Technology Trends of Oil-sands Plant Modularization using Patent Analysis

Gwon Woo Park; In-Ju Hwang

doi:10.9719/EEG.2016.49.3.213

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Review Article

Econ. Environ. Geol. 2016; 49(3): 213-224

Published online June 30, 2016

https://doi.org/10.9719/EEG.2016.49.3.213

Technology Trends of Oil-sands Plant Modularization using Patent Analysis

Gwon Woo Park^1,2* and In-Ju Hwang¹

Author Info. +

¹Environmental and Plant Engineering Research Institute, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology(KICT), Goyang 10223, Korea
²Biomass and Waste Energy Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research(KIER), Daejeon 34129, Korea

Correspondence to : werwers@kier.re.kr

Received: March 1, 2016; Revised: June 17, 2016; Accepted: June 17, 2016

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Non-conventional resource and alternative energy were researched for predicting oil peak. In this study, one of many non-conventional resources, specifically oil-sands, was investigated due to the increasing interest of oil-sands plant modularization in permaforst areas for reducing the construction periods through modular transportation while limiting local construction workers. Hence, tehcnological trends were analyzed for oil-sand plant modularization. Data used were between 1994 and 2015 for patent analysis while targets included Korea, US, Japan, Europe and Canada. Technology classification system consisted of mining, steam assisted gravity drainage(SAGD), separation/ upgrading/tailors ponds, module design/packaging, module transportation and material/maintenance. Result of patent analysis, patent application accounts 89% in US and Canada. The main competitive companies were Shell, Suncor and Exxon-mobil. Unlike other oil developments, oil-sands have a long-term stable production characteristic, hence, it is important to ensure the competitiveness of oil-sands for obtaining a patent in the long run.

Keywords oil sand, plant, modularization, patent analysis, technology trend