Name and Location
Aspen oil sands project, Alberta, Canada.

Client
Imperial Oil.

Project Description
The proposed Aspen development will take place on a 52-section lease area and use steam-assisted gravity drainage technology to access a bitumen resource, with a recoverable potential of 1.1-billion barrels.

Imperial is considering using solvents to achieve enhanced in situ recovery and reduce water use and carbon dioxide emissions.

The proposed design concept involves three phases that will follow Imperial’s ‘design one, build multiple’ approach and will include central steam generation, bitumen processing plant facilities and energy-saving electrical power cogeneration.

Development will be phased during the expected 40-year life of the project, with each phase bringing on commercial bitumen production of about 45 000 bbl/d.

The concept plan includes future debottlenecking, which could further increase bitumen production.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Subject to timely receipt of regulatory approvals, further technical evaluation and favourable business and market conditions, a final investment decision could be made by as soon as 2017 and the project could be producing by 2020.

Latest Developments
Imperial Oil filed regulatory applications with the Alberta Energy Regulator and the Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development in December 2013, seeking approval of a new oil sands project on its Muskeg lease, about 45 km north-east of Fort McMurray.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Imperial Oil, tel +1 403 237 2710.