Shell oil sands output hit by Scotford upgrader repairs

The Canadian Press reported Nov. 15 that the Athabasca Oil Sands Project will lose 30 to 40 per cent of its production for October and November during maintenance work. The information was attributed to Shell Canada.

A catalyst pump at the Scotford upgrader next to Shell’s Scotford refinery near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, failed on Oct. 19, forcing a shutdown of a residue hydrocracker.

Shell expects to bring the upgrader back into service by the end of November.

During the shutdown the company has done preventive maintenance on settler units at the Muskeg River Mine north of Fort McMurray.

The upgrader and the mine make up the Athabasca project, a joint venture of Shell (60 percent) Chevron Canada (20 percent), and Western Oil Sands (20 percent).