Emissions Reductions and Energy Efficiency in Crude Bitumen and Heavy Oil Project

PTAC Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada

March 31, 2016

Executive Summary

PTAC has facilitated the development and demonstration of emissions reduction and energy efficiency technologies for the past decade. The current (2016) state of the oil and gas industry continues to suffer following the 2014 economic downturn due to decreased oil prices. Tight budgets of oil and gas producers coupled with the necessity for industry to meet federal and provincial emission reduction targets by 2025, creates a strong motivation for the outcomes and the recommendations of this project. PTAC’s programs search, identify, and provide financial support to applied research and technology development projects which will add value to industry through dissemination of the findings.The initial task was a conceptual engineering study aimed at understanding the applicability, operability, cost, and potential for technologies to reduce methane venting of cold heavy oil wells and well pads. Numerous existing technologies were investigated for this methane venting study and a literature search was completed to search for new technologies. Among those examined, the Slipstream GTS unit, Hexa-Covers®, and Go Technologies blower compressors were analyzed further by Spartan Controls/REM Technology Inc., Husky Energy, and Devon Canada, respectively.