Practical Challenges to Solvents in Reducing GHG Emissions

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Practical Challenges to Solvents in Reducing GHG Emissions Bruce S. Carey CHOA Editorial Committee

CHOA JOURNAL - APRIL 2023 I 10

INTRODUCTION The thesis of this Opinion piece is that, although solvent use in steam-based processes (e.g., SAGD) has been shown to reduce SORs and GHG intensities – as well as to increase production rates, there are practical challenges to the ability of solvent to have a larger-scale impact on reducing total emissions (vs. emission intensities) from existing projects in the near-term. This could become a key factor if total emission caps are targeted or mandated.

A key concern for solvent application in existing SAGD projects will be achieving positive economics for retrofitting older projects due to factors such as a limited number of candidate pads, or pads that are geographically dispersed, or the inherently higher costs of retro-fitting infrastructure (compared to including solvent capability in the design of a greenfield project).

In addition, in most cases, the choice to shut-in steam volumes that have been replaced by solvents - rather than re-deploying the steam to generate higher volumes – may be less attractive to operators and to the value of the project.

The industry continues to make strides in developing higher-performing solvent systems that require less steam/heat and these systems may be sufficiently developed in time to be included in future greenfield project designs. These greenfield projects may thus be the true target for solvents to have a material impact on reducing total GHG emissions.

CHOA Journal Editorial Committee