Suncor Energy, Calgary, reported that the Fort Hills oil sands project in northern Alberta is continuing its steady production ramp-up following the safe startup of secondary extraction on Jan. 27.
Fort Hills, which is 90 km north of Fort McMurray, Alta., has a capacity of 194,000 b/d of oil, about 103,000 b/d net to Suncor.
The first of three trains from secondary extraction is now online and production on this train will continue to ramp up through this year’s first quarter.
“With operations at Fort Hills now in continuous production, we’ve brought one of the best long-term growth projects in our industry into service and we’re now focused on the safe and steady ramp up through 2018,” said Steve Williams, Suncor president and chief executive officer.
At peak construction Fort Hills employed an average of 7,900 people. Now in operation, Fort Hills employs 1,400 direct employees and the majority have been hired from Alberta.
The Fort Hills project was sanctioned by the Fort Hills partners in 2013. The project has already completed five test runs of the plant, producing 1.4 million bbl of froth.
The second and third trains of secondary extraction are being insulated and expected to start up in this year’s first half. Fort Hills remains on track to reach 90% capacity by yearend 2018.
Fort Hills is operated by Suncor, which holds 53.06% interest in the project. The Fort Hills joint venture partners are Total E&P Canada Ltd. 26.05% and Teck Resources Ltd. 20.89%.
Fort Hills bitumen production is blended for shipment at the East Tank Farm Development, a joint venture of Fort McKay First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, and Suncor.