As you drive down Interstate 5, you would never suspect that a few miles away, thousands of mirrors and sunlight are helping power a major oil operation.
One of America's oldest oil fields, the Coalinga Field in Fresno County, began operations in the 1890s. Because the heavy crude oil produced at the field does not flow readily, it is more difficult to extract than lighter grades of crude from elsewhere. In October, Chevron Technology Ventures launched a unique demonstration project at the Coalinga Field, testing solar-to-steam technology to enhance oil recovery, while minimizing carbon emissions.
The project uses over 7,600 mirrors to focus the sun's energy onto a solar boiler. The steam produced is injected into oil reservoirs to increase oil production, and generates about the same amount of steam as a gas-fired steam generator. The project is the largest of its kind in the world.
"This technology has the potential to augment gas-powered steam generation and may provide an additional resource in areas of the world where natural gas is expensive or not readily available," said Desmond King, president of Chevron Technology Ventures.