Non-Aqueous Extraction (NAE) Field Demonstration Unit

Suncor Energy (Syncrude) Operating Inc. (SESOI) and its industry partner, Imperial Oil Resources Ltd, are advancing the development of an innovative recovery technology known as Non-Aqueous Extraction (NAE) to extract bitumen in oil sands mines with a solvent.

NAE technology is being developed as an alternative to the conventional hot water extraction process that is used today. If successfully implemented, NAE has the potential to reduce the land footprint of operations while unlocking additional bitumen barrels in oil sands mines. The NAE technology aims to reduce GHG emissions intensity as compared to traditional mining and extraction processes, reduce overall land footprint, eliminate the production of fluid tailings and therefore, tailings ponds.

Research and development activities completed to date have allowed the companies to confirm the technical viability of the NAE technology. The next stage of evaluating its potential includes the design, construction, and operation of a small-scale continuous pilot at SESOI site near Fort McMurray, Alberta. The data from the pilot plant will inform a potential commercial scale deployment of this first-of-a-kind technology for bitumen extraction from oil sands. If successful, the commercialization of NAE will be an example of Canada and the oil sands industry’s commitment to developing and deploying home-grown technology solutions.