Alberta to Invest $50M in First-of-Its-Kind Drilling Test Hub

The Alberta Drilling Accelerator aims to advance technologies in oil, gas, geothermal, and critical minerals industries, with operations expected to begin in 2026.

• The Alberta government announced a $50 million investment to develop the Alberta Drilling Accelerator, a cutting-edge, open-access testing site for drilling technologies.
• The hub will support innovation across multiple sectors, including oil, gas, geothermal energy, helium, carbon capture, and critical minerals exploration.
• Funding for the project comes from the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program, financed by Alberta's heavy emitters under the province’s carbon pricing system.
• Several companies, including Eavor Technologies, Tourmaline Oil Corp., and Halliburton, have expressed interest in participating, though no binding contracts have been signed yet.
• The test site is expected to begin operations in 2026, with a location to be announced in early 2025, aiming to position Alberta as a leader in sustainable energy innovation.

3 Articles

The Globe and Mail CBC Global News