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Technology Information Session
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2007 10 23 Carbonate Research Program "To Accelerate the Development of Alberta's Bitumen Bearing Carbonates"Tuesday, October 23, 2007 EnCana Amphitheatre, 2nd Floor Tower Centre InvitationAlberta Research Council (ARC) Inc., Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI), Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC) and co-sponsor Husky Energy invite you or a representative from your organization to attend an information session introducing a Carbonate Research Program whose vision is "to accelerate the development of Alberta's bitumen bearing carbonates". BACKGROUNDApproximately 26% of Alberta's enormous bitumen resources are deposited in carbonate reservoirs. According to official estimates by the AEUB (2005), the original bitumen in place (OBIP) in these reservoirs is about 71 109 m3 (447 109 bbl). During the '70s and '80s, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods were evaluated in the major reservoir, the Grosmont formation, to determine the feasibility of producing this huge resource. The evaluation included research projects and several field pilot tests. However, in the late '80s the EOR pilot program was cancelled. Currently, there are no reserves allocated to the bitumen carbonate reservoirs. Bitumen carbonate reservoirs are very difficult to exploit; the extremely viscous resource is contained in a complex geological environment. Currently, there are no commercially-proven recovery technologies available for bitumen carbonates. Therefore, recovery technologies specific to these reservoirs will have to be developed to exploit the huge bitumen resource contained in them. Tackling this challenge will require a broad and intensive long-term R&D effort with large costs and high risks. A joint investment strategy between government and industry would help to share these costs and risks. Meetings have been held between government and industry over the past year to explore the level of interest in an industry - government sponsored research program to address the challenge of exploiting Alberta's bitumen carbonate resource. Participants at these meetings indicated a significant interest in such a research program. As a result, a joint government / industry Carbonate Research Program is being launched, with ARC serving as the program manager. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONOne of the aims of the new program is to position Alberta as a leader in the exploitation of heavy oil and bitumen carbonate reservoirs. The focus of the program will be on the development and evaluation of technologies for exploiting Alberta's bitumen carbonate resource. The ultimate target of the program is to take these technologies to the threshold of a field test. To achieve this target, the scope of the program needs to be a broad one. The program will consist of four integrated components: geology, recovery processes, production engineering, and field design and support. A number of different research providers will be involved in the delivery of the research services. Research organizations with the best expertise will be sought to perform the various research projects within the program components. This program has a long-term view. Initially, it is being proposed for a three year term. During the third year, the program will be reviewed and plans made for its future direction. BENEFITSThere are a number of benefits to bitumen producers in participating;
WHO SHOULD ATTENDBitumen Producers
Research Providers
Registration Fee (until October 22, 2007)
Onsite Registration Fee (October 23, 2007)
Please be advised that PTAC reserves the option to charge $ 25 + GST to PTAC members that register and do not attend, unless notification of cancellation is received by PTAC a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the TIS. To obtain Technical Information please contact: DISCLAIMER PTAC is only a facilitator for these presentations. PTAC makes no representation regarding ownership or quality of any technology described by a presenter, or generally as to the contents of a presentation. PTAC does not endorse any presenter nor the technology presented. Please use your own judgment. PTAC trusts that each presenter will engage in fair trade practices, but does not police or otherwise enforce this policy in any manner. |
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For further information, |
Susie Dwyer, PTAC |
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© PTAC 2007 |
2007 10 25 LF |
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