Suncor Energy, along with its partners in the project, today announced the first radio frequency pilot for oil recovery within an in situ reservoir. The technology, Enhanced Solvent Extraction Incorporating Electromagnetic Heating (ESEIEH, pronounced “easy”), uses radio frequency to heat the reservoir and adds a solvent which facilitates the movement of the bitumen to the surface.
The ESEIEH project partners are Devon, Nexen Energy ULC, Suncor, Harris Corporation, with funding in part from the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC). The technology will be tested at Suncor’s Dover test site, north of Fort McMurray, Alta.
The group has been collaborating on this technology since 2011 with initial physical testing of the technology in 2012 at Suncor’s Steepbank mine facility. Testing will now begin at an in situ reservoir for approximately 24 months.
View the full release here.