Calgary, AB – June 2026
Scovan has been awarded $2 million in funding through the Clean Resource Innovation Network’s (CRIN) Accelerating Cleantech Innovation Competition for the validation of its upgraded HipVap technology as it advances toward full commercial deployment. The competition supports late-stage clean technologies that deliver measurable environmental and economic benefits across Canada’s energy sector and other hard-to-abate industries. The selected projects were chosen through a rigorous third-party review process coordinated by MaRS Discovery District and funded through Canada’s Strategic Response Fund.
The Validation of Upgraded HipVap Technology for Commercial Readiness Project will support the final stage of commercialization for Scovan’s High-Pressure Vapor Indirect Fired Steam Generator (IFSG). HipVap converts untreated produced water at temperature and pressure directly into high-quality steam while eliminating the need for conventional produced-water treatment systems. Following the successful completion of HipVap’s Commercialization Prototype Demonstration Project, Scovan has further refined and optimized the technology and is now preparing to return the upgraded system to operation for commercial validation. This project will advance HipVap from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 to TRL 9, demonstrating commercial readiness under operating conditions.
The upgraded HipVap technology continues to address some of the most significant operational and environmental challenges facing steam-assisted oil sands production. By eliminating conventional produced-water treatment infrastructure and associated cooling systems, HipVap reduces facility complexity while improving reliability and plant uptime. The technology offers the potential to lower capital and operating costs, reduce water consumption and disposal requirements, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and minimize overall facility footprint.
HipVap is poised to transform how steam is delivered to both existing and new thermal operations. For existing facilities, operators can generate incremental steam using excess produced water or blowdown streams that would otherwise require disposal, unlocking additional production capacity while reducing operating costs. For new developments, HipVap significantly reduces the water treatment infrastructure required for steam generation and enables cost-effective pad-based steam generation solutions. This flexible approach has the potential to improve project economics and deliver a level of cost competitiveness not previously achievable with conventional steam generation technologies.
“Receiving support from CRIN is an important milestone in HipVap’s commercialization journey,” said Sep Shahkarami, Product Development Manager at Scovan. “The successful completion of our prototype demonstration project provided valuable operational data and insights that allowed us to further enhance the technology. This next phase will validate those improvements at commercial scale and bring HipVap to full market readiness.”
The project aligns with CRIN’s Water Technology Development theme and supports Canada’s continued leadership in developing innovative technologies that improve both environmental performance and economic competitiveness within the energy sector. CRIN identified HipVap as a technology capable of accelerating commercial deployment while delivering meaningful environmental and operational benefits.
Once fully commercialized, HipVap will provide operators with a transformative approach to steam generation that simplifies water handling, improves operational efficiency, and supports lower-emission resource development.
About CRIN
The Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) is a pan-Canadian network that brings together industry, entrepreneurs, investors, academia, governments, and other stakeholders to develop, commercialize, and accelerate the adoption of clean technology solutions for the oil and gas sector and other hard-to-abate industries. Through collaboration and innovation, CRIN is helping strengthen Canadian energy competitiveness while improving environmental performance.
About Scovan
Scovan is a Canadian engineering, procurement, fabrication, and construction management company focused on delivering innovative solutions to the energy industry. Through the development of proprietary technologies such as HipVap, Scovan is helping customers improve operational performance while advancing environmental sustainability.
For more information about Scovan or HipVap technology, please contact:
Oliver Kohlhammer, VP Commercial
(403) 705-6830
[email protected]
