ConocoPhillips Pilots Technology to Reduce GHG Emissions

ConocoPhillips has received $2.5 MM in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) for the company's $10 MM non-condensable gas (NCG) co-injection pilot for thief zone management at Surmont.

The pilot will inject methane with steam into the SAGD reservoir, which has the potential to mitigate “thief zones”. These are areas above or below the oil zones where heat and pressure can be lost, resulting in a need for more steam to be injected to recover bitumen.

This pilot builds on past work in NCG co-injection by expanding the application to the full life cycle of the well. 

The funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta is a valuable contribution to our pilot. If successful, we plan to accelerate the commercial deployment of this technology, which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas intensity and facilitate continued development of our oil sands resources in an efficient manner.

BIJ AGARWAL, president, ConocoPhillips Canada

GHG emission reductions will be achieved through expected steam-oil ratio (SOR) reductions of at least 15 percent. 

Commercialization of this technology has the potential to provide economic benefit to Albertans. 

ConocoPhillips has a proven track record in technology development and delivering results from leveraged technology funding.

  • With a $7 MM grant from the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation, the predecessor of Emissions Reduction Alberta, ConocoPhillips implemented a $14 MM, five-year systematic energy efficiency program that reduced CO2e emissions by approximately 500,000 tonnes, which is equivalent to removing about 98,000 cars from the road.
  • ConocoPhillips Canada is a member of the Pathways Alliance, a group of oil sands producers working together with governments on an ambitious and actionable plan to help Canada meet both its 2030 Paris commitment and our collective 2050 net zero goal.