BY ASHTON BARG, P.ENG., MBA, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
In IGNITE V2 we introduced Scovan’s HipVap technology. At that point, the technology was in early -stage development, and we were looking forward to beginning a demonstration project to test a commercial scale HipVap IFSG exchanger over a 12+ month period. Since then, HipVap was recognized by Alberta Innovates and awarded funding in the TIER Economic Recovery Program’s first cohort of innovative technologies. Alberta Innovates’ TIER Economic Recovery Program consists of “shovel-ready” projects that will accelerate innovation in support of GHG emissions reduction, increase long-term economic competitiveness and stimulate growth in critically important sectors of Alberta’s economy. HipVap was also invited to participate in the Full Project Proposal (FPP) stage of CRIN’s Reducing Environmental Footprint funding competition. 68 applications were reviewed and only 22 projects invited to the FPP stage. Scovan’s HipVap Artificial Intelligence application was one of the few selected to the next stage of this rigorous process.
Scovan’s HipVap commercial demonstration project launched in 2022 and looks to find completion in 2023. The project is a significant milestone in the advancement of sustainable steam generation technology. It showcases a 100 TPD steam unit operating at a SAGD facility, which will verify the efficacy of Scovan’s design in converting produced water into steam without the need for conventional water treatment processes.
For clients in the energy sector, carbon reduction and its associated costs are pressing concerns. The HipVap process is less energy intensive than the typical processes currently used in the SAGD industry. By reducing the “wasted energy” associated with the inefficiencies in these processes, HipVap has reduced CO2 emissions. Preliminary calculations have shown that this can reduce the emissions for a 33,000 BPD SAGD facility by between 50,000 and 85,000 Tonnes per year.
We utilized our Indirect Fired Steam Generator (IFSG) technology to gather baseline results with boiler feed water and have now moved on to testing untreated produced water. In addition, Scovan has incorporated Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning enhancements to the design, enabling commercial operations to be analyzed and optimized. Scovan has prepared an information package detailing the tests being conducted to verify the efficacy of the HipVap technology, which can be obtained by contacting [email protected]. Steady-state testing will continue until December 2023.
In conjunction with the demonstration project, Scovan has engineered a full-scale, commercial-size HipVap system capable of producing 1000 TPD of steam. All major mechanical equipment for the process has been sized for this capacity, and we have prepared a Class IV cost estimate for the package. Our engineering and fabrication capabilities enable us to customize the system according to specific needs such as steam production volume, pressure ratings, heat integration, water quality, pad equipment balance, brownfield/greenfield conditions, and facility expansion or well pad steam requirements, among other factors. Scovan is poised to partner with producers to conduct Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies. The investment in a FEED study can be credited towards the purchase of a HipVap system in the future, making it an attractive and cost-effective option for our customers.
Because HipVap eliminates the need for water treatment, it can drastically reduce the amount of equipment required to generate steam compared to alternative methods, such as Warm Lime Softening (WLS) and Advanced Once Through Steam Generator (OTSG) or an Evaporator and Drum Boiler process.
Our organization’s unwavering dedication to innovation and tailor-made solutions makes us an excellent partner for producers aiming to reduce their carbon footprint while streamlining their operations. Since water treatment is not required with HipVap, following is a chart of how the technology drastically reduces the amount of equipment required to generate steam compared to a WLS + OTSG or a Evap + Drum Boiler method.
