Shaping our plans

Stakeholder Consultation

Syncrude consults with a wide range of interested groups and individuals about our plans. The input and expectations of stakeholders are integral to the decisions we make today and how we plan for the future.

Customer Consultation

Syncrude and its owners work continuously to understand present and future requirements for refinery customers that process our Syncrude crude oil blend. These requirements are influenced by regulators and by end-use customers.

Research and Development

Science and technology provide the keys to unlocking the potential of the oil sands resource. In this area, Syncrude leads the way with one of the few dedicated corporate R&D programs in the oil sands industry. We invest about $70 million annually in the pursuit of new and better ways and currently hold 21 active Canadian and U.S. patents. More than 80 scientists and technologists work at our Research Centre in Edmonton, and many more are engaged in research at a fundamental level through their work at universities and research institutes.

Operating with excellence

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 cleaned 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. 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.

Creating positive outcomes

Reclamation

After mining is complete, work commences to reclaim the land. Syncrude’s vision is to create a landscape that sustains an integrated mosaic of land uses that meet stakeholder expectations. To date, we have reclaimed about 22 percent of our Mildred Lake site, planted over five million tree and shrub seedlings, and achieved the first-ever government reclamation certification in the oil sands. Ongoing research is directed at finding ways to incorporate tailings into reclaimed landscapes. We have also successfully developed wood bison habitat in cooperation with the Fort McKay First Nation.

Syncrude Crude Oil

Refineries process our oil to make high quality gasoline and diesel fuels, jet fuels and chemical feedstocks. The completion of our upgrader expansion has resulted in product quality improvements to our Syncrude crude oil blend.

Benefits to People

Through our work to produce Syncrude crude oil, we directly and indirectly employ many thousands of people. In fact, Syncrude is one of the largest industrial employers of Aboriginal people in Canada. Through our community investment activities, we help support programs and initiatives that are important to our stakeholders. In 2007, we contributed over $4.2 million to community projects and initiatives.

Benefits to the Economy

Syncrude helps sustain local and regional economies through the purchase of goods and services. In 2007, non-energy procurement amounted to $2 billion. Governments also benefit through Syncrude’s payment of taxes and royalties—$1.6 billion in 2007 and more than $9 billion since 1978.