Innovation

Innovation is helping the oil and gas industry become more safe, efficient, productive and less environmentally intrusive. Here are just a few examples of new technologies making differences in the oilpatch:

• Injecting CO2 into reservoirs not only takes carbon out of the air, but also enhances oil and gas recovery.
• Coiled tubing - continuous tube on reels up 10,000 metres long - is used for fast and efficient drilling and servicing of wells.
• Directional drilling allows companies to reach several underground reservoirs from a single well pad. With directional drilling, companies can avoid disturbing sensitive lands, water bodies or migration paths.
• In Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), steam is pumped into the reservoir to heat and separate oil sands bitumen, which is then pumped out of the ground.
• GPS is used to target seismic lines, streamline transportation and enhance safety of workers and the public.
• Using SCADA, companies can monitor wells remotely and avoid driving to each site.
• Environmentally friendly drilling fluids help service companies protect the land and water surrounding a wellsite.

For more innovation information, visit:

• CAPP Research and Innovation
  Describes some of the technologies that are addressing environmental issues.
• Canadian Energy Advantage
  Technologies and innovations unique to the Canadian oil and gas industry.
• Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC)
  Not-for-profit association focused on research and technology development to improve the financial, environmental and safety performance of the Canadian hydrocarbon energy industry.