Technology
decarbonizing industrial processes
The heart of Acceleware’s RF XL, the Clean Tech Inverter (CTI), makes it possible to decarbonize the production of heavy oil and oil sands via electrification – allowing for the process to become as clean as the power source used to drive the technology. RF XL itself uses radio frequency (“RF”) energy to heat and mobilize heavy oil and bitumen. It can virtually eliminate Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions when powered by renewables or by small modular reactors (SMR), as well as eliminate the requirement for fresh water use in thermal heavy oil production, reducing surface facility requirements and thereby also dramatically reducing costs.
In addition to RF XL, Acceleware is working to develop potential CTI applications that can replace other combustion-dependent processes, including but not limited to grain and bulk solids drying, commercial heating, and turquoise hydrogen production.
RF XL is currently being commercially piloted in Marwayne, Alberta.
RF XL is versatile
RF XL can be implemented as an expansion to an existing SAGD project, allowing operators to increase production while reducing their emissions intensity. RF XL can also be implemented as a new greenfield project, where it can eliminate the requirement for steam plants and fresh water. The RF XL technology is simple and quick to deploy, allowing heavy oil operators to compete with short cycle resource development such as light tight oil multi-stage frac plays. Global heavy oil deposits represent an addressable market of over 8 trillion barrels of oil.
Acceleware believes that our RF XL process can be fully commercialized and available on the market by 2023.
How RF XL Works
The RF XL process uses RF energy to generate heat, which converts the water already existing within the oil sands reservoir to steam, mobilizing the bitumen and allowing it to flow to the producing well. Acceleware's RF XL process, coupled with new software advancements, involves the drilling of two RF heating lines into the target zone and their connection to a surface power supply. RF XL does not require the injection of steam into the target zone, eliminating the need for water source wells, water treatment equipment, and steam generators, as well as the requirement for costly chemicals or solvents. In addition to the obvious OPEX and CAPEX savings, RF XL can immediately reduce GHG emissions compared to SAGD or other steam-based heavy oil or bitumen extraction processes.
For more details, download our white paper, "How RF XL can Profitably Produce Oil Sands and Heavy Oil with Low Environmental Impacts"
