Syncrude Canada Ltd. has filed applications with Alberta Energy Regulator for two extensions to the Mildred Lake oil sands production area.
The site for the Mildred Lake Extension (MLX) project is about 35 km northwest of Fort McMurray and 15 km south of Fort McKay.
Production from the current site is expected to deplete by 2024. Syncrude mines about 100 million tonnes/year of oil sands from Mildred Lake (OGJ Online, Feb. 25, 2010).
Syncrude said 738 million bbl of bitumen can be recovered from the extension areas and extend the duration of mining activity at Mildred Lake by about 14 years.
The applications are under the Oil Sands Conservation Act, the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, and the Water Act. AER said it is reviewing the applications along with an associated environmental impact assessment.
The project includes an extension of the existing Water Act fenceline and proposed diversion of an additional 11.7 million cu m/year from the McKay River watershed through collection of on-site precipitation and runoff, groundwater seepage, dewatering, and basal water sands depressurization.