The Birth of EcoGrowth Environmental Inc.
Pioneering Clean Technology in the Heart of Alberta’s Energy Sector
Originally founded as Eco-Rocks to tackle the problem of drill cuttings in Alberta’s shale-based oil & gas sector.
The Montney and Duvernay shale formations spanning Alberta and northeastern British Columbia represent some of the largest shale plays in North America, covering over 130,000 square kilometers. As drilling activity scales up to unlock vast natural gas and liquids resources, it's estimated that more than 150 million tonnes of drill cuttings could be generated over the lifespan of development.
Standard practice is to mix oil contaminated shale fragments with sawdust for stabilization for transfer to landfill.
We developed an “Auto-Ignition Shale System (AISS)” to treat drill cuttings directly on the site of a drilling rig.
Technology effectively treated shale-based drill cuttings using the thermal energy of the contaminants themselves.
The thermally treated shale-based drill cuttings were tested as a soil amendment.
Expanded shale is a lightweight, porous soil amendment that improves aeration, drainage, and moisture retention in compacted or clay-heavy soils. It is produced by mining raw shale, crushing it into small pieces, and heating it in a rotary kiln at high temperatures, causing the material to expand like popcorn. This durable, environmentally friendly product enhances root development and long-term soil structure without breaking down over time.
100% treated drill cuttings after 12-days (Oct. 31 – Nov. 12)
The most proficient growth occurred in the straight treated shale drill cuttings proving the value as a soil amendment.
5-million tons are produced annually for the North American market. At bulk prices of $200/ton the market is $1 billion annually.
After a year-long process we were given approval to operate the technology in Alberta.
After numerous unsuccessful attempts to pitch the concept of converting shale-based waste to a valuable commodity Eco-Rocks was rebranded as Eco-Growth Environmental with a focus on non-oil & gas landfill diversion technologies.
