Browsing by Author "Dadashi Forshomi, Zainab"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Investigation of Water Treatment and Steam Generation Alternatives for SAGD Operations Using Process Integration and Optimization
    (2015-05-01) Dadashi Forshomi, Zainab; Bergerson, Joule A.; Alva-Argáez, Alberto
    This thesis applies a combination of process integration tools and mathematical optimization techniques to investigate opportunities to improve surface efficiencies in steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) of oil sands operations. The goal of the thesis is to design a distributed effluent treatment system based on the concept of process integration and model this system using mathematical programming methods to minimize cost and energy consumption. Different combinations of water treatment units and steam generation options in SAGD operations are assessed and the tradeoffs between cost, energy, water and GHG emissions within and across these combinations are explored. The results of the thesis show that there are potential cost and electricity savings of up to 19.5% and 12% respectively in the water treatment system of SAGD operations. Interesting tradeoffs have been identified between cost, energy and water which can help oil sands operators make informed decisions about investments in which water treatment technologies for SAGD operations.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Oil Sands Technology Pathway Evaluation Using Life Cycle Assessment and Mathematical Optimization
    (2022-03-03) Dadashi Forshomi, Zainab; Bergerson, Joule A.; Gates, Ian D.; Mahinpey, Nader; Chen, Shengnan (Nancy); Mohamad, Abdulmajeed; Elkamel, Ali
    Oil sands producers must improve the environmental performance of their operations to remain competitive in the energy sector in a carbon constrained world. These improvements include both incremental changes in the existing operation to make it more efficient (e.g., by applying process integration techniques) or fundamental changes to the operation (e.g., by adopting emerging technologies). However, an individual company will consider regulatory requirements and economic feasibility prior to making decisions about investments in these technologies. This thesis investigates the potential improvements in oil sands operations through both incremental efficiency improvements (i.e., lower energy consumption per unit of energy produced) and fundamental changes in their operations. In the first part of the thesis, cost and energy savings opportunities in Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) (an oil sands extraction and recovery process) are assessed by applying process integration techniques through the sequential application of a water treatment system optimization followed by conventional energy pinch analysis (incremental improvement). In the second part of the thesis, the focus is on exploring fundamental improvements in the oil sands sector and identifying the optimal technology pathways for oil sands production and processing with respect to economic and environmental objectives. A comprehensive techno-economic framework is developed that considers all technological and economic input parameters that affect the performance of the oil sands supply chain in terms of total cost, total energy consumption and GHG emissions. This framework is used to: 1) find the technical, economic and policy conditions under which emerging oil sands technologies become competitive alternatives in global crude oil markets, and 2) investigate the prospect of reaching Canada’s climate goals (as it relates to the oil sands sector) by implementing available emission reduction solutions while maintaining oil sands production capacity at the current or increased level in the next three decades. The results of this study help oil sands producers to better understand the long-term effects associated with the use of existing and emerging oil sands technologies. In addition, the results inform short- and long-term investment decision making in oil sands sector under various scenarios with different combinations of input parameters.