Documents Related to the Regulatory Application Process for Oil Sands Development

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Development Applications

Germain Commercial Demonstration

The Germain Commercial Demonstration is a 100% owned Laricina project to construct, produce and operate a 5,000 barrel per day bitumen recovery scheme utilizing a combination of thermal and solvents assisted processes.

Germain is located within the West Athabasca Oil Sands region approximately 130 kilometres southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta and approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Wabasca, Alberta. The main reservoir target at Germain is within the Grand Rapids Formation of the Mannville Group. The Grand Rapids comprises the upper part of the regressive Upper Mannville Group and consists dominantly of thick sandstones. The Grand Rapids is a regional marine deposit, at an average depth of 225 metres. Its unique features – clean sand with a homogeneous and continuous reservoir pay – increase the predictability and consistency of the reservoir. The Germain Commercial Demonstration project will utilize existing SAGD technology and enhanced oil recovery through a solvent assisted process and enhanced heat integration.  

In October 2009, Laricina received both Energy Resources Conservation Board and Alberta Environment approval for its original 1,800 barrel per day pilot project at Germain filed in October 2007.  During the past two years, Laricina continued to develop its understanding of the Grand Rapids Formation through additional drilling, lab studies and other operating projects. As a result of these understandings, in November 2009 Laricina filed an amendment to the pilot for a Commercial Demonstration project that will increase bitumen production to 5,000 barrels per day. The Commercial Demonstration project will have several advantages over the original pilot, notably it will incorporate solvent injection, diluent treating and water recycling. These amendments are expected to result in improved product value, lower steam to oil ratio and carbon emissions for the same volume of bitumen produced by thermal processes alone such as SAGD. The commercial demonstration project will be located east of the original pilot project location which will readily accommodate future Germain growth potential.

Engineering design to transition from basic SAGD to solvent-cyclic SAGD is underway. Laricina targets a late-2012 start-up for first steam injection.

The Germain Commercial Demonstration Project consists of:

  1. a central processing facility;
  2. a single well pad with ten SAGD well pairs;
  3. a soil storage area;
  4. equipment lay down and staging area;
  5. observation wells, groundwater monitoring wells, water source and disposal wells;
  6. electrical substation, utility corridor including roads, gathering lines and power lines; and
  7. associated infrastructure such as storage tanks, surface run-off pond, flow lines and construction and operations camps.

The Commercial Demonstration Project amendment document is available in PDF format and may be downloaded for offline viewing and printing:

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The original Germain Pilot application is available in PDF format and may be downloaded for offline viewing and printing:

Copies of the application are available for viewing at the following locations:

  • Wabasca Public Library
    Wabasca, Alberta
    Telephone: 780. 891.2203

  • Energy Resources Conservation Board
    Information Services, Calgary Office
    Main Floor, 640- 5 Avenue S.W.
    Calgary, Alberta  T2P 3G4

    Website: www.ercb.ca

  • Register of Environmental Assessment Information
    Alberta Environment
    111 Twin Atria Building
    4999 – 98 Avenue
    Edmonton, Alberta
    T6B 2X3

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Saleski Pilot

The Saleski Pilot is a 60% owned Laricina project to construct, produce and operate a 1,800 barrel per day bitumen recovery scheme.

Saleski is located within the West Athabasca Oil Sands region approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta and approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Wabasca, Alberta. The main reservoir target at Saleski is within the Grosmont Formation which lies at an average depth of approximately 325 metres. The Grosmont Formation is a dolomitized, shallow marine and tidal flat carbonate complex. The reservoir is characterized by extensive vertical fracturing, karsting and high permeability with potential thermal intervals of bitumen greater than 50 metres on average over an extensive land area.

In July 2009, Laricina received both Energy Resources Conservation Board and Alberta Environment regulatory approval for its Saleski Pilot. On September 25th, 2009, Laricina filed an amendment which proposes to add solvents to the base SAGD process. The addition of solvents will help to lower the steam requirements while, at the same time, maintain bitumen production rates. This proposed modification results in minor changes to the surface processing facilities in order to incorporate conventional diluent treating and solvent recovery systems.

The use of a SAGD-based recovery scheme at Saleski will be a first for the carbonates. The Saleski Pilot will allow Laricina to better understand the geological framework and technology necessary for oil recovery within the Grosmont Formation.

Construction of the Pilot will begin in Q1 2010 with steam injection expected by the end of 2010.

The Saleski Pilot consists of:

  1. a small pilot plant central processing facility, including conventional diluent treating and solvent recovery systems.
  2. a single well pad with three SAGD well pairs;
  3. an access corridor, borrow pits, camp site, sumps and source water and disposal wells; and
  4. a storm water retention pond.

The original application is available in PDF format and may be downloaded for offline viewing and printing:

The amendment document is available in PDF format and may be downloaded for offline viewing and printing:

Copies of the applications are available for viewing at the following locations:

  • Wabasca Public Library
    Wabasca, Alberta
    Telephone: 780. 891.2203

  • Energy Resources Conservation Board
    Information Services, Calgary Office
    Main Floor, 640- 5 Avenue S.W.
    Calgary, Alberta  T2P 3G4

Website: www.ercb.ca

  • Register of Environmental Assessment Information
    Alberta Environment
    111 Twin Atria Building
    4999 – 98 Avenue
    Edmonton, Alberta
    T6B 2X3

Click here to view the Notice of Application (PDF - 20 KB)

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