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Human ingenuity and innovation
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We look to technology to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges inherent in the energy industry. We believe environmental issues can be solved through human ingenuity and innovation.
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We are one of a select number of oil and gas companies in Canada with dedicated research facilities. Scientists at our Calgary and Sarnia facilities conduct their own research as well as partner with academic experts and scientists at ExxonMobil. These efforts help to improve production and resource recovery, reduce environmental impacts and produce new or improved products.
Here are highlights of our research activities in 2008:
New recovery technologies
Our scientists continue to explore innovative and efficient ways of recovering oil sands resources. In 2008, for example, they worked on a technology that adds solvent to steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) wells. By adding solvent to steam, we can produce more bitumen for the same amount of steam, resulting in lower energy intensity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity. In 2008, we drilled two horizontal well pairs at Cold Lake to test this technology in the field.
Supporting oil sands research
We are the founding sponsor of the Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation (COSI) at the University of Alberta. The aim of this unique Canadian institution is to conduct breakthrough research that reduces the use of water and energy and decreases the industrial footprint of oil sands development. Since 2005, we have contributed $10 million and more than $1 million of in-kind support to COSI. In 2008, the research program consisted of 15 projects involving more than 60 researchers. Researchers, for example, are working on a number of nonaqueous technology projects that could lead to a bitumen extraction process that significantly reduces water use, eliminates tailings ponds, and reduces GHG emission intensity.
We also continue to be one of several oil sands operators funding leading-edge research conducted by the Canadian Oil Sands Network for Research and Development (CONRAD). This includes studies into every aspect of improving oil sands reclamation, watershed management and the development of better reclamation materials.Over the past five years, we have contributed $530,000 to support research conducted under CONRAD.
Petroleum products
New and improved petroleum products are developed through our Sarnia research centre. In 2008, the centre introduced an improved version of Esso’s XD-3 OW40 heavy-duty engine oil. The oil is designed to operate in Canadian climate extremes, provide increased fuel economy and meet the requirements of advanced diesel engines.
Projects funded at universities
We also support the research efforts of others through our University Research Awards program. This program provides funding for research projects carried out by faculty members and their students in areas of interest – including the environment – to our businesses. In 2008, we invested $500,000 to sponsor 21 projects at 13 universities across Canada. One such project, based at McGill University, is developing ways to enhance soil bioremediation in cold climates.
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| Researching solutions to oil sands challenges
We’re constantly looking for better ways to improve the recovery of bitumen and reduce environmental impacts, and in the last few years we’ve made a lot of progress. One of the projects we’re working on is a solvent-based process that injects solvent in place of steam to recover the resource, improving recovery efficiency and reducing GHG emissions. We’re also continuing to advance progress on our solvent-assisted SAGD technology. We expect it will be more economic and beneficial to the environment, reducing GHG emissions and water use. Later this year we’ll start up a large pilot project at Cold Lake to test this technology in the field. As a scientist, it’s very satisfying to see good ideas move forward. As an organization, we’re working on a lot of innovative research projects that could have significant benefits to oil sands development in the future, both economically and environmentally.
Tom Boone, manager, oil sands recovery
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