Syncrude Canada Ltd. has asked the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) to approve several changes in its current ERCB approval.
Syncrude seeks for its bitumen mining plant in Northeast Alberta:
- A production increase to 217,000 b/d of marketable hydrocarbons for the existing plant.
- An extension to Dec. 31, 1997, from the previously approved date, to begin construction of facilities that would allow production to increase to 258,000 b/d.
- An extension of the approved production period to Dec. 31, 2025.
- The ability to process bitumen from off-lease sites and to ship bitumen from Mildred Lake to other processing operations.
- The ability to use new technology developed by Syncrude for future mining and reclamation plans.
Al Hyndman, Syncrude general manager of development, sees the application for amendments as a positive step that will assist the company in its program of continuous improvement. "Besides providing for long term planning, approval of the application will allow us to implement extensive land reclamation plans using the significant advances our research people have developed over the past several years."
Syncrude is conducting talks with a number of environmental and community groups. "The ERCB will facilitate the process to allow the public the opportunity to gain a full understanding of our proposed amendments," Hyndman said.
Syncrude, Canada's largest single source of crude oil, currently produces more than 60 million bbl/year of light, sweet synthetic crude oil-11% of Canada's total petroleum needs.
Syncrude recently shipped the 600 millionth bbl of synthetic crude produced since the company started operation in 1978 (OGJ, Sept. 28, p. 37).
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