Application of oxy-fuel CO2 capture for in-situ bitumen extraction from Canada’s oil sands

Abstract

Abstract The CO2 Capture Project, along with Praxair, Devon Canada, Cenovus Energy and Statoil ASA are executing a project to demonstrate oxy-fuel combustion as a practical, economic and commercially ready technology for CO2 capture from once through steam generators (OTSGs) used in the in-situ production of bitumen. While in-situ extraction methods are less invasive than mining and have less local environmental impacts, the current technology for in-situ extraction - steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is more energy intensive, and will result in greater GHG emissions per barrel of oil produced as compared to conventional mining and hot water extraction processes. SAGD requires large quantities of steam for injection, which is produced by multiple large once-through steam generators (OTSGs) that each produce up to 250 kt/yr of CO2, depending on their size. Given this expected growth in the total GHG emissions from OTSG units in the oil sands, the Participants have initiated a project to prove and validate process designs for oxy-fuel combustion on OTSG boilers. The three phase project will assess the feasibility, cost and schedule required to utilize oxy-fuel combustion at a typical commercial site. The study will include a short term boiler test and a longer term pilot evaluation. The goal of the project is to develop a reliable, lower cost solution for capturing CO2 from OTSG boilers that is deployable at commercial scale. The primary technology provider for this project is Praxair. Other members include Devon Canada, Cenovus Energy, Statoil ASA and the CO2 Capture Project. The CO2 Capture Project is a joint venture research consortium that includes BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ENI, Petrobras, Shell and Suncor.