{"id":{"repo_id":"calgary","oai_identifier":"oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/124542"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/calgary/oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/124542","repository":{"repo_id":"calgary","name":"University of Calgary","base_url":"https://ucalgary.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Experimental Studies on Solvent Screening and Performance Analysis for Bitumen Recovery Using ES-SAGD","abstract":"The recovery of highly viscous bitumen from oil sands reservoirs requires energy-intensive in-situ thermal methods, notably Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD). While SAGD is commercially proven, it is limited by a high Steam-to-Oil Ratio (SOR) and substantial environmental impact. The Expanding Solvent Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (ES-SAGD) process is a hybrid approach that enhances bitumen mobilization and improves thermal efficiency by co-injecting solvent with steam. This thesis presents a comprehensive experimental investigation of four solvent candidates — Dimethyl Ether (DME), Natural Gas Condensate, Urea, and Pyrrolidine —to identify optimal concentrations that maximize recovery, minimize SOR, and reduce energy consumption. A series of ES-SAGD experiments was conducted using a fast-screening apparatus under controlled reservoir conditions (220 °C and 336.4 psia), along with a conventional SAGD experiment that served as the baseline. Results show that all tested solvents significantly improve bitumen recovery over the baseline. Among non-hydrocarbon solvents, Urea at 3.0 wt% achieved the highest recovery (∼93%), followed by Pyrrolidine at 2.0 wt% (∼91%). For hydrocarbon/ether solvents, DME at 1.31 mol% and Condensate at 10 vol% yielded 83% and 82% recovery, respectively. Importantly, the optimal solvent cases reduced average SOR by 30-35% compared to baseline SAGD, corresponding to an overall energy saving of 10.8-11.7 GJ/m³. This work provides validated quantitative performance metrics and optimized operational parameters for four strategically important solvents, offering guidance for cost-effective, environmentally responsible field implementation of ES-SAGD.","abstract_html":"The recovery of highly viscous bitumen from oil sands reservoirs requires energy-intensive in-situ thermal methods, notably Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD). While SAGD is commercially proven, it is limited by a high Steam-to-Oil Ratio (SOR) and substantial environmental impact. The Expanding Solvent Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (ES-SAGD) process is a hybrid approach that enhances bitumen mobilization and improves thermal efficiency by co-injecting solvent with steam. This thesis presents a comprehensive experimental investigation of four solvent candidates — Dimethyl Ether (DME), Natural Gas Condensate, Urea, and Pyrrolidine —to identify optimal concentrations that maximize recovery, minimize SOR, and reduce energy consumption. A series of ES-SAGD experiments was conducted using a fast-screening apparatus under controlled reservoir conditions (220 °C and 336.4 psia), along with a conventional SAGD experiment that served as the baseline. Results show that all tested solvents significantly improve bitumen recovery over the baseline. Among non-hydrocarbon solvents, Urea at 3.0 wt% achieved the highest recovery (∼93%), followed by Pyrrolidine at 2.0 wt% (∼91%). For hydrocarbon/ether solvents, DME at 1.31 mol% and Condensate at 10 vol% yielded 83% and 82% recovery, respectively. Importantly, the optimal solvent cases reduced average SOR by 30-35% compared to baseline SAGD, corresponding to an overall energy saving of 10.8-11.7 GJ/m³. This work provides validated quantitative performance metrics and optimized operational parameters for four strategically important solvents, offering guidance for cost-effective, environmentally responsible field implementation of ES-SAGD.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bukhari, Syed Sana Ullah Shah"],"institution":"Schulich School of Engineering","degree_name":"Master of Science (MSc)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Engineering – Chemical & Petroleum","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Hassanzadeh, Hassan"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Aguilera, Roberto","Sarma, Hemanta"],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-04-20","date_published":"2026-04-20","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:30:40Z","subjects":["ES SAGD"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Unless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/51282"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/51282","href":"https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/51282","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1880/124542","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Hassanzadeh, Hassan"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Aguilera, Roberto","Sarma, Hemanta"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Bukhari, Syed Sana Ullah Shah"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2026-06"]},{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-04-22T19:36:22Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026-04-20"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["master thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Engineering – Chemical & Petroleum"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MSc)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Calgary"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["ES SAGD"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Unless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/51282"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1880/124542"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The recovery of highly viscous bitumen from oil sands reservoirs requires energy-intensive in-situ thermal methods, notably Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD). While SAGD is commercially proven, it is limited by a high Steam-to-Oil Ratio (SOR) and substantial environmental impact. The Expanding Solvent Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (ES-SAGD) process is a hybrid approach that enhances bitumen mobilization and improves thermal efficiency by co-injecting solvent with steam. This thesis presents a comprehensive experimental investigation of four solvent candidates — Dimethyl Ether (DME), Natural Gas Condensate, Urea, and Pyrrolidine —to identify optimal concentrations that maximize recovery, minimize SOR, and reduce energy consumption. A series of ES-SAGD experiments was conducted using a fast-screening apparatus under controlled reservoir conditions (220 °C and 336.4 psia), along with a conventional SAGD experiment that served as the baseline. Results show that all tested solvents significantly improve bitumen recovery over the baseline. Among non-hydrocarbon solvents, Urea at 3.0 wt% achieved the highest recovery (∼93%), followed by Pyrrolidine at 2.0 wt% (∼91%). For hydrocarbon/ether solvents, DME at 1.31 mol% and Condensate at 10 vol% yielded 83% and 82% recovery, respectively. Importantly, the optimal solvent cases reduced average SOR by 30-35% compared to baseline SAGD, corresponding to an overall energy saving of 10.8-11.7 GJ/m³. This work provides validated quantitative performance metrics and optimized operational parameters for four strategically important solvents, offering guidance for cost-effective, environmentally responsible field implementation of ES-SAGD."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Experimental Studies on Solvent Screening and Performance Analysis for Bitumen Recovery Using ES-SAGD"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Hassanzadeh, Hassan"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Aguilera, Roberto","Sarma, Hemanta"],"dc:creator":["Bukhari, Syed Sana Ullah Shah"],"dc:date":["2026-06"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-04-22T19:36:22Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026-04-20"],"dc:description.abstract":["The recovery of highly viscous bitumen from oil sands reservoirs requires energy-intensive in-situ thermal methods, notably Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD). While SAGD is commercially proven, it is limited by a high Steam-to-Oil Ratio (SOR) and substantial environmental impact. The Expanding Solvent Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (ES-SAGD) process is a hybrid approach that enhances bitumen mobilization and improves thermal efficiency by co-injecting solvent with steam. This thesis presents a comprehensive experimental investigation of four solvent candidates — Dimethyl Ether (DME), Natural Gas Condensate, Urea, and Pyrrolidine —to identify optimal concentrations that maximize recovery, minimize SOR, and reduce energy consumption. A series of ES-SAGD experiments was conducted using a fast-screening apparatus under controlled reservoir conditions (220 °C and 336.4 psia), along with a conventional SAGD experiment that served as the baseline. Results show that all tested solvents significantly improve bitumen recovery over the baseline. Among non-hydrocarbon solvents, Urea at 3.0 wt% achieved the highest recovery (∼93%), followed by Pyrrolidine at 2.0 wt% (∼91%). For hydrocarbon/ether solvents, DME at 1.31 mol% and Condensate at 10 vol% yielded 83% and 82% recovery, respectively. Importantly, the optimal solvent cases reduced average SOR by 30-35% compared to baseline SAGD, corresponding to an overall energy saving of 10.8-11.7 GJ/m³. This work provides validated quantitative performance metrics and optimized operational parameters for four strategically important solvents, offering guidance for cost-effective, environmentally responsible field implementation of ES-SAGD."],"dc:identifier.doi":["https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/51282"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1880/124542"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:rights":["Unless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission."],"dc:subject":["ES SAGD"],"dc:title":["Experimental Studies on Solvent Screening and Performance Analysis for Bitumen Recovery Using ES-SAGD"],"dc:type":["master thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Engineering – Chemical & Petroleum"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MSc)"],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Calgary"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:30:40Z"}