Exxon Mobil Corporation has announced the startup of the Kearl oil sands project in Alberta, Canada, which incorporates technological innovations to enhance environmental performance while enabling long-term production to meet future energy demand.
“Kearl will access 4.6 billion barrels of resource that will meet energy needs for the next 40 years,” said president of ExxonMobil Development Company, Neil Duffin. “By combining a high-quality resource with our proprietary technologies, proven project execution capability and operational excellence, Kearl will provide attractive returns over the long term with a smaller environmental footprint than traditional oil sands mining.”
Kearl is the first oil sands mining operation without an upgrader, making lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions for its output similar to those of many other crude oils processed in the United States.
Kearl uses proprietary paraffinic froth treatment technology to produce bitumen, a process that does not require on-site upgrading and avoids a multi-billion dollar capital investment and associated operating expenses. This means the bitumen is processed once, instead of twice, which reduces the amount of emissions generated overall.
Energy needs will be further reduced through the installation of energy-saving cogeneration facilities.
Production of mined diluted bitumen from the first of three froth treatment trains has begun.
Kearl uses proprietary paraffinic froth treatment technology to produce bitumen, a process that does not require on-site upgrading and avoids a multi-billion dollar capital investment and associated operating expenses. This means the bitumen is processed once, instead of twice, which reduces the amount of emissions generated overall.
Energy needs will be further reduced through the installation of energy-saving cogeneration facilities.
Production of mined diluted bitumen from the first of three froth treatment trains has begun.
Startup of two additional bitumen froth trains will proceed in sequence as planned, bringing production from the initial development to an expected 110,000 barrels per day later in 2013.