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Enhance Energy to present carbon-capture project details in Clive this month

Development project will utilize carbon-capture technology to bring life to depleted drilling sites
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DEVELOPMENT - The Alberta Carbon Trunk Line or ACTL is a carbon-capture project that is scheduled to be constructed later this year through Enhance Energy Inc.

BY KALISHA MENDONSA

Enhance Energy Inc. is heading to Clive this month to speak with residents and affected land-owners of an upcoming enhanced oil recovery, EOR, project that will be coming to the area.

On March 7th at the Clive Arena, Clive officials, Enhance Energy representatives and affected land-owners and residents will meet to discuss and clarify the project’s objective, and to answer any questions the public might have.

Enhance Energy Surface Land Manager Corey Kusch said the event will focus on the The Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL) project development that is set to take place near Clive later this year.

“We’re planning to do EOR development, or enhanced oil recovery work. This is an existing oilfield that we’re re-energizing. We want to explain to people that we’re not coming in to do a massive development - it’s an existing field. We’re going to be trying to drill the majority of our wells off of existing pad sites, essentially trying to minimize the impact to the surrounding people and landowners as well,” Kusch explained.

“We’re hoping to have the public come out and see our development plan for locations and timing, and if they have any questions we’ll have some technical people on site to answer any questions.”

The ACTL is a 240 km pipeline that will employ technology to capture and store up to 14.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, working at capacity.

The pipeline will capture carbon that is released through the Agrium’s Redwater Fertilizer Plant and Northwest Redwater Partnership, working in northern Alberta.

The carbon that is captured will be transported to the Clive site to be re-injected into the ground, reducing the airborne emissions as well as making the best use of these depleted sites.

“When you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and also in turn bring a benefit for the province by creating oil revenue and royalties, to me that’s just a win-win. That’s what we want to explain to the public, as well,” Kusch said.

“The other thing we’d like to explain to people is that this kind of pipeline technology isn’t anything new. It’s been done in the U.S. since the early 70s and into the 80s. There are over 180 CO2 projects down there, over 600 miles of pipeline. This isn’t anything new conceptually, but new in Alberta,” he added.

He said this kind of technology is something Albertans can be proud of and utilize for many years to come.

Using carbon-capture technologies has been noted as a way to significantly reduce airborne emissions, reducing pollution and getting the most use out of oil drilling sites.

Kusch said he is excited to move forward with this green technology project and is looking forward to the chance to clarify the development with residents.

“We did a personal invite to people who fall within the Clive area, which are Townships 41, 40 and 39. That’s about 300 personal invites that went out. We’re trying to really direct this open house to the local communities. This is Central Alberta, and you end up in the backyards of a lot of the services that are in the area, so it’s important to consult with them.”

Based on the anticipated timing of remaining approvals, drilling and construction could begin in the second half of 2017, with the CO2 injection to begin mid-2018.

The project has the potential to recover nearly one billion barrels of oil, translating into billions of dollars in royalties for the province.

As well, the construction and maintenance of the pipeline will, according to the Enhance Energy fact sheets and officials, have the opportunity to create approximately 2,000 direct jobs and approximately 8,000 indirect jobs.

“We’re looking forward to providing the community a chance to explore this project, and to helping to share the vision of the ACTL.”

kmendonsa@lacombeexpress.com