CALGARY, AB (March 26, 2026): NGIF Accelerator today announced a funding of $162,217 for Espiku Inc. to support the development and demonstration of its “Scepter” system. The technology addresses a key challenge in the oil and gas sector: managing high-salinity produced water, a byproduct of oil extraction that can reach salinity levels of 400,000 mg/L.
The Scepter treats this wastewater, producing clean, reusable water and concentrated minerals, enabling more sustainable and cost-effective operations across the natural gas value chain.
Espiku, a finalist in the 2024 NGIF Accelerator Cleantech Challenge, has developed Scepter using a proprietary horizontal thermal evaporation process. The system efficiently separates clean, irrigation-quality water from contaminated streams while concentrating valuable minerals for reuse. Its mechanical vapour compression design and fouling-resistant configuration maximize energy recovery and operational efficiency, offering operators a practical alternative to traditional disposal methods such as deep well injection.
The system delivers clear operational and environmental benefits for oil and gas operators:
• Water reuse: Provides a continuous source of clean water for on-site or agricultural use, reducing reliance on external water supplies.
• Mineral recovery: Concentrates salts and minerals that can be reused or sold, creating potential new revenue streams.
• Reduced disposal costs and logistics: Eliminates the need for costly trucking and deep well injection of produced water.
• Regulatory compliance and ESG alignment: Supports operators in meeting environmental standards and advancing sustainability initiatives.
• Operational efficiency: Reduces downtime and energy usage compared with conventional treatment systems.
Image: First scale-up of Scepter’s containerized evaporation system, designed to process 2,000 barrels per day using a single steam compressor and stacked evaporation trays, reducing oilfield wastewater volume by over 60%.
“Securing North America’s energy future goes hand-in-hand with securing our water and critical mineral supply chains. We are thrilled to partner with NGIF Accelerator to demonstrate the immense potential of this intertwined ecosystem,” said Bahman Abbasia, CEO & Founder, Espiku Inc. “By transforming produced water into a continuous source of fresh water and critical minerals, Espiku delivers a solution that directly elevates our continent’s public health, resource independence, and environmental stewardship.”
Espiku has progressed Scepter from bench-scale testing to a pilot-scale system that has achieved significant long-duration operation and 50 percent average evaporation rates across various water types, including real produced water from the Bakken Formation. With plans for field testing in early 2027, this project will de-risk the technology and position it for broader deployment and commercialization.
“Espiku’s Scepter technology represents the type of innovation NGIF Accelerator aims to advance, solutions that address real operational challenges while improving environmental performance,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Accelerator. “By supporting and funding this project, we are helping demonstrate a scalable approach to produced water management that can reduce disposal needs, recover valuable resources, and create new efficiencies for energy operators.”
Industry Grants’ Participants and Project Partners
About Industry Grants program
The Industry Grants program is an industry-led effort that offers non-dilutive grants to fund early-stage startups for technology development and field demonstration. The program specifically de-risks pre-commercial technology solutions that have the potential to increase the environmental performance of the natural gas sector. Each project in the program will progress through technology readiness levels through controlled pilot testing and field trials to advance commercialization.
About NGIF Accelerator
NGIF Accelerator is the not-for-profit arm of NGIF Capital and operates all of the latter organization’s technology and innovation programs. The NGIF Accelerator mandate is to de-risk and accelerate technology development by supporting startups through their pilot projects, field trials, and industry validation. It coordinates with federal and provincial governments to co-fund projects to advance market commercialization. NGIF Accelerator currently operates the Industry Grants program and administers the NGIF Emissions Testing Centre program.
About Espiku Inc.
Espiku is a clean-technology company dedicated to solving the oil and gas industry’s most pressing water management challenges. We specialize in on-site treatment and volume reduction of oil and gas-produced water using novel horizontal evaporation technologies. Through complete fouling control and treating highly saline wastewater directly at the source, Espiku helps operators drastically reduce the costs, trucking logistics, and environmental risks associated with traditional saltwater disposal (SWD) wells. Our systems enable sustainable water reuse and mineral recovery, providing a profitable pathway to a cleaner energy footprint.
Fund Information:
John Adams
President and CEO, NGIF Accelerator
President and CEO, NGIF Capital Corporation
Media Information:
Dini Philip
Communications Coordinator,
