Projects

Suncor Fort Hills Secondary Extraction, FortMcMurray, Alberta

Situated 90 kilometers north of Fort McMurray in Alberta’s Athabasca region, Fort Hills operates as an open-pit truck and shovel mine, employing a paraffinic froth treatment process. Owned and operated by Suncor, it utilizes this method to produce a higher-quality, partially decarbonized bitumen, reducing the need for diluent and eliminating on-site upgrading facilities. With a nameplate capacity of 194,000 barrels per day, Fort Hills commenced production in 2018 and boasts a life expectancy of approximately 50 years under current mine plans, aligning its emissions intensity with the typical North American refined barrel on a full life-cycle basis.

IOL Aspen, FortMcMurray, Alberta

The Aspen Oil Sands project represents a prospective in-situ steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) initiative to extract oil sands resources. Envisioned to yield a daily output of up to 150,000 barrels of bitumen, Aspen stands poised to emerge as one of the company’s principal oil production assets. This anticipated production volume can be achieved through a two-phase operational framework.

The current iteration, a departure from the initial proposal, wherein the facility was projected to generate 135,000 barrels through a three-phase construction scheme, reflects revisions to the project plan. The crucial milestone of the final investment decision for the initial phase was greenlit in November 2018, earmarking the construction of infrastructure capable of accommodating 75,000 barrels per day.

Kearl Oil Sands Expansion Project, FortMcMurray, Alberta

The Kearl Oil Sands Project in Alberta, Canada, operates as a significant contributor to the nation’s oil production, approved for up to 345,000 barrels of bitumen per day. Developed in three stages, SPS-developed planning technologies were applied or evaluated in support of selected construction-engineering and heavy-lift planning activities associated with the project. Notably, Kearl integrates technological innovations for cost reduction, representing the next generation of oil sands mining. In 2021, the project achieved record-breaking production, and its ownership structure involves complex relationships without specifying company names.

Kearl Expansion Tank Farm, FortMcMurray, Alberta

Kearl stands as a cornerstone of Canada’s oil sands industry, hosting one of the country’s largest open-pit mining operations. With regulatory approval to produce up to 345,000 barrels of bitumen per day, Kearl was developed across three distinct phases using a “design one, build many” approach to improve efficiency across its facilities. Throughout the different stages of Kearl’s development, fabrication and modularization played an important role. Large modules were assembled at an off-site fabrication yard and transported to the project site for installation. SPS contributed through specialized planning, simulation, and database-development services that supported selected construction-planning activities associated with the project.

Kearl Lake Cogen, FortMcMurray, Alberta

At the Horizon site, a comprehensive oil and gas project unfolded, culminating in the installation and pre-commissioning of an 85 MW cogeneration (cogen) unit earlier this year. Initiated in August 2015 with a team of over 200 members, the endeavor covered mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation, and civil components. The project also entailed installing equipment and interconnections for the new GE CTG. This cogen facility, operational by the end of October 2016, seamlessly connected to the Alberta electricity grid, generating both steam and electrical power. Beyond its economic benefits, the cogen plant provides the strategic advantage of selling surplus electricity back to the Alberta power grid, contributing to revenue streams and offsetting emissions from coal-fired power plants in the region.

GENESEE Generating Station, Alberta

The GENESEE Conversion Project represents a significant evolution in energy production, transforming an existing coal-fired power plant into a more efficient and environmentally friendly gas-fired combined cycle facility. Undertaken by Capital Power and executed by PCL Industrial Management Inc., this project aimed at increasing the plant’s capacity to 518 megawatts while substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and water consumption by 50%. Located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, this initiative is a critical step towards sustainable energy solutions.

Brion Energy MacKay River Commercial

The Mackay River Commercial project in Alberta, part of a four-phase steam-assisted gravity drainage facility, produced 35,000 barrels of bitumen per day. Challenges included the 2016 Horse River wildfire, with creative solutions for site conditions. This project provided an opportunity to apply SPS’s planning, simulation, and data-management capabilities in the Canadian energy sector. The Athabasca oil sands in northeastern Alberta constitute the largest known reservoir of crude bitumen globally, raising environmental concerns and impacting indigenous communities.

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