Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Oil and gas production can be cleaner, more effective and cheaper. Blue Spark Energy is a Canadian company using a novel technology to make the oil and gas industry adhere to the expectations and needs of Canadians. Their in-house developed high power acoustic wave device for post fracking well bore application, is discharged in a medium of water and salt (brine). The mechanical waves are of such a magnitude that they pulverize built-up scale on well casings increasing flow or reopening adjacent well rock that has been glazed and compacted by perforation charges. Blue Spark has successfully deployed the system in many international settings and won the ""best enhanced oil recovery technology"" award at the World Oil and Gas Awards in 2015. Things look bright for Blue Spark's future, but there are are some opportunities for improvement desired by industry and Blue Spark Energy. The key need relates to the rapid deterioration of components that require frequent shutdowns and unacceptable delays. The initial components of interest are the electrodes where the electrical arc is produced and an isolating sleeve that prevents contaminants from reaching the electrodes and adversely affecting the arc generation. The degradation of components is due to the extreme conditions of the application arising from the down-hole environment, the destructive mechanics of the acoustic wave process and the requirement that the electrodes must remain relatively clean and mechanically coupled to the target. The objective of the proposed project will be to characterize this novel Blue Spark Energy system to determine the mechanical and electrical stresses on the electrode and surrounding isolation sleeve.