GE, FilterBoxx to Develop Advance Water Treatment Solutions

GE and FilterBoxx have signed an agreement to develop innovative water treatment solutions for the oil sands in Alberta, Canada.

Calgary-based FilterBoxx will work alongside Connecticut-based GE on heavy oil-producing water treatment projects for de-oiling and water treatment options, using in-situ thermal methods such as steam-assisted gravity drainage.

In-situ methods are required because 80% of the oil sands in Alberta cannot be mined through open pit due to the bitumen being too deep under the surface.

The in-situ processes will use thermal energy, steam or solvents to make the bitumen flow so that it can be pumped by a well to the surface.

The new system will give higher recoveries of produced water, requiring 30-50% less water for steam-assisted gravity drainage process compared with 0.3-0.4bbls of water required for each barrel of bitumen produced.