This project should likely become a lightening rod against Sag-D production as it is also one of the dirtiest in history, as it uses a gunk it calls "asphaltene"-- the left over crap from the Sag-D project. This produces vastly higher GG emissions, which are already on average 3-4 times higher than in regular oil in tar sands production, and slightly more in Sg-D production. This plant is only 8 kilometers from the indigenous and Metis settlement of Anzac.
--M
Long Lake tar sands project on track for first production later this month
September 2, 2008 - 21:58
By: THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALGARY - Nexen Inc. (TSX:NXY) and Opti Canada Inc. (TSX:OPT) said Tuesday that their Long Lake oilsands project is proceeding well and the upgrader remains on track for start up and first production of premium synthetic crude this month.
The companies, which are jointly developing the project, said based on commissioning activities and an evaluation of operational readiness the upgrader will start at a rate of 23,000 to 25,000 barrels per day of of bitumen feedstock.
The Long Lake project is 40 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray, Alta.
It will combine steam assisted gravity drainage technology - an extraction method used by many other oilsands producers - and so-called "hydrocracking and gasification."
http://www.570news.com/news/business/article.jsp?content=b0902163A
