Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

The NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) Applied Research Centre for Oil Sand Sustainability (NARCOSS) is actively engaged in developing innovative oil sands technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often lack the resources to have a third-party screen and assess their technologies and bring their technology closer to commercialization. NARCOSS offers a unique value proposition by focussing on screening, verifying, validating and further develop SME technologies and providing recommendations to the oil sands industry. The equipment requested in this application is for sample preparation to support the existing infrastructure at NARCOSS and to obtain other equipment that is routinely used in virtually all investigations. The current focus for NARCOSS is tailings, water quality and the recovery of bitumen from the tailings ponds. All levels of government and industry recognize the need to minimize and ultimately eliminate fluid tailings ponds. This is the long-term progressive reclamation goal of the Government of Alberta outlined in the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) Directive 074. Additionally, the formation of Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), consisting of thirteen major oil sands companies, has created an unprecedented and unique environment for industry, academia, SMEs and 3rd party collaboration through sharing of knowledge, experience and intellectual property. The equipment requested in this proposal will enable the Centre to provide an end-to-end service to all participants, enable wealth generation for Canadians and the work conducted will ensure that the environment is preserved for future generations.