Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) is an alliance of oil sands producers focused on accelerating the pace of improvement in environmental performance in Canada’s oil sands through collaborative action and innovation.
COSIA has developed a planning framework that helps define Members’ collective priorities and highlights a path forward. Within this framework, COSIA has identified several “Opportunity Areas” which represent areas of focus that if fully utilized have the potential to significantly contribute to achieving COSIA’s related Performance Goals. The Steering Committee for each COSIA Environmental Performance Area (tailings, water, land and greenhouse gases) identifies several innovation Gaps within each Opportunity Area. If filled, these Gaps will ultimately support the achievement of the Performance Goals.
COSIA Challenges
In order to help mobilize Members and global solutions providers, COSIA has identified a number of COSIA Challenges that explicitly state the innovation requirements to fill the identified Gaps. The COSIA Challenges provide focused, actionable descriptions of the current state of certain Gaps as well as the desired outcomes without prescribing the means for reaching the outcomes, which may limit potential solutions.
COSIA Challenge 005: Downhole Steam Generation
Expiry Date: March 31, 2015
The COSIA Greenhouse Gas Environmental Priority Area Steering Committee has identified Downhole Steam Generation as a technology which could improve the environmental performance of the oil sands. This could apply to both Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) or Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) processes. New technology is sought which could replace
conventional surface based steam generators (“boilers”) in either new or existing thermal InSitu operations. The GHG EPA is interested in new technologies for generation of steam down hole, either at the interface between the well(s) and the reservoir or in the well bore itself.
For details click here.
COSIA Challenge 007: New High Efficiency Industrial Gas Boiler
Expiry Date: March 31, 2015
The COSIA GHG Environmental Priority Area Steering Committee has identified new high efficiency (above ground) industrial gas boilers as a technology which could improve the GHG performance of the oil sands. The GHG EPA SC is interested in new steam generator technologies to replace existing steam generators in the existing process configuration. Proposals based on work that is a proven concept are desired.
For details click here.