Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2019-2020)

Several technologies are used in Canada whereby steam is injected into bitumen (oil-sands) reservoirs to reducex000D
bitumen viscosity and enable oil production. The oil is thus produced at high temperatures, mixed with aboutx000D
three times the volume of water. Once the oil is separated, the water is treated, fed to the steam generators andx000D
recycled to the wells. The produced water contains a complex mixture of inorganic and organic contaminantsx000D
that can foul the boilers and contaminants are typically removed by a combination of physical and chemicalx000D
treatment processes. Around 80% of the water is recycled as steam, the remaining 20% collected as ax000D
concentrated 'blowdown', around of half of which can be recycled and the remaining part is disposed of. Thisx000D
water treatment process has high capital and operating costs, and critically effects the environmentalx000D
performance including the amount of disposal water and the consumption of make up water. In the currentx000D
climate of low oil prices and increasing environmental regulation, new water treatment technology is needed tox000D
reduce costs and enhance the environmental performance of oil sands production. Electrocoagulation isx000D
effective for removal of silica and other contaminants, and there is significant potential for the applicationx000D
electrocoagulation as a new solution for treatment of produced water or blowdown. However, the complexx000D
chemistry in produced water systems can lead to operational and performance problems, and research is neededx000D
to understand removal mechanisms and electrode fouling processes to tailor the technology for thesex000D
applications. Our industry partner is planning to apply electrocoagulation for the treatment of produced water.x000D
The project will enable them to ensure that electrocoagulation is used as efficiently and effectively as possible.x000D
This will reduce operating and capital costs and lead to a significant reduction in water use and disposal. Thex000D
project will involve investigation of the interaction of contaminants with the electrocoagulation process, as ax000D
function of the operating conditions. State of the art instruments will be used to investigate the contaminantx000D
removal mechanisms, to provide reliable performance data and recommend suitable operating conditions.