EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to the Canadian Heavy Oil
wells per township. By the end of this five-year
Association’s (CHOA’s) 25th anniversary
study period, mapping was moving from 2-D to
commemorative publication. I was somewhat
3-D characterization, along with 3-D geostatis-
disconcerted when I was first asked by the CHOA
tical modelling, and drilling density by industry
to help coordinate and organize this volume—how
was increasing significantly, along with techno-
do you cover 25 years of a technical organization
logical advances in both CSS and SAGD. For
in such an exponentially growing business as the
a full discussion of the evolution of these differ-
Canadian heavy oil industry? How do you balance
ent in situ techniques, see the articles “How we
the different facets—from government, industry
got here” by Dave Theriault and Neil Edmunds,
and academia? I felt the weight of the responsi-
and “CHOPS and SAGD: revolutionizing in situ
bility of leading such a distinguished publication,
heavy oil” by Maurice Dusseault.
but also knew this anniversary would focus the
In the early to mid-2000s, conflicting resource
issues at hand, offering a broader perspective.
development became an issue, with a request
At the same time, it is a joyous celebration.
to the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation
In the past 25 years, the vast heavy oil and
Board (ERCB) by bitumen producers to shut in
oilsands deposits of Alberta have been recog-
associated gas production in the Athabasca.
nized as one of the major unconventional energy
The ERCB formulated a policy of bitumen con-
resources of the world, and an integral part of the
servation, which resulted in outcomes, which
global energy mix. Steam assisted gravity drain-
are summarized by Neil McCrank in his article
age (SAGD) and cyclic steam stimulation have
on page 43.
moved beyond the pilot and experimental schemes
Next we look to the future in two articles. The
to full commercial-scale operations. Bitumen,
first, “The oilsands and the aboriginal commu-
heavy oil and synthetic crude oil (derived from
nity: working together to reach consensus and
the upgrading of bitumen) have surpassed con-
achieve shared aims” by Fort McKay First Nation
ventional oil and gas production in the province.
Chief Jim Boucher, examines the joint journey
This commemorative publication is an im-
taken by the aboriginal community and industry
portant piece of the CHOA’s history. To begin,
in the Athabasca region. The second, “The evo-
we thought a chronology of heavy oil and oilsands
lution and future of in situ oil sands recovery
development in Canada would be useful. This
technology” by Ian D. Gates and Jacky Wang,
is followed by historical reviews by Mary Clark
examines the technological advances that are
Sheppard, daughter of hot water process inventor
predicted to help balance development with
Karl Clark, and by energy journalist and historian
environmental concerns.
Gordon Jaremko. And then we get to the heart
Most importantly, in this publication the CHOA
of the publication, and the CHOA—technology.
recognizes three oilsands pioneers who have been
Just before the CHOA was founded, cyclic
inducted into our Hall of Fame: Dr. Roger Butler,
steam stimulation (CSS) projects were started
Edward E. “Ned” Gilbert and David J. Theriault,
in Alberta at Primrose and Peace River, and the
whose achievements have been highlighted by
Underground Test Facility was in initial stages
Qi Jiang and Melanie Collison.
of testing the feasibility of using SAGD as an
We hope that you enjoy this publication, and
in situ technology for recovery of bitumen too
that you continue to use the CHOA as a tech-
deep for recovery by surface-mining techniques,
nical and social network to help us all achieve
mainly in the Athabasca deposit. That same year,
a balanced approach to sustainable economic
1986, the Alberta Geological Survey started a
development of our immense heavy oil and oil-
five-year research program on regional char-
sands deposits today and into the future.
acterization of the Athabasca oilsands. At that
12
Canadian heavy oil association
time, well delineation was sparse (compared to
Fran Hein, Ph.D., P. Geol.
present-day drilling) and, where possible, the
Technical and Social Committee, CHOA
regional databases consisted of a control of four
Chief geologist, ERCB