Solvent/heat-assisted recovery processes (SHARP) for heavy oil and bitumen

有效利用能源来提取沥青一直是一个挑战，最近由于低油价而变得明显。自90年代末以来，阿尔伯塔一直在实行SAGD。然而，它是能源密集型的，对环境有负面影响，在低油价环境下可能无法在经济上持续。减少所需的蒸汽将减少处理水的体积，并显着降低成本。此外，蒸汽产生以及水的使用和处理对环境的影响也将减少。石油价格的波动似乎减缓了沥青提取的发展。最近的低油价和更严格的法规可以作为开发低成本、节能和环境友好工艺的驱动力。溶剂/热过程是复杂的，并且这些方法的许多方面还没有被很好地理解。溶剂的使用进一步降低了沥青粘度，能量密集度更低，减少了水的使用和处理，并且可以导致更少的排放。此外，溶剂辅助工艺具有针对SAGD较难获得的油砂的潜力。然而，有几个挑战需要解决。拟议的研究计划使我们能够进行基础和应用研究，以解决我们的工业合作伙伴（七家主要油砂公司）在现场和中试规模应用中面临的挑战。该计划的目的是帮助行业开发经济上可持续的沥青回收技术，这些技术的能源密集度更低，更环保。随着潜在的就业机会的创造，拟议技术的商业化将为该省带来大量投资，并使我们所有人在经济和环境方面受益。最显著的效益是减少能源消耗、用水和排放，这与加拿大减缓气候变化战略完全一致。该计划将提供培养强大的研究人员团队的机会，包括4名硕士，7名博士和8名本科生，以及4名能够承担与油砂行业相关的广泛高级研究工作的PDF。

The efficient utilization of energy to extract bitumen has been a challenge, which has recently pronounced as a result of low oil prices. SAGD has been practiced in Alberta since the late 90s. However, it is energy intensive and has negative environmental impacts which may not be economically sustainable in a low oil price environment. Reducing the steam required will reduce the volume of treated water and significantly reduce costs. In addition, the environmental impact of steam generation and water usage and treatment will be reduced. It appears that fluctuations in the price of oil have slowed the evolution of bitumen extraction. Recent low oil prices and more stringent regulations may serve as driving forces for the development of low cost, energy efficient, and environmentally friendly processes. Solvent/thermal processes are complex, and many aspects of these methods are not well understood. The utilization of solvents further reduces bitumen viscosity, is less energy intensive, reduces water usage and treatment, and can lead to less emissions. Also, solvent-aided processes have the potential to target oil sands that are less accessible by SAGD. However, there are several challenges that need to be addressed. The proposed research program allows us to conduct fundamental and applied research to address challenges that our industrial partners (seven major oilsands companies) are facing in field- and pilot-scale applications. The aim of the program is to help industry develop economically sustainable bitumen recovery technologies that are less energy intensive and more environmentally friendly. With the potential job creation, the commercialization of the proposed technology will bring a great deal of investment into the Province and benefit all of us both economically and environmentally. The most notable benefits are decrease in the energy consumption, water usage, and emissions, which are well-aligned with the Canada climate change mitigation strategy. The program will provide the opportunity to train strong team of researchers including 4 MSc, 7 PhD, and 8 undergraduate students, and 4 PDFs capable of undertaking a broad range of advanced research endeavors related to oilsands industry.