JIVE

Increased Oil Recovery
The Joint Implementation of Vapour Extraction (JIVE) Project is a $40 million initiative with a goal to develop, demonstrate and evaluate solvent vapour extraction (SVX) processes for enhanced oil recovery from heavy oil reservoirs in western Canada.

Currently, only 5 to 15% of heavy oil reserves are recovered in western Canada and forecasts for heavy oil production show a reduction of 50% over the next decade unless new technologies are applied. Solvent vapour extraction (SVX) technologies, being developed through JIVE, could potentially increase recovery rates anywhere from 30 to 50%. In western Canada alone, that translates into five to ten billion barrels of oil that otherwise would not be recovered.

JIVE research consists of laboratory studies, physical modeling and numerical simulations coordinated with three vapour extraction pilot operations near Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Environmental Impact Mitigation
As no water and heat are used in the SVX process, greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced during oil recovery. Compared to current steam extraction methods, SVX technology could eliminate approximately 85 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. In addition, 400 million barrels of fresh water could be saved and 1.65 trillion cubic feet of natural gas would not be burned (per billion barrels of oil produced). Similarly to the Weyburn-Midale CO₂ Project, JIVE also has the potential to safely store enormous quantities of CO₂ in the reservoir, as the solvent is recovered and the casing gas is not vented.

Project timeframe: 2006 to 2009

The vapor extraction process involves injecting a gaseous hydrocarbon solvent (ie. propane, butane, methane, CO₂) into the reservoir where it dissolves into the sludge-like oil, which becomes less viscous (or more fluid) and then drains into a lower horizontal well and is extracted.

Animation of JIVE process in a horizontal well situation

Animation of JIVE process in a vertical well situation