As announced during the 2nd meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas in Mérida, Mexico by the Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Canada hosted the 4th meeting of the Heavy Oil Working Group (HOWG) on September 22nd, 2015 in Bogotá, Colombia.

Canadian Ambassador Carmen Sylvain and Frank Des Rosiers, Assistant Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada provided opening remarks to begin the meeting. Both emphasized the importance of a forum for dialogue on heavy oil issues that could identify the challenges and opportunities for the sector as well as seek solutions. The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen a collaborative network within the region and gain a greater understanding of the potential of heavy oil.

The 4th HOWG meeting had the following objectives:

• Exchange ideas about technological innovations in heavy oil transportation, upgrading, and refining;
• Share best practices for reducing heavy oil greenhouse gas emissions;
• Discuss environmental remediation processes; and
• Strengthen the regional relationship between HOWG members.

The meeting included a combination of presentations, questions and answer periods to foster discussion on particular issues and was moderated by Eduardo Sánchez, Senior Climate Change Advisor, Colombia Ministry of Mines & Energy, Frank Des Rosiers, Assistant Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada and Rodrigo Hernández Ordoñez, Deputy Director General, Mexico Secretariat of Energy (SENER).

Please note that the 4th HOWG was held as part of the Heavy Oil Latin America (HOLA) Exhibition & Conference, which took place at the Bogotá Sheraton from September 23-25, 2015.

Welcome and Introduction

Frank Des Rosiers, Assistant Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada. See presentation, here.

Trends & Challenges in Heavy Oil Markets:

Rodolfo Guzman, Latin America Managing Partner, Arthur D. Little. See presentation, here.

Session 1: Improving Heavy Oil Production through Solvent Conservation and Mitigation of Emissions Country Chair: Colombia, Eduardo Sánchez, Senior Climate Change Advisor, Colombian Ministry of Mines & Energy

• Three country presentation panel:

1. CANADA: Michael Layer, Senior Program Manager, CanmetENERGY-Devon Research Centre, Natural Resources Canada. See presentation, here.
2. COLOMBIA: Eduardo Sánchez, Senior Climate Change Advisor, Colombian Ministry of Mines & Energy. See presentation, here.
3. ECUADOR: Pablo Luna, National Operations Manager, Petroamazonas. See presentation, here.

Session 2: Challenges with the Production of Heavier Crudes

• Country Chair: Canada, Frank Des Rosiers, Assistant Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada.
• Three country presentation panel:

1. MEXICO: Jorge Ancheyta, Senior Manager, Mexican Petroleum Institute (IMP), Secretariat of Energy (SENER); Romeo Antonio Rojas, Engineer, Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). See presentation, here.
2. CANADA: Kim Kasperski, Senior Director, Research and Development, CanmetENERGY-Devon Research Centre, Natural Resources Canada. See presentation, here.
3. VENEZUELA: Wilfredo Briceño, President, Venezuelan Institute of Petroleum Technology (INTEVEP- PDVSA). See presentation, here.

Session 3: Environmental Remediation: Responding to On-shore and Offshore Heavy Oil Spills

• Country Chair: Mexico, Rodrigo Hernández Ordoñez, Deputy Director General, Secretariat of Energy (SENER)
• Two country presentation panel:
  1. CANADA: Kim Kasperski, Senior Director, Research and Development, CanmetENERGY-Devon Research Centre, Natural Resources Canada. See presentation, here.
  2. COLOMBIA : Francisco José Gómez Montes, Ministry of Environment. See presentation, here.

See event agenda, here.

See event photo gallery, here.