May 26, 2006 by admin.

Canadian Press

Friday, May 26, 2006

CALGARY — Syncrude believes it has found the cause of the noxious fumes that precipitated a government-ordered shutdown of its $8.4-billion expansion in the northern Alberta oilsands, the joint venture’s largest shareholder said Friday.

Canadian Oil Sands Trust (TSX:COS.UN) said fixing the problem may take one to two months, but the capital costs associated with the modifications are expected to be “modest.”

Syncrude’s so-called Stage 3 expansion, which would reinstate the joint venture as Canada’s largest oilsands producer, was in start-up mode when Alberta Environment ordered the shut down last week due to urine-like smells apparently emanating from new technology designed to eliminate sulphur-dioxide emissions.

The shutdown involved Syncrude’s new Coker 8-3, one of three massive cokers used at the sprawling Syncrude site….

…the foul-smelling emissions were believed to be associated with the start-up of the flue gas desulphurizer (FGD), a new unit installed on the coker to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions…. (Full Story — off-site)

Posted in Emission Incidents & Issues, Sulphur Logistics, Sulphur-Related Construction Costs | Print | No Comments »

May 24, 2006 by admin.

Report on the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) hearing regarding HAZCO’s request for an adjournment of the SDAB hearing

Posted in Hazco EIA Review, Hazco | Print | No Comments »

May 24, 2006 by admin.

Plant once on frontier now in the midst of global oil frenzy

Gordon Jaremko, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Wednesday, May 24, 2006

EDMONTON - When former Syncrude chairman Eric Newell conceived the $8.4-billion expansion the Fort McMurray plant celebrates finishing today, the oilsands were a fringe element…. (Full Story — off-site)

Posted in Sulphur-Related Construction Costs | Print | No Comments »

May 19, 2006 by admin.

James Stevenson
Canadian Press

Saturday, May 19, 2006

CALGARY (CP) - The planned grand opening next week of Syncrude Canada’s $8.4-billion expansion has been “significantly modified” in the wake of a government-ordered shutdown, as the oilsands giant focuses on finding the cause to noxious fumes escaping from the plant.

Syncrude’s so-called Stage 3 expansion, which would reinstate the joint venture as Canada’s largest oilsands producer, was in start-up mode when Alberta Environment ordered the shut down Thursday due to urine-like smells apparently emanating from new technology designed to eliminate sulphur-dioxide emissions…. (Full Story — off-site)

Posted in Emission Incidents & Issues, Sulphur Logistics, Sulphur-Related Construction Costs | Print | No Comments »

May 19, 2006 by admin.

Less-than-wholesome smells caused by recently installed coker on the fritz

Ben Gelinas
The Edmonton Journal; with files from Canwest News Service

Friday, May 19, 2006

EDMONTON - An $8.5-billion expansion by Syncrude Canada Ltd. has been idled after the oilsands giant was ordered to shut down new equipment Thursday because of noxious odours.

A new desulphurization unit at Mildred Lake 35 kilometres north of Fort McMurray was to have been officially opened next week.

But the strong smell it is not supposed to emit, like cat urine or body odour, continues to linger over Fort McMurray and Fort MacKay, causing eyes to water, heads to ache and Alberta Environment to issue an environmental protection order. (Full Story — off-site)

Posted in Emission Incidents & Issues, Sulphur Logistics | Print | No Comments »

May 18, 2006 by admin.

Canadian Press

Thursday, May 18, 2006

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Syncrude’s brand new, $8.4-billion oilsands expansion in northern Alberta is being temporarily shut down because of foul, urine-smelling emissions.

Alberta Environment issued an order Thursday afternoon calling on the joint-venture oilsands giant to immediately shut down its new “flue gas desulphurization unit and attached equipment,” related to the Mildred Lake plant located 40 kilometres north of Fort McMurray…. (Full Story — off-site)

Posted in Emission Incidents & Issues, Sulphur Logistics | Print | No Comments »

May 5, 2006 by admin.

Lamont County: Notice of appeal hearing, re: request by HAZCO’s to have an adjournment of HAZCO’s appeal against the MPC’s April 2006 decision that denied HAZCO’s application.

Posted in Hazco EIA Review, Hazco | Print | No Comments »