Silicon photonic thermal phase shifter for on-chip spectrometer

Luxmux sensors will monitor steam quality and water quality for in-situ Thermally Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery. In Canada, 2 billions of kilograms of steam are produced per year for heavy oil recovery and this amount is expected to double in the next ten years. Each year, heavy oil producers spend $2.3 billions on natural gas to produce this steam. Lack of technology for online monitoring of steam quality and water quality reduces the amount of oil that can be produced and increases the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) being emitted. Luxmux’s sensors and analyzer solutions will provide heavy oil producers the ability to generate more oil for a given plant and reduce Canada’s carbon footprint. Currently the 11% of Canada’s total CO2 emissions is caused by Alberta heavy oil production; in ten years it might become the 20% of Canada’s emissions, if the oil production increases as expected. Luxmux’s solution is expected to provide a reduction in 1 megaton of CO2 per year, and increase revenue by $5 million per year per boiler for heavy oil producers. This project will improve the technical specifications of Luxmux’s sensors, making them more useful for the oil and gas industry.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Lukas Chrostowski

Student:

Valentina Donzella

Partner:

Luxmux Technology Corporation

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Nanotechnologies

University:

University of British Columbia