BioOilSolv is developing an innovative biogenic solvent derived from renewable agroforestry biomass, aimed at revolutionizing the oil sands industry by significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving bitumen production efficiency in Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) operations. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of producing our proprietary solvent at a pilot scale, optimizing its use in bitumen recovery, and validating its performance through laboratory and field-scale testing.
Our bio-solvent, produced via a patent-pending thermocatalytic process, offers a sustainable alternative to conventional hydrocarbon solvents such as butane. Unlike these fossil-based solvents, our bio-solvent demonstrates superior performance in reducing the steam-to-oil ratio (SOR), and enhancing bitumen production rates. Alberta’s vast agricultural biomass resources provide a scalable foundation for producing biogenic solvents at volumes sufficient to meet the demands of large-scale bitumen production.
The project is structured into three phases:
- Biomass product qualification and sandpack testing
- Engineering design and pilot-scale solvent production (5 tonnes/day)
- Field implementation with solvent injection in a 1,000 bbl/day SAGD well-pair
The successful completion of this project is expected to achieve significant GHG emissions reductions, with a 35% reduction in steam requirements for SAGD operations and the sequestration of biogenic carbon, achieving a total carbon reduction in the range of 7,000-9,000 tonnes of CO2e each year. Additionally, this project will create new economic opportunities in Alberta, fostering the transition to a low-carbon economy while leveraging local biomass resources. This revolutionary advancement has the potential to reduce GHG emissions from Alberta SAGD operations by 1.6 million tonnes per year.