CP-SAGD and CP-SAGD+: energy recovery and power generation from mature SAGD infrastructure
CP-SAGD and CP-SAGD+ aim to recover useful energy from mature steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) infrastructure, creating opportunities to extend asset value and generate electricity.
CP-SAGD uses closed-loop water circulation through retired SAGD injector wells to recover residual reservoir heat, with an organic Rankine cycle converting recovered heat into electricity. CP-SAGD+ extends the concept by incorporating flue-gas and reservoir heat recovery and non-condensable gas injection and green bitumen recovery, with potential options for carbon capture and storage depending on site conditions.
Developed through research at the University of Alberta and being advanced through ABClean Energy Inc., these technologies target opportunities to reuse existing wells and infrastructure. Their technical and economic potential depends on reservoir conditions, available heat, infrastructure suitability, and integration with ongoing operations.
We are seeking SAGD operators, industry-funded research partners, engineering firms, equipment suppliers, and investors to support site-specific evaluation, technology development, and field demonstration. Collaboration opportunities include reservoir and process modelling, engineering design, pilot planning, heat-recovery and power-system integration, and commercialization.
We welcome discussions with operators interested in assessing mature or retired SAGD pads as potential demonstration sites.
About University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a large, comprehensive public research university in Edmonton with multiple campuses and a strong applied research culture. Industry engages through co-located labs and pilot-scale facilities, as well as established co-op and internship programs that place talent with partners year-round. Integration with Alberta’s province-wide hospital system supports clinical research and accelerates translation. Companies also benefit from proximity to regional industry clusters and collaboration hubs on and near campus for joint R&D and prototyping. Supported by NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, and Canada Foundation for Innovation funding—plus provincial and industry support—the tech transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup formation with streamlined sponsored-research agreements.
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