By Tony Webster - Suncor Energy - Crude Oil Storage Tank Farm, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=160720872Suncor Energy crude oil storage tank farm near Guernsey, Wyoming.
FORT MCMURRAY — There are new developments in two Suncor Energy Inc. oilsands proposals in Wood Buffalo, with both continuing to move through Alberta’s regulatory process.
According to Alberta government environmental assessment documents, one proposal would significantly increase production capacity at Suncor’s Firebag operation, while the other is intended to keep Syncrude’s Mildred Lake Mine producing as resources in its existing mining areas are depleted.
At Firebag, Suncor is proposing to expand the in-situ operation and increase production capacity by 331,500 barrels per day to 700,000 bpd.
The company is also seeking to expand the project footprint so it can access more of the resource across its Firebag leases.
The project is in the environmental assessment process, with final terms of reference issued in August.
A separate proposal involving Syncrude’s Mildred Lake Mine is focused on sustaining production rather than adding a major new stream of output.
The Mildred Lake Mine Extension would move mining onto Lease 29, east of the Athabasca River, as currently approved mining areas are depleted.
The project would rely heavily on existing Mildred Lake facilities, but would require a new bridge across the Athabasca River along with other supporting infrastructure.127
A section of the East Athabasca Highway would also need to be relocated.
The Alberta Energy Regulator has determined an environmental impact assessment is required for the Mildred Lake extension.
That proposal is at an earlier stage, with public comments on the proposed terms of reference open until Dec. 7.
The two projects serve different purposes.
The Firebag proposal is aimed at increasing production capacity and extending access to more of the resource, while the Mildred Lake extension is intended to sustain production at an existing operation as its current mining areas are exhausted.
For Firebag, the next major step is the preparation and submission of an environmental impact assessment and regulatory application based on the final terms of reference. The AER would then review the material and can request additional information before the environmental assessment is considered complete.
For Mildred Lake, the regulator will first consider feedback received during the current public-comment period before finalizing the terms of reference. An environmental impact assessment and regulatory application would follow as the project moves toward a decision.
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