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Research Program

Program Coordination Focus Area 1 Focus Area 2 Focus Area 3 Focus Area 4 Focus Area 5

Research Outcomes

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Research project title Focus Area 1

Development of environmentally sound, high-yield unconventional oil recovery and circulation system technologies

Vision

Through independent oil sands recovery technology capabilities

Contributing to a foundation for entry into the upstream segment of unconventional oil production plants

Research objectives

For reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving unconventional oil recovery

Development and demonstration of independent technologies for environmentally sound, high-yield thermal recovery and flow and circulation equipment

Technology framework

Four component technologies

  1. 01
    Thermal recovery and operational control technologies Development of hybrid thermal recovery and operational control technologies
  2. 02
    Well pad and test separation technologies Development of well pad systems and produced-fluid gathering and separation technologies
  3. 03
    Steam production and injection technology Development of modular steam production and subsurface injection equipment technologies
  4. 04
    Hybrid heat carrier technology Development of modular hybrid heat carrier pressurization station technology
Field recovery system Integration of recovery, separation, injection, and operation

Final research outcome targets and performance indicators by technology

Operating principles · Research activities and outcomes

Component Technology 01
Thermal recovery and operational control technologies

Hybrid thermal recovery

Scene showing steam and solvent injection around the upper injection well in the same geological cross-section Steam and solvent Injection well Production well
01 Steam and solvent injection
Scene showing the chamber expanding upward and laterally beyond its previous boundary, marked by a dashed line Chamber Injection well Production well
02 Chamber expansion
Scene showing black bitumen flowing along the chamber edges and collecting in the lower production well Chamber Injection well Production well ● Bitumen
03 Gravity drainage and recovery

Steam and solvent reduce the viscosity of bitumen, allowing it to flow under gravity and collect in the lower production well.

Quantitative performance indicators
Bitumen recovery
  • Unconventional oil recovery of at least 62%
  • CSOR of 2.9 or less
  • Solvent use ratio of 5vol% or less
Final research outcome targets
  • Increased bitumen recovery
  • Reduced steam demand and energy consumption
Component Technology 02
Well pad and test separation technologies

Recovery and group separation

Produced fluids from multiple wells are gathered in a manifold, then assessed through test and group separation to inform operations. Produced fluids Gathering manifold Instrumentation Gas Oil Water
01 Produced-fluid recovery 02 Manifold gathering 03 Test separation and instrumentation

Produced fluids from multiple wells are gathered in a manifold, then assessed through test and group separation to inform operations.

Quantitative performance indicators
Group separation of produced fluids
  • Produced-fluid separation performance: API 23
  • Thermal conductivity: 0.006 W/m·℃
  • AER Directive 17
Final research outcome targets
  • Efficient operation
  • System stability
Component Technology 03
Steam production and injection technology

Injection and mobility enhancement

Water flows through a coil and receives heat from outside to generate steam. The steam is supplied to injection equipment after pressure control. Feedwater pump Indirect heating Feedwater Steam Flue gas Injection supply
01 Feedwater supply and pressurization 02 Coil heating and steam production 03 Control and injection

Water flows through a coil and receives heat from outside to generate steam. The steam is supplied to injection equipment after pressure control.

Quantitative performance indicators
Production gas injection and mobility
  • Steam quality/purity: 100%
  • Combustor vaporization rate of at least 95%
  • Pressurization performance standard: API 610
Final research outcome targets
  • Increasing bitumen mobility
  • Increased yield and energy efficiency
Component Technology 04
Hybrid heat carrier technology

Well pad system integration

Water is injected directly into the combustion environment to produce a heat-transfer medium combining steam and combustion gases, which is supplied at a controlled pressure from modular equipment. Combustion section Feedwater Direct injection and mixing Pressurization and supply Mixed heat-transfer medium
01 Combustion gas generation 02 Direct feedwater injection 03 Hybrid heat carrier supply

Water is injected directly into the combustion environment to produce a heat-transfer medium combining steam and combustion gases, which is supplied at a controlled pressure from modular equipment.

Quantitative performance indicators
Commercial-scale well pad system
  • Treatment capacity: 8,400 bpd/pad
  • Integrated availability of at least 95%
  • Service life of at least 15 years
Final research outcome targets
  • Integration of wells and functional equipment
  • Service life–cost optimization

Implementation strategy and direction

Five implementation strategies

01

Strengthening core design capabilities

Conceptual diagram of analyzing and modeling technical information to produce core design data
Design data analysis → Modeling and analysis → Core design
02

Implementation linked to existing research outcomes

Conceptual diagram of connecting and extending existing technology modules into a new integrated system
Utilization of existing technologies → Linkage and integration → Expansion
03

Improving technology maturity

Conceptual diagram of improving technology maturity through repeated prototype testing, validation, and refinement
Performance testing → Validation → Improvement and retesting
04

Utilizing domestic and international networks

Domestic and international joint research network illustration
05

Promoting practical application and commercialization

Conceptual diagram linking fabrication of designed modules to application at actual industrial sites
Fabrication preparation → Module fabrication → Field application

AS-IS / TO-BE

Transition objectives by component technology

Component Technology 01

Thermal recovery and operational control technologies

AS-IS
  • Unconventional oil recovery of 50% using SAGD
  • CSOR : 3.5
TO-BE
  • Unconventional oil recovery of at least 62% using ES-SAGD
  • CSOR: 2.9 or less
Component Technology 02

Well pad and test separation technologies

AS-IS
  • Distributed construction of functional facilities at remote sites
  • Wear and corrosion in well pad systems, and heat loss in production tubing
TO-BE
  • Centralized modular installation using a well pad system
  • Development of technology to prevent heat loss in production tubing
Component Technology 03

Steam production and injection technology

AS-IS
  • Production and supply of high-temperature, high-pressure, high-purity steam
  • Pressurization performance standard: API 610, quality/purity: 95%
TO-BE
  • Production of high-purity steam and pressurization and supply through a production-enhancement gas pressurization line
  • Pressurization performance standard: API 610, quality/purity: 100%, supply temperature: 314℃
Component Technology 04

Hybrid heat carrier technology

AS-IS
  • Need to reduce energy consumption and improve recovery in commercial SAGD operations
  • Technology level: 75%, TRL 4
  • No vaporization rate available for the hybrid heat carrier combustor
TO-BE
  • Energy savings through direct feedwater injection into the combustion environment and simultaneous injection of the combustion gas mixture
  • Technology level: 95%, TRL 8
  • Hybrid heat carrier combustor vaporization rate: 95%