As the article explains, this is not only Suncor but one of many new vast expansions being planned by the "major players". The upgrader facilities are essential and not hard to understand. All of this development is, as always, continuous and along side existing facilities and tar pits, none of it slowing down or remaining static at a certain speed but like a run-away freight train. This train loaded with gas is headed straight for the water.
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Suncor to expand tar sands mining operations
By Scott Haggett
http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=oilRpt&st...
CALGARY, Alberta , July 31 (Reuters) - Suncor Energy Inc. (SU.TO: Quote, Profile , Research) said on Tuesday it is seeking regulatory approval for a C$4.4 billion ($4.15 billion) expansion of its oil sands mining operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta.
The company, which plans to surpass Syncrude Canada Ltd. as Canada's biggest oil sands producer within five years, plans a third mine at its project site, with construction starting in two years.
The project is the latest addition to a slate of multibillion dollar expansions and planned new operations in the Alberta oil sands, which contain about 174 billion barrels of bitumen, a tar-like form of oil.
Indeed, on Monday, Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile , Research) said it would spend as much as C$27 billion on an upgrader to convert 400,000 barrels of bitumen a day into refinery-ready crude, one of the costliest projects ever proposed in Canada.
Suncor's Voyageur South mine, will add new output of about 120,000 barrels of bitumen, a tar-like form of oil, a day when construction is wrapped up. The project is expected to be completed some time between 2011 and 2013.
By the time the new mine is completed, Suncor expects to produce as much as 550,000 barrels a day of synthetic crude from its northern Alberta operations, more than double its current output of about 260,000 barrels and well above the 350,000 barrels a day pumped out by Syncrude.
The company said site preparation and construction would begin in 2009 and 2010, with commissioning and start-up planned for between 2011 and 2013.
About 1,800 contractors would be hired during the construction, with a permanent workforce of 650 once completed, Suncor said.
($1=$1.06 Canadian)
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