Shell Canada re-resumes production at Muskeg River Mine

April 10, 2003
Shell Canada Ltd. resumed bitumen production Apr. 4 at its Muskeg River Mine 75 km north of Fort McMurray, Alta., following Train 1repairs at a froth treatment plant damaged in a Jan. 6 fire.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Apr. 10 -- Shell Canada Ltd. resumed bitumen production Apr. 4 at its Muskeg River Mine 75 km north of Fort McMurray, Alta., following Train 1repairs at a froth treatment plant damaged in a Jan. 6 fire. Train 2 repairs likely will be completed by early May.

Diluted bitumen deliveries have begun via the Corridor pipeline system to the Scotford upgrader near Fort Saskatchewan, with the line and associated tankage expected to be filled by Apr. 18, enabling the upgrader to begin processing bitumen.

The Athabasca Oil Sands Project—a joint venture of Shell Canada 60%, Chevron Canada Ltd. 20%, and Western Oil Sands LP 20%—is expected to ramp up to 155,000 b/d of bitumen in the third quarter.