The following is a list of pilot requests received since 2024, which is updated monthly. We use pilot findings and learnings to continually evolve a modern and efficient regulatory system that keeps pace with innovation. For more information, see Pilots and Innovations.
If you have questions regarding the pilots listed in the table, contact inquiries@aer.ca.
| Request Date Sort ascending | Company name | Sector | Decision Date | Decision Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enhance Energy Inc. | Well Integrity Surface Casing Vent Flow / Gas Migration Repair Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested to use a product that uses natural soil microbes to produce limestone through a controlled metabolic process. When applied to well leakage pathways, it forms crystalline calcium carbonate, sealing and repairing surface casing vent flows and gas migration. Hercules 6 - 12 months PR24-Ehance | |||||
| Drift Resource Technologies | In Situ Oil Sands Stand Alone Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested to pilot a Gravity-Assisted Bitumen Extraction project that uses horizontal well and auger conveyor to extract ore, uses the Karl Clark process to wash the oil sand to extract bitumen at surface then mixes and deploys a paste backfill. Athabasca Oil Sands > 2 years PR67-Drift Resource Technologies | |||||
| Meg Energy Corp. | Waste Management Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested to use Pulsed-Power Plasma method (3P method) to physically separate bitumen-impacted horizontal drilling cuttings. This is an alternative management of drilling waste using a new technology not set out in Directive 050: Drilling Waste Management. Christina Lake 0 - 6 months PR23-Meg | |||||
| TAQA North Ltd. | Well Integrity Surface Casing Vent Flow / Gas Migration Repair Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested to use a technology designed to melt casing, cement, and certain rock formations. After cooling, these materials solidify to create an impermeable, gas-tight, rock-to-rock barrier that extends across the well cross-section permanently. While forming a permanent zonal abandonment in wellbores, this technology also help with surface casing vent flow and gas migration issues. Milo 6 - 12 months PR22-TAQA | |||||
| Canadian Natural Upgrading Limited | Oil Sands Mining Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested to temporarily use an alternative polymer as a component of the Centrifuged Fluid Fine Tailings/Coarse Sand Tailings (CFFT/CST) Mixed Deposit treatment process. CNUL JPM Oil Sands Processing Plant 0 - 6 months PR21-CNRL | |||||
| Canadian Natural Resources Limited | Oil Sands Mining Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested to test the use of a dust suppressant along the coke haul road within a mine site. The objective is to determine the effectiveness of suppressants to bind dust particles to the surrounding aggregate forming a hard surface and consequently helping maintain the road surface condition. CNRL Horizon 0 - 6 months PR20-CNRL | |||||
| Suncor Energy Inc. | Oil Sands Mining Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested to trial WaterPlus and DustBind for use as dust suppressants at Fort Hills mine. Fort Hills mine 1 - 2 years PR19-Suncor | |||||
| Torxen Energy Ltd. | Alternative Fugitive Emissions Alt-FEMP Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested for a pilot that uses aerial methane detection combined with an alternative work practice that meets the same performance standards of Directive 060 to manage unintentional releases of hydrocarbons. NA 2 years PR18-Torxen | |||||
| Islander Oil & Gas Inc. | In Situ Oil Sands Stand Alone Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested to modify cyclic steam and flue gas injection experimental scheme to substitute the Direct Contact Steam Generator (DCSG), with a modular, mobile, Once Through Steam Generator (OTSG). Peace River Oil Sands 1 - 2 years PR17-Islander | |||||
| Cenovus Energy Inc. | Well Integrity Surface Casing Vent Flow / Gas Migration Repair Pilots | Approved | |||
Company requested to use a nano-modified polymer designed as an additive to cement blend to address surface casing vent flow or gas migration issues. Morgan 6 - 12 months PR16-Cenovus | |||||
