Project
to supply 10 per cent of Canada’s oil needs
Posted: 23 June 2003
Fort McMurray and Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada - The owners
of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP) celebrated the Big Opening
of the first integrated oil sands operation in 25 years with events
that spanned the 450 kilometres between the Muskeg River Mine and
the Scotford Upgrader.
“The scale and complexity of the project, from the Muskeg
River Mine to the Scotford Upgrader, is impressive on a world scale.
It has been a very big achievement to get it done and done safely,
calling on all our resources, talents and determination. From this
single operation, we’ll provide the equivalent of ten per
cent of Canada’s oil needs and maybe even more. The AOSP is
a new, significant and secure source of supply for the North American
market,” said Tim Faithfull, President and Chief Executive
Officer, Shell Canada Limited during the opening ceremonies.
The Big Opening of this integrated oil sands project included representatives
from Shell Canada, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, ChevronTexaco,
Western Oil Sands, as well as Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and other
special guests.
“The Athabasca Oil Sands Project will bring tremendous benefits
to Albertans, including hundreds of long-term jobs and enough oil
production to power four out of every five cars in the province,”
said Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. “Albertans can be proud
of the hard work and cooperation that is going into this oil sands
project - a project that will provide a secure source of oil for
Alberta, Canada, and the entire continent for many years to come.”
The AOSP includes the Muskeg River Mine and extraction plant, located
about 75 kilometres north of Fort McMurray and the Scotford Upgrader
located adjacent to Shell’s Scotford Refinery, north of Fort
Saskatchewan, Alberta.
“This project is very significant for us… adding about
four per cent to Shell’s worldwide oil production,”
said Paul Skinner, Managing Director, Royal Dutch/Shell Group of
Companies and Chair of Shell Canada’s Board of Directors.
“The project has great potential for growth, which reflects
the global importance of Alberta’s oil sands… with more
recoverable resources than in Saudi Arabia.”
“It’s a day to celebrate - for the people of this province
and this country. It is difficult not to see that the oil sands
are on the rise and that a large part of the future of the petroleum
industry is right here in Alberta,” said Ken Godard, Vice
President and Manager, Western Canadian Business Unit, Chevron Canada
Resources.
“We made a commitment to help build a sustainable, integrated
project that would continue to provide value to our communities,
our investors and Canadians for decades to come,” said Guy
Turcotte, President, Western Oil Sands LP. “Based on the remarkable
accomplishments so far, we have every confidence we’ll earn
an excellent return on our investment as the result of the huge
capacity for sustainable growth.”
The Athabasca Oil Sands Project is a joint venture of Shell Canada
Limited (60 per cent), Chevron Canada Limited (20 per cent) and
Western Oil Sands L.P. (20 per cent). The AOSP has been one of the
world’s largest construction projects in recent years. When
the project ramps up to full production of 155,000 barrels per day
of bitumen in 2003, it will supply the equivalent of 10 per cent
of Canada’s oil needs.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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