Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority
Encyclopedia
The Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA) was an Alberta crown corporation
to promote the development and use of new technology for oil sands and heavy crude oil
production, and enhanced recovery of conventional crude oil. It was funded by the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund
. Its head office and information center were located in Edmonton
and a second office in Calgary
, Canada.
bitumen recovery facility.
In 1986, the Alberta Department of Energy
took over AOSTRA's role in developing oil sands technology, and on 1 August 2000, AOSTRA was reorganized into the newly established Alberta Energy Research Institute, and rebranded again to the name of Alberta InnovatesEnergy and Environment Solutions with an expanded role to include other energy-related research areas such as wind, solar, fuel cells, clean coal and biomass.
that could not be recovered using surface mining technologies.
, OSLO Cold Water Extraction
(OCWE) and Alberta Taciuk Process (ATP)
.
Crown corporations of Canada
Canadian Crown corporations are enterprises owned by the federal government of Canada , one of Canada's provincial governments or one of the territorial governments. Crown corporations have a long standing presence in the country and have been instrumental in the formation of the state...
to promote the development and use of new technology for oil sands and heavy crude oil
Heavy crude oil
Heavy crude oil or extra heavy crude oil is any type of crude oil which does not flow easily. It is referred to as "heavy" because its density or specific gravity is higher than that of light crude oil. Heavy crude oil has been defined as any liquid petroleum with an API gravity less than 20°.Extra...
production, and enhanced recovery of conventional crude oil. It was funded by the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund
Alberta Investment Management
Alberta Investment Management Corporation is one of Canada's largest institutional investment fund managers. It is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta....
. Its head office and information center were located in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
and a second office in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Canada.
History
AOSTRA was formed in 1974 for promotion of the development of new technologies for oil sands and heavy-oil production. In 1979 its mandate was expanded also to the conventional crude oil technologies. In 1984, AOSTRA initiated the Underground Test Facility as an in-situ SAGDSteam assisted gravity drainage
Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage is an enhanced oil recovery technology for producing heavy crude oil and bitumen. It is an advanced form of steam stimulation in which a pair of horizontal wells are drilled into the oil reservoir, one a few metres above the other...
bitumen recovery facility.
In 1986, the Alberta Department of Energy
Ministry of Energy (Alberta)
The Ministry of Energy is a Cabinet-level agency of the government of the Canadian province of Alberta responsible for coordinating policy relating to the development of mineral and energy resources. It is also responsible for assessing and collecting non-renewable resource royalties, freehold...
took over AOSTRA's role in developing oil sands technology, and on 1 August 2000, AOSTRA was reorganized into the newly established Alberta Energy Research Institute, and rebranded again to the name of Alberta InnovatesEnergy and Environment Solutions with an expanded role to include other energy-related research areas such as wind, solar, fuel cells, clean coal and biomass.
Operations
AOSTRA operated primarily through projects, the costs of which were shared with industries. The resultant technology is available to any user at fair market value. AOSTRA also supported research at Canadian universities and research institutions by providing grants to inventors, funding the operation of a technical information system, promoting international co-operation in oil sands development, and providing scholarships and fellowships for educational assistance. One of the main targets of AOSTRA finding of suitable technologies for that part of the Athabasca Oil SandsAthabasca Oil Sands
The Athabasca oil sands are large deposits of bitumen, or extremely heavy crude oil, located in northeastern Alberta, Canada - roughly centred on the boomtown of Fort McMurray...
that could not be recovered using surface mining technologies.
Technologies
Most notable technologies developed with assistance of AOSTRA include of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD)Steam assisted gravity drainage
Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage is an enhanced oil recovery technology for producing heavy crude oil and bitumen. It is an advanced form of steam stimulation in which a pair of horizontal wells are drilled into the oil reservoir, one a few metres above the other...
, OSLO Cold Water Extraction
Cold water extraction
Cold water extraction is the process whereby a substance is extracted from a mixture via cold water. It is a type of fractional crystallization....
(OCWE) and Alberta Taciuk Process (ATP)
Alberta Taciuk Process
The Alberta Taciuk process is an above-ground dry thermal retorting technology for extracting oil from oil sands, oil shale and other organics-bearing materials, including oil contaminated soils, sludges and wastes...
.