Strata's Technical Strategy: FAQ's
Why has Strata focused its attention on the carbonates?
The carbonates are the next frontier in the Alberta oil industry. Like oil sands two decades ago, carbonates represent an enormous and relatively untapped petroleum resource.
Why has Strata focused its attention in the Peace River and Wabasca regions?
Strata's projects are located in the Peace River and Wabasca regions. Both are within a carbonate trend which is known to host a significant bitumen resource.
The Peace River and Wabasca regions sit within an enormous bitumen carbonate-trend --- a resource that is only starting to be fully understood. Bitumen carbonates comprise 26% of the 1.7 trillion barrel bitumen resource in Alberta (source: Maurice Smith, New Technology Magazine June 2007). This resource is somewhat deeper than the shallower cretaceous oilsands. This is the primary focus of the company.
What are some of the challenges associated with bitumen in carbonates?
The means for producing bitumen from carbonates is still being understood. The nature of the carbonate triangle in Alberta tends to vary, and there is unlikely to be a single one-size-fits-all strategy for production. We are in the process of running tests to determine the most efficient means of producing the bitumen in our Cadotte project.
What sort of technology is employed to extract bitumen contained in carbonates?
Various technologies have been tested and others considered, including similar technologies to those employed in sands (CSS, SAGD, etc). Bitumen carbonates are still being understood, and as yet there are several techniques which are being studied.
What is the market for bitumen?
The higher-quality bitumen that tends to be produced gets sold as heavy oil. It is up to the upgrader/refiner if they choose to upgrade it or sell it as heavy oil for purposes such as asphalt. When bitumen is upgraded and sold as synthetic it commands high prices because of its superior quality. Regardless, the producer will get whatever the market rate is for heavy oil, which can vary substantially throughout the year due to seasonal demand fluctuation.
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