Acceleware Ltd. announce the completion of contribution agreements with both Sustainable Development Technology Canada (“SDTC”) and Emissions Reduction Alberta (“ERA”). Acceleware can now access up to a total of $10 million in non-repayable, joint funding from SDTC and ERA to complete a commercial-scale RF XL pilot of Acceleware’s radio frequency heating technology at Prosper Petroleum Ltd.’s (“Prosper”) Rigel property in northeast Alberta. Acceleware estimates the cost to complete the RF XL pilot will range between $16 to $20 million, and over the next 15 months, will execute its plan to fund the remaining $6 to $10 million with a combination of financing from additional industry partners and other activities.

Acceleware has been advancing the development of its proprietary and patented RF XL technology since 2010. The Company believes RF XL has the potential to save billions of dollars in oil sands production costs by reducing both capital and operating costs, while offering major environmental benefits, including immediate greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emission reductions, a substantial reduction in land use, no requirement for external water or solvents and no tailings ponds. As an electrically driven process, Acceleware also believes that RF XL technology can provide a clear pathway to zero-GHG production of heavy oil and oil sands.

“We are proud to have the support of both federal and provincial funders, along with the commitment of an industry partner like Prosper. That support will be instrumental as we take our cleantech innovation to market and highlights the importance of this technology to the future of the oil industry in Canada,” said Geoff Clark, CEO of Acceleware. “Improving the sustainability of heavy oil and oil sands production is vitally important to the industry, and all stakeholders. It is through the application of innovative technology solutions, like Acceleware’s RF XL, that the industry can sustainably grow, responsibly develop resources, and ultimately benefit all Canadians.”

Acceleware is poised to build on its successful Q1 2017 1/20th scale test with the deployment of a commercial-scale (1,000 meter) prototype RF XL system. Under the terms of its previously announced agreement with Prosper, Acceleware will add new wells to an existing well site to expedite construction times and reduce project costs. Acceleware anticipates Prosper will provide sufficient road access to the site during the first quarter of 2019, and in the event of any delays to road construction Acceleware will utilize winter access roads to begin site preparations. The Company expects to complete the final engineering design for the pilot before the end of 2018 and anticipates the completion of all site upgrades and drilling during the first six months of 2019. 

Upon start-up, Acceleware plans to test key operational aspects of the RF XL technology, including overall system efficiency and oil production rates. The initial heating phase is scheduled to run for six months utilizing a 2-megawatt silicon carbide prototype generator developed in partnership with General Electric. Acceleware owns the design and IP specific to this new generator which will improve power delivery, and cost per watt by a factor of ten times versus existing technologies. These performance and efficiency gains are key to RF XL’s potential to reduce operating and capital costs for oil producers. The first working module of the prototype generator is on-track for delivery and testing in November 2018.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Acceleware