Bantrel has been at the forefront of oilsands projects for over 40 years. The vast experience of Bantrel's highly skilled project professionals includes
oilsands production technologies, extensive cold climate design, construction experience, and
constructability expertise including modularization. Our integrated EPC approach to project execution, global procurement reach and unparalleled safety record for oilsands projects allow Bantrel to successfully manage the aggressive schedule and rigorous cost demands associated with challenging Upstream projects.
Bechtel designed and built both the extraction and upgrading facilities at the first large scale commercial surface mining operation for Great Canadian Oil Sands Company, now known as Suncor Energy, in the early 1960s. In the 1970s, Bechtel was involved in the construction of Syncrude's Mildred Lake extraction facilities north of Fort McMurray. More recently, Bantrel was responsible for design and construction of Suncor's Steepbank Mine Ore Preparation Plant. Bantrel has also been responsible for numerous conceptual designs and Design Basis Memoranda (DBMs) for surface mining and extraction facilities on behalf of several oilsands developers.
Bantrel expertise associated with in situ facilities is extensive and spans a wide range of SAGD operations, from as small
as 9,000 bpd to massive projects, with greater than 90,000 bpd. Bantrel has prepared conceptual designs, DBMs, Engineering Design Specifications (EDSs) / Front End Engineering
Design (FEED) packages and has been responsible for design and construction of SAGD facilities for numerous oilsands developers
including CNRL, EnCana, JACOS and Suncor. In addition, Bantrel has designed and built several cogeneration power
plants associated with SAGD facilities, including the largest single train Gas Turbine Generator (GTG) Once Through Heat
Recovery Steam Generator (OTHRSG) combination installed in the oilsands adjacent to Petro-Canada's MacKay River facility.
Bantrel is also involved in development work related to several emerging in situ technologies.
On February 3, 2009, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board issued Directive 074, Tailings Performance Criteria and Requirements for Oil Sands Mining Schemes. This directive requires operators to:
- Prepare tailings plans and report on tailings ponds on an annual basis;
- Reduce the ongoing accumulation of fine fluid tailings by capturing a minimum amount of fines and depositing these fines in a dedicated disposal area that is trafficable and ready for reclamation five years after active deposition has ceased, and;
- Specify dates for construction, use and closure of fluid tailings ponds and file these dates with the ERCB by September 30, 2009.
Bantrel is developing an innovative, cost effective solution for
oilsands operators as they strive to meet these requirements.