ECT Technology: Pioneering the Future of Heavy Oil Extraction with Sustainability in Mind

As conventional oil resources diminish worldwide, the significance of vast heavy oil reserves as a future energy source is escalating. Heavy oils now account for approximately 70% of all liquid oil estimates. With conventional Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods, extraction of these resources has been a challenge, if not a hindrance in terms of profitability, efficiency and sustainability. Most of the EOR methods increment the environmental footprint, rendering entire extraction operations questionable. Despite the odds, New Oil Generation is introducing a game-changer.

The underlying principle behind thermal EOR methods is to reduce viscosity by introducing heat into the reservoir. However, these methods typically require steam generation on the surface and subsequent injection into the reservoir, resulting in significant energy consumption. Furthermore, they entail high capital investments in steam generation infrastructure, specialized well completion, and terrestrial steam pipelines with heat insulation. This accumulates not only costs, but also carbon footprint with all the necessary construction.

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

Enter New Oil Generation—a research and development and oilfield service company specializing in innovative EOR technologies. Their ground-breaking ECT technology offers an alternative solution that eliminates the need for further infrastructure development, minimizing the environmental footprint while maximizing profitability. As co-founder, Muhammad al-Misned explains, “ECT provides a comprehensive solution for oil producers facing economic, technological, and environmental feasibility challenges in heavy oil extraction.”

“We use our own in-house developed technology that utilizes binary mixtures of chemicals injected into the wellbore. This thermochemical stimulation generates heat, nitrogen gas, and pressure in the reservoir, thereby reducing oil viscosity and increasing reservoir pressure,” Jakub Hodinář, the Czech co-founder and brain of the operations details. “Unlike conventional EOR technologies, ECT employs chemicals that generate substantial heat directly within the reservoir, resulting in minimal energy losses and a reduced carbon footprint in terms of energy and water usage. One of the key advantages of ECT technology is its elimination of the need for surface facilities and steam generation, leading to improved energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reduced environmental impact.”

New Oil Generation uses a computer-driven modular platform with surface pumping system and command and control unit with integrated sensors on the bottom hole assembly. This technology set-up is mobile, easily and rapidly deployable anywhere, thus not aggravating environmental impact of the upstream operations.

ECT technology aligns perfectly with the oil sector’s increasing focus on sustainability and environmental protection. As Jakub Hodinář highlights, the industry faces growing pressure to adopt cleaner technologies and address greenhouse gas emissions and water scarcity concerns. ECT meets these challenges head-on by providing a high level of environmental protection without further depleting water resources. The binary mixture used in ECT is specifically designed to be environmentally safe, without any dangerous chemicals or residues.

ECT represents the new generation of Enhanced Oil Recovery methods—a green technology combining environmental responsibility with technological advancements and robust production impact.

COMPELLING ALTERNATIVE

The overall efficacy of ECT has quickly gained recognition, challenging established steam-based thermal EOR methods such as SAGD and CSS. ECT technology has garnered interest from National and International Oil Companies (NOCs and IOCs) across various territories. Its applicability is not limited by technical constraints, allowing for implementation anywhere in the world where heavy-oil extraction, low recovery factor and decreasing production is an issue.

New Oil Generation has dedicated significant efforts and expertise to advance ECT technology, transforming it into the preeminent state-of-the-art tool for EOR of heavy crude oil reservoirs. With more than 15 years of research, development, and field-testing, ECT has proven its efficacy and safety. They offer comprehensive EOR services, including reservoir and well analysis, field deployment of ECT technology and operational management, post-treatment monitoring, consulting, and evaluation. The latest SmartFieldTM ECT solution enables even a long-term technology deployment combined with subsurface data collection, evaluation and more precise EOR operation planning. “Like in precision agriculture, you have to know where, when and how you need to use your limited resources to keep your requested production rate with lowest costs. SmartField ECT gives you both the knowledge and capability to plan costs, act just-in-time and effectively,” sums co-founder Muhammad Al-Misned.

ECT provides a compelling alternative to traditional thermal EOR methods, ensuring the highest possible recovery factor sustainably. Muhammad al-Misned encapsulates its value, stating, “ECT offers heavy oil producers using simple, unsophisticated extraction technologies the opportunity to improve efficiencies across the board. High level of mobility of our technology means low and flexible operational costs for our clients. Removing the steam from the stimulation process brings long term sustainability and effectivity of production even in regions with extreme lack of water resources. No waste of water, no greenhouse gas emissions during operations anymore. This is exactly what the world public, company shareholders and investors expect from the new generation of upstream technologies. We did our job well.”

ECT technology is set to reshape the heavy oil extraction landscape, providing a sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for maximizing production and minimizing the industry’s environmental footprint. New Oil Generation’s commitment to innovation and efficiency makes ECT the optimal choice for heavy oil extraction in the 21st century.