Luxmux, founded in 2012, has raised more than $4 million in capital from both the private sector and government sources, including nanoBridge, Alberta Innovates Technology Futures andthe National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program.

Luxmux has partnered with a major oil and gas instrumentation company, and is working closely with heavy oil producers on a pilot demonstration of Luxmux’s infrared sensor and related equipment. Luxmux is building state-of-the-art flow loops with its partners to demonstrate the technology. The next step is a full-scale demonstration at the boiler and at the well site.

Dattner anticipates a high demand for technology that can allow oil and gas producers to improve the quality of steam used to extract heavy oil. “Steam quality is one of the top priorities of producers,” he says. During the next ten years, Thermal Enhanced Heavy Oil Production in Canada is expected to double. He also notes that more than 10% of Canada’s total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions now come from burning natural gas from steam in heavy oil production, so better production efficiency will reduce the impact of growth in those emissions.