Imperial Oil’s Grand Rapids oil sands project, near Cold Lake, has made a significant breakthrough in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project has implemented a new technology that is expected to reduce emissions by 40 per cent.
Lisa Schmidt, a representative from Imperial Oil, stated, “We’ve been working on technology to continue to help reduce the greenhouse emissions intensity at our operations, particularly in Cold Lake.” The new technology involves using a lighter oil mixed with steam to recover oil from deep underground deposits, reducing the amount of steam used in the extraction process.
This innovative technology, called solvent-assisted, steam-assisted gravity drainage (SA-SAGD), has been developed and piloted by Imperial Oil and is being launched in Cold Lake for the first time in the industry. Brad Corson, chairman, president, and CEO of Imperial Oil, commended the teams for bringing this project to production ahead of schedule.
Imperial Oil aims to transition 40 per cent of production to lower emission technology by 2030. Through the implementation of SA-SAGD, facility efficiency improvements, and carbon capture and storage, the company anticipates a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity compared to 2016 levels, supporting Canada’s net zero goals.
Imperial Oil reminds the public that these are goals and not guarantees, as unforeseen circumstances may impact sustainability efforts. Despite challenges, Imperial Oil remains committed to innovation and environmental stewardship, continuing to produce oil with minimal impact on the environment. Production is expected to ramp up in the coming months, reaching full rates of 15,000 gross barrels per day later this year.
