PTRC investigating the utilization of CO2 extensively in Saskatchewan’s heavy oil zone
M
att Nasehi, the manager of operations at the Petroleum Technology Research Cen-
tre, has seen the nature of heavy oil research and development change fundamentally in the last twenty years. “When PTRC was formed,” he says, “we were provided with a couple of main directives – to improve the recovery of oil from heavy oil in the province, which was averaging less than seven per cent of the oil-inplace, and lessen the environmental footprint of that oil production
Saskatchewan as a centre for carbon
leader on this topic (see: https://ptrc.
through new technologies that use
dioxide utilization and storage – yes,
ca/pub/docs/OfficialWhitePaper%20
less energy, water and other resourc-
for enhanced oil recovery, but also
Final.pdf).
es.”
for emissions reductions.”
The first few years of research at PTRC, starting in 1999, focused definitively on those two goals, but then a funny thing happened on the way to the forum, so to speak. Pan-Canadian, then the operators of the Weyburn oil field in southeastern Saskatchewan (nowhere near the heavy oil fields along the border with central Alberta) decided to start injecting carbon dioxide into their
PTRC would go on the develop a
Alberta Carbon Trunk Line to centre
second CO2 storage project, Aquis-
Alberta,” says Nasehi, “there may be
tore, which is discussed in another
ample opportunities for stretching
article in this edition of the Saskatch-
that pipeline to the Lloydminster area
ewan Oil Report, but with the rising
and other sources there adding to
interest in CO2 storage and utilization
the supply, for possible storage and
around the world, research into uses
utilization in and below the heavy oil
for such emissions has continued to grow. It was only a matter of time before PTRC decided to wed its interest
depleted oil wells to increase produc-
in heavy oil research with CO2 utiliza-
tion. That fateful decision altered the
tion. The result is a planned program
direction of research at the PTRC.
in injecting carbon dioxide from ex-
“It was an interesting transformation that resulted from the Pan-Ca-
“With the recent completion of the
isting sources in the heavy oil zone into the oilfields underground.
reservoirs.” PTRC is in the developmental stages of a research consortium into expanding CO2 use in the area. Researchers at both University of Regina and the Saskatchewan Research Council have already been funded by PTRC to conduct work into cyclic solvent injection in the Lloydminster
nadian decision, and from the interest
With the publication this past Oc-
it raised in both the PTRC and among
tober of a white paper called CCS
government and researchers,” says
Potential in the Heavy Oil Regions of
sions from heavy oil production in
Nasehi. “The subsequent 15-year re-
Saskatchewan and Alberta, PTRC is
Western Canada is a very real possi-
search program helped establish
positioning itself to be the research
bility going forward.” v
30 Saskatchewan Oil Report 2021
area. “I think utilizing much of the emis-
