EDMONTON, AB (May 9, 2024): As part of NGIF Accelerator’s commitment to showcasing innovation in emissions reduction in Canada, its Emissions Testing Centre (ETC) program is proud to announce the successful completion of its program requirements. The testing of Calscan Solution’s Bear Dump Valve at the program’s host site, Tourmaline Oil Corporation’s well site in Edson, Alberta, validated that the Bear Dump Valve can operate for over five months without any operating issues, cleaning, repairs, or maintenance requirements.
Traditional linear actuators and globe valves used in oil and gas separators are prone to wear, particularly in high-duty cycles and harsh conditions. Sand entrained in the oil and water can erode the valve trim, leading to leaks and breakdowns, while high maintenance requirements can result in costly repairs, production downtime, and increased methane emissions.
The Bear Dump Valve from Calscan Solutions addresses these challenges with its innovative design. It integrates a low-power electric quarter-turn actuator with a twin-disc tungsten trim valve, providing superior performance and reliability. The explosion-proof electric actuator has rapid cycle times and no performance issues over 750,000 cycles, ensuring safe and efficient operations.
In addition, the Bear Dump Valve can also be used for solar power systems with battery backup, as the rotary actuator only draws power when in operation. This energy-efficient design ensures reliable service even in low-light conditions, maximizing uptime and productivity.
The Bear twin-disk valve, available in 1” or 2” NPT connections, separates the sealing surface from exposure to fluid media, including entrained sand. This design feature ensures a dependable and long-lasting shut-off seal, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.
Calscan’s Bear Dump Valve was deployed at a Tourmaline gas well near Edson, Alberta, in July 2023, and, following the successful testing, Tourmaline is now deploying additional valves at other well sites.
Image: Calscan’s Bear Dump Valve
“We launched the ETC program to accelerate the pace of testing and validating both current and new technologies to reduce methane emissions in Canada,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Accelerator. “Calscan was able to leverage our program that creates operating data for their technology that can be shared with both future customers and potential investors.”
Doug Bezpalko, Manager, Technical Sales Calgary, Calscan, notes, “Calscan Solutions is thrilled to announce the successful testing of our Bear Dump Valve with Tourmaline Oil Corporation through the NGIF Accelerator Emissions Testing Centre Program. This achievement underscores our commitment to innovation in emissions and operational expense reductions within the Canadian natural gas industry. With the support of NGIF, we’ve demonstrated the reliability and efficiency of our technology, paving the way for cleaner and more sustainable operations in the sector.”
“Canadians want and need the affordable, reliable, clean energy service offering they have come to expect from the natural gas industry. When we created NGIF, it was our vision to bring the entire natural gas value chain together to support cleantech development that enhances environmental and economic performance for the sector. I am glad to see our vision in action as its Accelerator program continues to validate technologies like Calscan’s Bear Dump Valve,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.
The public-facing reports from the Emissions Testing Centre program users are accessible via www.cerinprojects.ca.
About the Emissions Testing Centre Program
The ETC Program is a collaborative industry, government, and academia initiative headed by the NGIF Accelerator, providing startups with a dedicated space to develop, test, and field-validate technologies to measure, monitor, and reduce methane emissions. The program is unique by providing technology innovators with free-to-test access to support a rapid scale-up of technologies from concept to commercial-ready deployment. The ETC lab at the University of Calgary provides capabilities to test and de-risk technologies in a controlled environment, complemented by live field trials at the West Wolf Lake Gas Plant (jointly owned by Tourmaline Oil Corp. and Perpetual Energy) along with other Tourmaline assets.
About NGIF Accelerator
NGIF Accelerator is the not-for-profit arm of NGIF Capital and operates all technology and innovation programs. The NGIF Accelerator mandate is to de-risk and accelerate technology development by supporting startups through their pilot projects, field trials, and industry validation. It will coordinate with federal and provincial governments to co-fund projects to advance market commercialization. NGIF Accelerator currently operates the Industry Grants program and the Emissions Testing Centre program.
About Calscan Solutions
Calscan Solutions has been designing and manufacturing custom measurement tools for the oil and gas industry since 1995. In 2009, to address high maintenance costs associated with wet fuel gas-damaging pneumatic instrumentation, Calscan started developing solar-powered electronic control technology to eliminate the need for fuel gas on the well site. With hundreds of installed Bear zero emission separators across Alberta and BC, Calscan and forward-thinking industry partners have prevented thousands of tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. Calscan is committed to “Keeping the Sky Blue” by reducing well-site methane emissions through innovative and progressive design, such as the new Bear Fail Safe System.
About Canadian Gas Association
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s gaseous energy delivery industry, including natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG), and hydrogen. CGA membership includes energy distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of goods and services to the industry.
Media Information:
John Adams
President and CEO, NGIF Accelerator
President and CEO, NGIF Capital Corporation
(613)-748-0057
jadams@ngif.ca
Ayoola Ajibare
Communications Coordinator, NGIF Capital Corporation
(403)-389-2212
aajibare@ngif.ca
