Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and solar enhanced oil recovery systems developer GlassPoint Solar has announced the commissioning of the Middle Easts first solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project in Oman
GlassPoint has developed the so-called 'Enclosed Trough' technology to harness the sun?s energy, which will be used to help power the solar EOR project.
The project will have the capacity to produce a daily average of 50 tonnes of emissions-free steam that can be fed directly into existing thermal EOR operations at PDO?s Amal West field in southern Oman.
A GlassPoint statement said that the system recently passed its first performance acceptance test since coming online, exceeding contracted steam output by 10 per cent.
PDO managing director Raoul Restucci said, ?PDO has successfully extended the life of its heavy oil assets by deploying innovative EOR technologies over the past few decades.
?The GlassPoint system is proving it can reliably fuel thermal EOR with solar power while reducing the need to burn natural gas. This solar EOR solution provides for an economically viable and environmentally sustainable long term resource to develop Oman?s heavy oil portfolio, while saving valuable natural gas resources for use in other gas-dependent industries.?
GlassPoint CEO Rod MacGregor said, ?Deploying the region?s first solar EOR project underscores our leadership and commitment to advancing new technologies that will economically expand production of existing reserves.?
