据路透社7月14日卡尔加里报道,加拿大最大的油气生产公司森科尔能源公司日前启动了一个试验项目,使用美国国防承包商哈里斯公司开发的射频技术取代高压蒸汽从油砂中提取沥青。
森科尔能源公司目前的日产量为44万桶,公司于14日在卡尔加里表示,这项技术可以显著降低成本、温室气体排放和用水量。
加拿大艾伯塔省的油砂矿藏量是世界上第三大原油储量,仅次于沙特阿拉伯和委内瑞拉,也是美国原油进口的主要来源。
然而,新项目的盈亏平衡成本在全球是最高的。但另一方面,使用高压蒸汽来溶解油砂中焦油状沥青而产生的碳排放量已引起了环保团体的强烈反对。
李 峻 编译
原文如下:
Suncor Oil Sands Project Aims to Replace Steam with Radio Waves
Reuters Tuesday,July 14,2015
Calgary,Alberta - Suncor Energy Inc has launched a pilot project to replace the high-pressure steam used to extract bitumen from oil sands with radio frequency technology developed by U.S. defence contractor Harris Corporation.
Canada's largest oil and gas company, which produces 440,000 barrels per day from Alberta's oil sands, said on Tuesday that the technology could significantly reduce costs, greenhouse gas emissions and water usage.
Alberta's oil sands are the world's third-largest crude reserves after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela and a leading source of U.S. crude imports.
However, breakeven costs for new projects are some of the highest globally. And the carbon-intensive process of using steam to liquefy the tar-like bitumen trapped in the sand has attracted fierce opposition from environmental groups.