Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 3

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Technology Access Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability (TACOSS) and Centre for Sensors and System Integration (CSSI) will work with Imperial Oil Limited (IOL) and the Institute of Oil Sands Innovation (IOSI) to accelerate the development of ore scanning technologies for rapid oil sands characterization. Emerging scanning techniques, including optics, lasers, imaging and spectroscopy, coupled with machine learning techniques can be a powerful characterization tool. This research is intended to accelerate the commercialization of recently developed ore scanning technologies in oil sands to create a better process for oil sands characterization, allowing for the potential implementation of process control to improve the efficiency of large-scale oil sands mining projects. TACOSS will develop an oil sands characterization database used as the basis for evaluation of multiple non-destructive scanning techniques developed by Canadian and international firms. We will directly compare and collocate data from multiple sources and ore scanning methods to determine key characteristics of oil sands, such as ore grade, mineralogy and water chemistry. Following the laboratory evaluation, promising scanning technologies will undergo a field trial to assess its robustness under real-life conditions. Successful completion of the field trial will accelerate the commercialization of the technology. IOL will provide technical stewardship and field coordination, and NAIT will provide the infrastructure, project management, testing and reporting. NAIT staff will gain technical expertise in advanced oil sands characterization techniques. Specifically, students will develop new skills in advanced techniques including industry specific test methods and best practices. This project will benefit Canada, both economically and environmentally, by enabling oil sands operators to more efficiently develop the oil sands resources and to reduce energy/waste generated due to processing of low-quality oil sands. This project will also improve the public perception of Alberta oil sands operators and ultimately reduce the cost of downstream tailings treatment while creating new employment opportunities for Canadians.