Payout approaches in Alberta's joint oilsands research

Journal Article · Mon Jun 08 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5155524

Almost 2 decades of joint government-industry oilsands research in Alberta will move a step closer this year to a multi-billion barrel payout. The key to success is buried in a mine using new technology at a test facility operated by the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (Aostra). This paper reports that pilot projects under way at the Underground Test Facility (UTF) 37 miles north of Fort McMurray in the Athabasca oilsands region are only two of scores that the agency has sponsored since it was established by the provincial government 18 years ago with $100 million in seed funding (see map and diagram). But authority spokesmen say the UTF tests are the most promising techniques to date to finally bring billions of barrels of bitumen reservoir within economic reach. A horizontal well in situ steam injection process designed as a precommercial pilot will being producing at a rate of 2,000 b/d in September or October. It is a follow-up to a smaller proof of concept pilot project that produced 130,000 bbl of bitumen over several years.

• OSTI ID: 5155524
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 90:23; ISSN 0030-1388; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
040800 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
042000 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Legislation & Regulations
ALBERTA
ATHABASCA DEPOSIT
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CANADA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OIL SAND INDUSTRY
OIL SANDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
STEAM INJECTION
TAR
TEST FACILITIES
THERMAL RECOVERY