Wasser Berlin International GWP Forum: Challenges in North America. Alberta s Water Challenges and Opportunities

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1 Wasser Berlin International GWP Forum: Challenges in North America Alberta s Water Challenges and Opportunities March 25, 2015 Alexander J.B. Zehnder Scientific Director Water Resources Alberta Innovates - Energy & Environment Solutions (AI-EES) Acknowledgements: John Zhou, AI-EES Kim Sturgess, Alberta WaterSmart

2 Alberta A few facts: 10% of Canada s population 7% of Canada s Land Area 2% of Canada s Water 35% of Canada s Agricultural Export > 80 % of Canada s Fossil Fuel Production ~ 18% of Canada s GDP 2

3 Alberta Innovates Energy and Environment Solutions (AI-EES) Who We Are? Technology arm of the Government of Alberta in energy and environment What We Do? Identify, evaluate, select technologies and partners Invest in research and technology 3

4 Strategic Focus Energy Technologies Recovery technologies Partial upgrading Tight resources Value addition Water & Environmental Management Water resources and use Tailings reclamation Land management GHG capture Renewable & Emerging Technologies Renewable energy Scout for emerging technologies 4

5 Alberta s Water Universe - Oil sand mining - Oil sand in situ - Hydraulic fracturing - Water and wastewater treatment - urban - rural and remote communities - Water reuse and storm water use - Irrigation and agriculture - Watershed protection - Environmental monitoring Alberta WaterPortal,

6 Companies in the Alberta s Water Sector Alberta WaterPortal,

7 Industries in Alberta s Water Technology Sector Multinational Corporations ~ 15 International Technology Companies ~ 12 Canadian Technology Companies~ 24 Local Service Providers ~712 Alberta WaterPortal,

8 Oil sands deposits and commercial operations Mining and In situ projects: Commercial and Pilots Over $20 billion new investments in 2011/12 8

9 The nature of the oil sands resource Production Technology Reserves Production 5 bbls/day Mining 19% 1,007, ,412 In Situ 81% 924,000

10 Oil Sands as Technology Oil 10

11 Shovel & Truck Surface Mining Hydraulic Pipeline Transport Tailings Gravity Separators Bitumen Tailings Pond In-Situ Extraction Steam Bitumen Dil-Bit Canadian & U.S. Refineries Synthetic Crude Oil SCO SAGD Diluent Coke Stockpiled

12 Key environmental concerns in oil sands development GHGs Upgrading Air Quality Tailings Mining Land Disturbance Extraction Tailings Dil-Bit in Pipelines Bitumen derived products Biodiversity Water Use Water Quality In-situ Site Development Steam Generation H 2 O Treatment Reservoir Produced Fluids Wastes 12

13 SAGD: Water Treatment and Steam Generation Is Central to the Operation 13

14 Water Treatment De-oiling (hydraulic fracturing flow back, EOR fluids, thermal recovery, etc.) Silica removal DOC removal High temperature RO membrane Evaporative technology Zero liquid discharge In-situ steam generation 14

15 Option 2 Option 1 Water Treatment in Thermal Recovery Improved Disposal and ZLD Better Evaporators Steam Boiler blow-down DOC Removal Disposal water Silica waste Dewatering De-Oiling Evaporator Drum Boiler Hi-Temp Membrane Reservoir Oil/Water Separation Oil Silica waste Make-up water Make-up water Warm Lime Softener OTSG Boiler Steam Generation Improvements Disposal water Dewatering Boiler blow-down Steam Improved Disposal and ZLD 15

16 Water Reuse in Edmonton Reclaimed wastewater for process applications to Suncor s 135,000 bbl/day Edmonton refinery (cooling water and hydrogen production) Capacity of 15 ML per day Approx. 50%* of total water withdrawn for use in Suncor s Edmonton Refinery was from Gold Bar 5.5 km pipeline from the Gold Bar WWTP to the Suncor Refinery *Based on 2010 figures 16

17 Arsenic in Groundwater XC Le, et al

18 Arsenic in Treated Water XC Le, et al

19 Water and Agriculture Water (km 3 ) Water consumed in Alberta 26 Virtual water consumed in Alberta 9 Virtual water exported 17 19

20 Thank you for your attention! 20