Denver, CO, November 22, 2013 - Researchers and oil company representatives from around the world recently toured the first full-featured Geothermic Fuel Cell (GFC), a new innovation that can produce greater efficiency in extracting oil from shale.
IEP Technology and Delphi Automotive are working collaboratively to develop this innovation and have executed a Memorandum of Understanding under which Delphi Automotive expects to integrate solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology into GFCs.
The unit was shown in October during the 33rd Oil Shale Symposium presented by the Colorado School of Mines and the Colorado Fuel Cell Center (CFCC). Initial testing led by Dr. Neal Sullivan, Ph.D., an associate professor at Colorado School of Mines and director of the CFCC, proved that the GFC can be operated at the high temperatures needed to heat oil shale formations to produce oil in situ or in place.
-This is an exciting opportunity for all involved. It's a true collaboration between IEP Technology (IEPT), Delphi and the CFCC to test the full-feature GFC prototype. We are bridging theory to industrial use in an exciting new way at our lab,- said Sullivan.
The multi-stack, full-featured GFC module follows successful testing of a single stack GFC in April 2013. This is the second major technology milestone IEPT has met with relative ease.
-We could not be happier to meet this second milestone with such success in proving our multi-stack, full-featured GFC module. Our next major step will be to couple and test multiple modules in the lab in preparation for our in-ground, pre-field testing at a location on Colorado School of Mines property,- said Mark Wall, IEPT's Manager of Projects.
IEPT selected Delphi's SOFC as the most advanced and production-viable stack available today. Delphi's SOFC converts chemical energy in conventional fuels directly into useful electrical power and heat without combustion, resulting in minimal emissions. Electric heaters have been used to extract oil from shale in situ, but IEPT's concept has the potential to be much more efficient and does not require a dedicated electrical power plant.
Delphi has designed SOFCs and completed development projects to generate electric power for commercial vehicle auxiliary units, stationary and military applications. Delphi is committed to applying its SOFC technology to green energy applications such as the GFC, and brings years of automotive component manufacturing and system integration experience to support IEPT in developing its technology for oil shale production applications.
-Beyond the application of extracting oil from shale, we have always envisioned multiple uses for the GFCs such as fresh water production from brackish underground aquifers and landfill pyrolysis in addition to the in situ production of unconventional hydrocarbons,- said Al Forbes, IEPT's president and CEO. -Delphi's ability to engineer and adapt its existing SOFC technology to GFC applications, manufacture on a volume basis and distribute globally will go a long way in making this a reality.-
The in-ground testing of the full-feature GFC modules scheduled for 2014 on Colorado School of Mines property will include the in situ installation and operation of multiple GFC modules. It will also test all related equipment for fuel conditioning and supply and power management for the green electrical power produced as a byproduct of the GFC applications.
About IEP Technology IEP Technology (IEPT) is the owner of the patented, breakthrough in-situ Geothermic Fuel Cell(GFC) system. GFCs create heat for use in the recovery of unconventional hydrocarbons while producing additional energy to be sold back into the market as clean, baseload electricity. IEPT is currently focused on the economic and environmentally responsible recovery of oil shale and oil sands. The company holds exclusive rights to broad, patented GFC technologies in the U.S. and Canada, and has strategic partnerships with Uintah Resources, Inc., Delphi Corporation and Colorado School of Mines. Learn more about the company and its technology at Iepm.com or IEPTechnologyInc.com.
About the Colorado Fuel Cell Center at Colorado School of Mines Colorado School of Mines, www.mines.edu, is a uniquely focused public research university dedicated to preparing exceptional students to solve today's most pressing energy and environmental challenges. Founded in 1874, the institution was established to serve the needs of the local mining industry. Today, Mines has an international reputation for excellence in engineering education and the applied sciences with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the earth's resources.
About Delphi Automotive Delphi Automotive PLC (NYSE: DLPH) is a leading global supplier of electronics and technologies for automotive, commercial vehicle and other market segments. Operating major technical centers, manufacturing sites and customer support facilities in 30 countries, Delphi delivers real-world innovations that make products smarter and safer as well as more powerful and efficient.
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