Archer Leads The Way With ibex™ Technology

Archer BD’s ibex™ technology is a step change pad-based steam and solvent bitumen surface technology that improves environmental and
economic sustainability.

Archer approached Exergy to progress the ibex™ Technology Readiness Level (TRL) stages 4 - 5 through to prototype testing.

Exergy conducted initial testing to prove the benefits. The Technology was engineered, designed and a scaled prototype was built to examine geometry, process control and optimization. Exergy provided field pilot requirements and economic assessments for commercial implementation.

• Working collaboratively with Exergy, ibex™ has been able to move through the design + build and optimization phases extremely quickly.
• Using ibexTM technology at well pads replaces the need for Central Water Processing facilities (CPF), reducing land space required and lowering environmental impact.
• Commercializing ibexTM will allow companies to use the technology to minimize GHG emissions: conserving energy and directing all heat into
  steam generation or bitumen processing.

CHALLENGE
To reduce the growing steam energy losses andunnecessary water recycling to CPF with current well pads being built further away to maintain production.

ACTION
Through collaboration and Exergy’s extensive experience scaling technology from bench-top to pilot, the teams are testing ibexTM at different order of magnitudes to prove and optimize the technology.

RESULT
Exergy’s agile design build approach rapidly progressed ibexTM technology development through early TRLs to quickly understand the full spectrum of pilot rquirements and commercial opportunities. A full prototype test is underway.