The quest for cleaner energy is not just about looking for renewable forms of energy but finding new, cost-effective ways to minimize the carbon footprint as we extract conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons. UCalgary scholars Joule Bergerson and Marc Strous share their research on methods and technologies for reducing carbon emission to help ease the transition. Watch the full webinar recording here: http://go.ucalgary.ca/EnergyInnovationsLeavingCarbonWebinar_LPRegistration.html

1. Leaving carbon behind
Joule Bergerson
Canada Research Chair in Energy Technology Assessment
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering
Marc Strous
Campus Alberta Innovation Chair in Energy Bioengineering
Department of Geoscience
June 13, 2017

2. Joule Bergerson
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
 Canada Research Chair in Energy
Technology Assessment
 PhD in Civil and Environmental
Engineering & Engineering and
Public Policy (Carnegie Mellon
University)
 Research focused on developing
systems level tools to investigate
economic and environmental
impacts of energy technologies

16. Key takeaways
 Global climate change is an opportunity for
innovation and economic growth
 Greenhouse gas emission reductions might lead to
(partial) electrification of transportation
 UCalgary is exploring options to produce climate-
neutral fuel and “green” gas
 We are also exploring the possibility to source
electricity directly from oil and gas reservoirs, using
a combination of microbiology and materials
science

17. Many options – how to assess?

18. Ultra-deep Oils
Tight Shale Oils
Oil Sands (Bitumens)
Extra-heavy Oils Oil Shale (Kerogen)Condensates
Natural Gas Liquids Heavy Oils
More Oil Substitutes

19. 19
What is life cycle
assessment (LCA)?
A decision making tool to
identify environmental
burdens and evaluate the
environmental consequences
of a product, process or
service over its life cycle from
cradle to grave. www.nist.gov

20. LCA continues to evolve…
Traditional Use
— To inform policy
New Uses
—To inform funding agencies and investors
—To enforce policy
20

21. 21

22. The Oil Climate Index
 OCI: 75 global crudes
—Selection based on available data
—Every major global region
—24 million bpd
—~25% of global production
 3 open-source models using all public data
—Upstream - OPGEE – Adam Brandt at Stanford
—Midstream – PRELIM – Joule Bergerson at UCalgary
—Downstream – OPEM – Deborah Gordon at CEIP
 Data an ongoing challenge
22

23. Evaluation of GHG emissions – 75 crudes
23
http://oci.carnegieendowment.org/

24. Evaluation of GHG mmission mitigation
opportunities
24
http://oci.carnegieendowment.org/
Flaring stopped

25. 25
http://oci.carnegieendowment.org/
Change the denominator
Evaluation of GHG mmission mitigation
opportunities

26. Concept/idea
Modelling / Lab
Experiments
Pilot Testing
Field Trial
Technology
Commercialization
Technology
Development
Assessment L1
Assessment L2
Assessment L3
Assessment L4
Observation /
Question
Hypothesis
Experiment
Research
Analysis
Scientific
Breakthrough
Concept / Scientific
Development
Basic mass
and energy
balances
Supply chain, flag materials
and hot spots, aid in ranking
concepts
RT TACT
Reduced
uncertainty
on physical
systems
Env’l and Econ
assessment, market
potential, aid in R&D
priorities
Resolution to
outstanding
uncertainties
Scale-up LCA, Risk
assessment, Policy barriers
System
performance
at real scale
Env’l and Econ assessment,
Competitiveness,
Optimization
Identify key
process
component,
estimate
process
performanc
e and
theoretical
limits
Basic
inputs/outp
uts, Identify
potential
applications,
Identify
performance
benchmarks
RT TACT
CFREF outputs
How to assess earlier?

27. The systems perspective

28. Key takeaways
 The transition to a low carbon future provides
unique challenges and opportunities for Alberta
and Canada
 Cutting-edge research at UCalgary will enable
discoveries and technologies that support Canada’s
position in this future
 Systems analysis can help ensure that the goals of
innovation are achieved while minimizing potential
negative unintended consequences