JWN - December 22, 2020 A second major oilsands producer will provide financial and technical support for a commercial-scale pilot test of its RF XL radio frequency heating system, according to Acceleware Ltd.
The producer, which has not been named, will provide $2 million and technical expertise in support of the Marwayne RF XL pilot under the terms of an agreement with Acceleware.
In exchange for the funding, the producer will be able to provide input into pilot designs and test specifications prior to completion, and will receive, along with the other pilot participants, exclusive access to the full set of detailed technical data and test results for one year following completion of the pilot.
Acceleware has moved into the execution phase of the pilot, which includes ordering long-lead equipment and materials.
Construction is estimated to begin as early as January 2021, followed by heating as early as March 2021.
The cost of the pilot is expected to be between $16 and $20 million, of which $18 million has been raised by the company. This includes $5.2 million in funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and $5 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) in addition to the $4 million provided by two major oilsands producers.