ConocoPhillips reported first steam on May 29 from Phase 2 of its Surmont oil sands project in the Athabasca region of northeastern Alberta.
Production is expected to begin in the third quarter, ramping up through 2017 while adding 118,000 bo/d of gross capacity. Total gross capacity for Surmont 1 and 2 is expected to reach 150,000 bo/d.
Commercial production from the project, which uses steam-assisted gravity drainage to recover the bitumen, started in 2007 (OGJ Online, Dec. 11, 2007). Construction on Phase 2 began 3 years later (OGJ Online, Jan. 19, 2010).
ConocoPhillips operates Surmont in a 50-50 joint venture with Total E&P Canada (OGJ Online, May 11, 2005).
