Free Republic

A small Alberta energy company sitting on a rich bitumen deposit south of Fort McMurray is hoping to break the mould -- and not begin routine in situ production. Excelsior Energy believes it has a better idea: a method that will recover 65 per cent of the frozen molasses-like oil, about twice the recovery rate of the industry standard -- steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). And even better, Excelsior's method will use virtually no water, and just 20 per cent of the energy needed by its SAGD neighbours. "We think combustion overhead gravity drainage (COGD) is an evolution for this business,...

Boeing Co. could lift a fast-growing Columbia River Gorge aircraft business to new heights, under a nearly $400 million acquisition announced Tuesday. Bingen-based Insitu’s 360 employees are giddy about the news, which could bring payoffs for many, thanks to a company plan that allowed employees to own shares of the private business, said spokeswoman Tabitha Orlando. Insitu’s acquisition is part of a larger Boeing plan to aggressively grow its presence in the unmanned systems market, said Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Military Aircraft. Boeing and Insitu have worked together since 2002, when the two businesses jointly began development of the...