Heavy
Oil Drilling Environmental Fundamental Research Reservoir Recovery |
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Summer 2000 - Issue 15 PROJECT New Paradigm Engineering Ltd., Husky Oil, and Scott-Can Industries Ltd., conducted field trials this past winter and spring to evaluate the use of catalytic heater systems as a technology option for displacing purchased fuel at single well heavy oil leases in Husky’s Celtic and Tangle-flags operations. Three catalytic winterization systems were designed to heat the casing gas to allow for year round use in tank burners by preventing fuel line freezing. The systems were originally installed in December 1999 using off the shelf designs, but did not provide sufficient reliability under winter conditions. The units were redesigned in January, with the first redesigned unit being installed in February 2000. The redesigned units have provided the level of reliability and operability desired by field staff and ran through several snowstorms and sub –25 degrees C weather. A fourth system was designed for production line heating with low pressure casing gas, and was installed mid May 2000. The system was retrofitted into the existing flow line to the lease tankage, and has proven the ability of catalytic heaters to run reliably on low pressure casing gas (under ½ psig) while heating production in the flow line. It is anticipated that the overall efficiency of heating flowing production with catalytic heaters will be greater than that found with conventional fire tube tank heaters. The winterization systems cost $3,750 – $4,500 per unit, while 120,000 BTU/hr production line heaters cost between $13,000 –$15,000. Contact: Bruce Peachey, PROJECTS PTAC is pleased to confirm that funding from the Alberta Government (AOSTRA), the federal government (NSERC) and the oil and gas industry has been secured to launch 20 new energy resources R&D projects at the University of Alberta (U of A) and the University of Calgary (U of C). The projects are in a variety of areas including conventional oil and gas, heavy oil, oil sands and fuel cells. A total of 61 applications were received by COURSE, resulting in an application success rate of 33%. AOSTRA is providing $2.0 million in project funding with NSERC, industry and other funding agencies providing the balance, for a total of $5.3 million over three years. Seven of the 20 new projects will be led by new researchers with less than three years at the U of A or the U of C. PTAC would like to recognize all of the individuals and organizations that have played a role in this significant initiative. This includes the 13-person COURSE application evaluation panel, the AOSTRA Board and staff, the researchers who prepared project proposals, the COURSE Leadership Board, the industry representatives that are providing technical advice and funding, and NSERC. Detailed information on the R&D projects can be found at www.ptac.org/course.html or obtained by contacting Rick Luhning, Managing Director of COURSE, at (403) 268-7553. UPCOMING WORKSHOP PTAC is currently planning an Enhanced Petroleum Recovery (EPR) R&D Workshop for both heavy and light oil and natural gas for late September 2000. The proposed objectives of this workshop are to:
If you would like to have input to the workshop
planning, please contact: WORKSHOP PTAC facilitated a successful workshop on May 17, 2000 that addressed "Fundamental Drilling Research Needs for Western Canada." The top "Centre of Excellence" drilling themes that arose from the workshop, in order of priority were:
The University of Calgary (U of C) continues to seek both industry representatives for their Drilling Chair Technical Advisory Council, and industry funding to complete their financial requirements for a NSERC application. The final research priorities chosen will be based on the workshop notes (available on PTAC’s website at www.ptac.org/drillingwork.html), the Technical Advisory Council’s input and the technical specialization of the drilling researchers that the U of C is prepared and able to hire. Interested industry players are encouraged to contact: Dr. Peihua Gu at the University of Calgary, phone: (403) 220-7163, or gu@enme.ucalgary.ca NEW TSC Further to discussions at the May 25, 2000 Soils Workshop, PTAC is in the process of formulating a Soil Remed-iation, Site Restoration and Groundwater Technical Steering Committee (TSC) to direct and coordinate all PTAC facilitated R&D projects, RFPs, events and initiatives in this technical area. Composition of this TSC would include R&D funder representatives and other knowledgeable people, such as regulator representatives that do not fund R&D. At a minimum, representation is encouraged from: Alberta Environment; CAPP ERAC (producers); Environment Canada (PERD); Alberta Energy and Utilities Board; B.C. Oil and Gas Commission Environmental Fund; and the Government of Saskatchewan departments of Energy and Mines, and Environment and Resources Management. The current participants on all existing PTAC project TSCs are invited to become members of this new TSC. The first task of this TSC is to obtain consensus on their precise role. The draft RFPs and notes from the May 25 workshop will be reviewed and the TSC will decide which RFPs or projects should proceed. This would be based on potential 2001 funding and a consensus decision by the TSC on R&D priorities. For further information or to participate on this TSC, please contact: Tannis Such at PTAC, phone: (403) 218-7703, tsuch@ptac.org. The Workshop notes are available on PTAC’s website at www.ptac.org/environmentwork.html. SUCESS
STORY Total Combustion Inc. (TCI) has developed a cost effective, enclosed flare system at a time when regulators and industry struggle on how to meet new flare guidelines. The units combust waste gases from glycol dehydrators, tanks, solution gas streams and plant flares with much higher efficiency than normal pipe flares. The primary features of the new technology is that it is simple to operate, requires little or no maintenance and functions over a wide range of operating parameters including multiple waste gas streams. The TCI systems burn at temperatures ranging from 900 degrees C to 1100 degrees C so they eliminate the black smoke and odors associated with incomplete combustion. The flame is contained within the burn chamber so there is no visible flaring to residents in the area. Independent tests show that the burn has a 99% plus combustion efficiency. The units require no blowers or power and can be tied to standard SCADA and ESD systems. TCI has developed their own patented stack technology that requires no refractory lining, so the overall weight of the units is only a fraction of that of other incinerators on the market. The stack technology makes it possible to entrain huge amounts of combustion air for complete combustion and dispersion air to dilute the exhaust gas stream. The TCI system represents a very cost-effective solution to G-60 and other flaring related problems. Numerous producers, including Apache Canada and Northrock Resources, have successfully installed these units at locations with nearby residents to eliminate visible flame, smoke and odour. Contact: Tom Wiseman, Alberta Oil Sands Information Services The Alberta Oil Sands Information Services (AOSIS) was established in 1975. Its mandate was to acquire, organize, and supply public information on Canadian and international oil sands development to parties interested in oil sands research. The research was compiled into the Alberta Oil Sands Index (AOSI), a bibliographic database of over 15,000 records. In 1982, the mandate was extended to include Canadian information on heavy oil and enhanced recovery. A new database, the Heavy Oil / Enhanced Recovery Index (HERI), was created. In October 1995, AOSI and HERI merged to form one database – HERO (Heavy Oil / Enhanced Recovery / Oil Sands). HERO contains nearly 32,000 records and is growing at a rate of about 100 records per month. The 50 latest citations of articles added to the database are supplied to clients through the Current Awareness Bulletin, which is published bi-weekly. Clients can request a customized search, and order copies of any cited article. To receive a complimentary copy of the Current Awareness
Bulletin contact: PTAC is dedicated to the facilitation of collaborative Research and Technology Development for the Canadian conventional upstream oil and gas industry. PTAC is a not-for-profit association governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of representatives from producers, service and supply companies, research and educational institutions, inventors and government. P-talk is published quarterly and is available through PTAC. Material may be reprinted without permission but credit would be appreciated. Contact Us |
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| For further information, or printed copies of PTAC's newsletters please contact: | |
PTAC Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada 8th Flr., One Palliser Square 125 - 9th Ave. S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 0P8 website: http://www.ptac.org fax: (403) 920-0054 e-mail: Eric Lloyd, President Arlene Merling Tannis Such Kerri Markle |
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