Statoil to Deploy 14 New Technologies in Oil Sands Ops

Statoil ASA aims to test and deploy over the next five-to-10 years up to 14 new technologies designed to reduce energy and water use when producing a barrel of bitumen from its Canadian oil sands operations.

Statoil said its oil sands production decreased "slightly" last year, to 15,000 bpd from 16,000 bpd in 2012. Meanwhile, its carbon dioxide intensity increased from 55.5 kilograms (122 pounds) per barrel in 2012 to 69.7 kilograms (154 pounds) per barrel last year, although this was lower than 2011's 72.7 kilograms (160 pounds) per barrel.

"Our long-term CO2 targets for reduced carbon dioxide intensity in the production process with 25 percent by 2020 and 40 percent by 2025 remain firm," Statoil Canada Country Manager Ståle Tungesvik said in a company statement.

"In 2013 we introduced new technologies to help further our ambitions. These include solvent co-injection, which has the potential to reduce the amount of steam and water used to produce a barrel of bitumen."

Tungesvik added that a number of the 14 new technologies Statoil plans to introduce to its sand oil operations support its strategy of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

(downstreamtoday.com  Edited by Topco)