PTRC and University of Alberta Sign Agreement to Collaborate on Carbon Capture Storage and Utilization (CCUS) Research in Mexico

The Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC), manager of the Aquistore CO₂ storage project in Saskatchewan, is pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Understanding with Dr. Rick Chalaturnyk at the University of Alberta where future work and collaboration will focus on CCUS research and capacity-building in Mexico.  Dr. Chalaturnyk is the CMG Research Chair in Reservoir Geomechanics for Unconventional Resources at the U of A and a former research lead with the PTRC’s WeyburnMidale Project, the world’s largest monitored CCUS project.

Signed during the recent North American Energy Ministers Trilateral Meeting on CCUS in Mexico City in April, this LOU allows the University to access valuable research work conducted at Aquistore.  These data and results will be leveraged against the $16 million (CAN) in research funding provided to the University by SENER (Secretaria de Energia de Mexico) to improve and expand Mexico’s hydrocarbon sector.

“The site characterization, modelling, geomechanical and geophysical research undertaken at Aquistore will be a valuable resource for Mexican research projects and planned CCUS deployment,” noted Ken From, CEO of the PTRC.  “Dr. Chalaturnyk currently provides research guidance to Aquistore as part of his membership on the Science and Engineering Research Committee.”

 “We are developing a five year work plan centred on hydrocarbon-related joint research,” Dr. Chalaturnyk said, “to assist Mexico in developing and training scientists and other specialists – including graduate students – in the areas of carbon capture, utilization and storage and hydrocarbon development.”

Aquistore, the world’s first CO₂ storage project from a coal-fired power plant, has been injecting into a deep saline geologic formation for over a year with cumulative injection now over 65,000 tonnes.  PTRC is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally through the research and deployment of CCUS technologies. This letter of understanding will increase opportunities for research projects and knowledge sharing opportunities between Mexico and PTRC.