Developing large-footprint leak detection strategies for enhances oil recovery

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Detection of fugitive emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and related Enhance Oil Recovery (EOR) gases is challenging because many of these gases are already naturally occurring and may leak from a point anywhere along, for example, thousands of km of pipeline, or from any one of the hundreds of pump jacks or wellheads in a large EOR field. For operators interested in the future, lessening environmental impact goes hand in hand with sustainability and profitability. A mobile air quality monitoring system targeting CO2, CH4, H2S and d13CH4 was built in 2012, as part of an NRCan-funded study by Dr. Dave Risk (StFX University) at a Cenovus Energy EOR operation in Weyburn Saskatchewan. The multi-gas approach allows for fingerprinting, where low-level anomalies can be attributed to specific source classes. The system can be applied at large scales (100 sq km), but is able to pinpoint anomalies within metres. For Cenovus, there is an interest in implementing this system, but there are still 2 areas of uncertainty, including the feasibility of technology transfer from the university developers to the company. In this project a MSc student will carry out further development and local calibration of the monitoring system, in conjunction with the developers, but resident generally from a base at the company's operations. He or she will also allow the team (StFX-Cenovus) to assess barriers to implementation within an active Oil and Gas setting. In the short-term, the project provides excellent HQP training opportunities, could enhance environmental performance of energy extraction in southern Saskatchewan. In the long-term the project holds promise for use in other unconventional energy extraction projects.