LCA model validation of SAGD facilities with real operation data as a collaborative example between model developers and industry

Mohammad S Masnadi; Kyle McGaughy; Jillian Falls; Tyler Tarnoczi

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.105859

LCA model validation of SAGD facilities with real operation data as a collaborative example between model developers and industry

iScience. 2022 Dec 30;26(2):105859. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105859. eCollection 2023 Feb 17.

Authors

Mohammad S Masnadi¹, Kyle McGaughy¹, Jillian Falls², Tyler Tarnoczi²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara St, 940 Benedum Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
² Cenovus Energy Inc., Calgary, AB, Canada.

Abstract

There has been a notable disagreement between life cycle GHG emission estimates reported by research communities and key energy sector stakeholders as many LCA models are not validated against real operation data. This is originated from lack of collaboration and knowledge exchange between model developers and company experts. We present a pragmatic procedure for engaging company experts to advance the assumptions, models, and information used in an open-source LCA simulator (OPGEE). Using real operation and local emission factor data, two oil sands SAGD fields GHG emissions are compared rigorously against the scope 1 and 2 reported emissions. By introducing consistent region-specific input data, system boundaries, and assumptions, OPGEE carbon intensity estimates are within 1%-5% of reported data by companies. The system boundary expansion (e.g., expanding from direct emissions to also include offsite emissions from natural gas co-production, diluent source emission) impacts the GHG intensities estimates for both fields.

Keywords: Energy Resources; Energy modeling; Environmental Science.