Mining – Shovel and truck operations at Syncrude’s Mildred Lake and Aurora sites mine the oil sand from large surface mines. The oil sand is then mixed with warm water to create a slurry that is pumped using a patented hydrotransport technology to extraction facilities.

Extraction – The bitumen slurry is fed into separation vessels where the bitumen floats to the surface as froth. This froth is diluted with naphtha and then fed into centrifuges that further separate liquids and solids. Finally, the naphtha is removed, leaving only pure bitumen.

Upgrading – Bitumen is fed into either a fluid coker or a hydrocracker. The bitumen is thermally cracked into hydrocarbon gases, naphtha and gas oil. The hydrocarbon gases are treated for use as a refinery fuel, and the naphtha and gas oils are treated and blended into a high quality light, sweet crude oil called Syncrude Sweet Blend. The oil is then transported via pipeline to refineries throughout North America.

Utilities – Syncrude’s utilities operations produce steam, electricity and air, and treat the water required to run plant operations. Syncrude is self-reliant in electrical power generation and is a net exporter of electricity to the Alberta power grid.