Short Course for Friday, September 19^th 0900-1130 – Lakeland College

 “Conventional and Thermal Heavy Oil Vent and Energy Use Mitigation Options”

Instructor – Bruce Peachey. P.Eng., President New Paradigm Engineering Ltd. and Board Member of the Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC)

Thermal heavy oil operations are the most energy intensive operations in the upstream oil and gas industry, while methane venting from nearby conventional heavy oil operations represent some of the largest greenhouse gas emission sources in the upstream oil and gas industry.  In Lloydminster and surrounding areas there are potentially significant economic opportunities to utilize proven or technically viable technologies to reduce energy costs, while at the same time increasing heavy oil production.

This short course will cover some of the most promising methods of improving energy use in thermal operations and utilize or mitigate methane venting in conventional heavy oil operations.  Also included will be an overview of NRCan’s Industrial Energy Audit Incentive which could be used to help assess energy saving opportunities.

 Short Course Contents

The course will include review and discuss key options to:

1. Detecting, Measuring and Assessing Vent Gas Emissions

2. Using Vent Gas to Displace Purchased Energy Sources

3. Vent Gas Use to Increase Heavy Oil Production

4. Assessing Thermal Losses from Operations

5. Maintain injected thermal energy in the reservoir to increase oil recovery;

6. Reduce energy losses from well casing vents;

7. Using Sour Vent Gas in Thermal Plant Facilities.

Flowsheets, developed to assist in assessing the most economic and appropriate options for energy reduction and vent gas mitigation, will be used to guide attendees through the options and key decision points.  Attendees will each receive a summary binder containing one-page descriptions of a wide range of options and handouts of the course slides.