Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Water availability, quality and use are increasingly among the world's greatest challenges. Canada's oil industry requires significant water resources for steam to melt bitumen in situ. Oil sands industry operators are focused on improving their water treatment processes, water recycling rates, and lowering their energy consumption and overall water footprint. Moreover, consistent water quality is key to the efficiency and operability of many industrial processes. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability (COSS) is focused on the advancement, optimization, development, and validation of novel technologies for the sustainability of the oil sands industry. In the proposed project, COSS will work collaboratively with industry partner Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) to evaluate and validate the high temperature membrane process for Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) produced water treatment. Produced water from Alberta's in-situ oil sands operations has been identified as an area for membrane technologies, and advancements in water treatment technologies can significantly improve existing performance. NAIT and COSIA partnered to develop the membrane technology assessment program (MTAP) to facilitate development in this area. This proposal will allow COSIA bench test commercially available membranes under high temperatures for SAGD operational conditions. The test will foresee and address potential technical or operational problems before field pilot testing and will help to evaluate the pilot readiness of membrane technology. The project will also benefit membrane technology providers in understanding areas that require further innovation and enhancements.