Good news Work Continues On Sturgeon Refinery; $1-Billion Financing Announced In Q3 BY PAT ROCHE – NOV. 7, 2014 – VIEW ISSUE Work is progressing on Canadian Natural Resources Limited’s 50 per cent owned refinery with site preparation and deep underground construction slated to be completed in the fourth quarter, the company said on Thursday. Being built near Edmonton at an estimated cost of $8.5 billion, the so-called Sturgeon refinery will convert 50,000 bbls a day of bitumen to diesel fuel and other products. Startup is slated for September 2017. Canadian Natural has a 50 per cent interest in the North West Redwater Partnership, which will process 12,500 bbls a day of bitumen for CNRL and 37,500 bbls a day from the Alberta government’s bitumen-royalty-in-kind program. The other 50 per cent owner is North West Upgrading Inc. In July, the North West Redwater Partnership issued $500 million of 3.20 per cent Series A secured bonds due July 2024 and $500 million of 4.05 per cent Series B secured bonds due July 2044. Pile foundation activity In an update issued last month, the partnership said that with deep undergrounds largely in place, process unit area construction is well underway and the refinery site is steadily rising above grade. More than 2,500 cast-in-place, helical or driven steel piles have been installed in process unit areas, at the electrical substation, or at the air separation unit. The concrete batch plant is operational, providing concrete for foundations and piles throughout the refinery site. Piling and foundation work will continue into 2015, preparing for module arrival and equipment setting. As of early October, more than 1,000 construction personnel were working at the site, the update said. North West Redwater began its bussing program on Sept 15, transporting workers from designated regional pickup areas to the project site. This program will help reduce personal vehicle travel to the refinery site, easing traffic congestion, and will expand as the workforce continues to grow. Reactor vessel assembly continues within the reactor assembly building. Completed reactor vessels will be moved to their foundations over frozen ground in early 2015. The large crude vacuum tower arrived on a heavy platform trailer and will be set on foundations when ready. Site aerial view as at Oct. 4, 2014 Construction within the electrical substation is well advanced, with transformers placed on foundations and structural steel going up throughout. Foundations within the air separation unit are well advanced. Plate is at site for process tank construction. Interior partitions and utility systems continue to be installed in the control administration building and the fire hall maintenance and warehouse building. Preparation of the module and equipment marshalling yard continues on North West Redwater lands next to the project site, with civil grading, aggregate placement and general preparation proceeding as required by the construction schedule.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 16:38:11 +0000
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