Tofani, Rick (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)

Purpose

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and Devon Canada recently completed an NSERC Engage Grant project to conduct a preliminary investigation into the application of electromagnetic (EM) energy as a heat source for in situ (in place) extraction of heavy oil from oil sand reservoirs. The project successfully validated the functionality of the EM heating in the oil sands. SAIT and Devon are planning to partner again to carry out a larger research project to thoroughly investigate the speed and accuracy of software simulations used to model to EM oil sand heating and extraction process. The proposed research is expected to provide valuable technical recommendations on a simulation platform effectively modeling the speeds and accuracy of the complex EM energy heating patterns and behaviors in oil-sand reservoirs._x000D_