Energy Ignitors Newsletter - May 2020

The Canadian oil and gas industry is facing uncertain times and unprecedented challenges, with record low oil prices and the impacts of COVID-19. It is now more important than ever for impactful research around sustainable low-carbon energy recovery and material processes for unconventional reservoirs. To do this, universities, industry, government and the public must collaborate more effectively, bridging the gaps preventing deployment of technologies that realize clean, economic energy from our natural resources.

The University of Calgary’s Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources (GRI) is a collective of more than 500 researchers from post-secondary and industry, who are making great strides to develop impactful solutions to benefit the global energy industry and Canadian economy. The Energy Ignitors monthly newsletter is an instrument to share the impacts our energy researchers are making and engage with the broader UCalgary community to support each other to build meaningful solutions.

We look forward to engaging with you.

Ian Gates, PhD

Director, Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources

Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary

News

Research Associates inspire next generation of innovators with early exposure to research

Undergraduate chemical engineering course focuses on grassroots research and innovation.

Composed of both lecture and lab time, the initial focus was research fundamentals, but students quickly transitioned to tactical, hands-on lab time. Students were enabled to develop their own approach which fuelled curiosity in the lab.

UCalgary energy spinoff gives a helping hand and makes hand sanitizer to donate to community groups

As the founders of UCalgary energy spinoff EnviCore scanned the list of needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were looking for a way to help that would have an immediate impact on the community. When they spotted hand sanitizer on the list, the team of chemical engineers knew it was the right fit.

Hydrocarbon seepage in the deep seabed links subsurface and seafloor biospheres

Microbial life is bubbling up to the ocean floor along with fluids from deeply buried petroleum reservoirs, according to a team of researchers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

Events

Webinar: What really happens - international lessons from greenhouse gas emissions management policies

This webinar, hosted by CERI, will explore carbon pricing and whether or not pricing carbon emissions is an effective way of reducing them.

2020 Global Energy Show Cancelled

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Global Energy Show has been cancelled. Technical and Strategic Conference content will be available in digital format. This event will next take place June 8-10, 2021.

Global Energy Show Upcoming Live Sessions

May 13

Polymer Flood Design in Heavy Oil Fields: Best Practices

May 20

Economy in Crisis: Why Canada Needs to Back its Energy Industry Now

May 27

Zero Emissions, Low Cost Hydrogen Production from Oil Reservoirs

Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources (GRI)

In 2016, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) awarded the University of Calgary, in partnership with the Sounthern Institute of Technology (SAIT), $75 million to implement GRI, which aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of unconventional resource development and contribute to a climate-neutral energy system. GRI has reached the half-way mark in the grant and has made tremendous progress in its research and innovation endeavours.

"We are developing solutions for some of the greatest

challenges facing the global energy industry and

pressing issues confronting the environment"

-Ian Gates, Director, GRI

Learn more