A new technology could make oil sands extraction a lot more efficient.
A consortium of companies has developped a new extraction method that uses radio waves to heat underground oil, and a solvent to move it to the surface.
The 33-million dollar technology requires much less water than SAGD wells do; and bypass the need for water treatment facilities entirely.
The technology has been tested in Florida and in a Suncor well; there’ll be a larger field test next year.
Published June 14, 2012
