Syncrude Canada Ltd. has claimed a Canadian oilsands industry high mark for bitumen production.
The companys extraction plant near Fort McMurray, Alta., produced its 1 billionth bbl of bitumen Sept. 26. Syncrude began operations in September 1978.
Syncrude recovers bitumen from oilsand mined at its surface mine, the largest of its type in the world. The bitumen is upgraded into high quality Syncrude sweet blend crude oil.
Alberta has three oilsands deposits: Cold Lake, Peace River, and Athabasca.
Syncrudes operation taps the Athabasca deposit.
More than two dozen companies operate in the oilsands, most of them producing bitumen. Jim Carter, Syncrudes chief operating officer and vice-president of operations, noted that no other oilsands operator has come close to matching Syncrude in bitumen production.
Also operating in the Athabasca deposit is Suncor Inc., Calgary, which plans to spend about $320 million (Canadian) during the next 5 years to jump its production to 100,000 b/d from a current 72,000 b/d (OGJ, Sept. 18, p. 43).
Syncrude profile
Syncrude, Canadas largest single source of crude oil, expects to produce more than 73 million bbl of sweet blend light crude in 1995.
The company last August produced its 800 millionth bbl of Syncrude sweet blend since start-up.
Syncrude is a joint venture owned by Alberta Energy Co. Ltd., AEC Oil Sands LP, Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd., Gulf Canada Resources Ltd., Imperial Oil Resources, Mocal Energy Ltd., Murphy Oil Co. Ltd., PanCanadian Gas Products Ltd., national oil company Petro-Canada, and Albertas provincial government.
Syncrudes production facilities are at Mildred Lake, about 40 km north of Fort McMurray, where the companys headquarters are located. Fort McMurray is 440 km northeast of Edmonton, Alta. Copyright 1995 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.