Process Tour

Oil Sands – 80% sand, 10% bitumen and 10% water, one of the largest energy reserves in the world, but also among the most difficult and costly to process. They are abrasive, sticky, but a magnificent source of energy-especially when they are processed in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable fashion.

1928 to Now

The present technologies used to extract bitumen from the oil sands were pioneered in 1928 by Albertan Karl Clarke’s hot water extraction process.  Since then, innovative enhancements have refined and improved this approach, resulting in the billion dollar processing operations characteristic of the oil sands projects today.

Into The Future Over the next 5 to 10 years, oil sands producers will be challenged – to produce more oil from lower grade ore, more cost effectively, using less water and less energy and do all this in a timely, more sustainable fashion – all this to keep up with the increasing world energy demands. Technology and innovation will continue to be critical tools to help relieve these pressures.
Big Challenges Need Big Partners and Technology Options Big challenges like this need big partners and an arsenal of technology options.  To make informed decisions, one must review the existing alternatives and evaluate the myriad new and promising technologies available to the oil sands. Big decisions have big price tags and therefore big financial risks.  Diligently assessing processing technologies under operating conditions before making epic billion-dollar decisions is only prudent. SGS is a large independent multinational testing company that services many industrial sectors. For decades, we have helped the global mining and petrochemical industries evaluate process options, test process materials and meet sustainability requirements.
Our Role SGS is an experienced, ethical partner with the proven industrial processing experience to help you with your technical due diligence and risk reduction. As an independent technology provider, SGS takes pride in our quality services and our professional ethics. Our role in technological partnerships is three-fold: To provide you with the opportunity to mitigate technical and environmental risk by testing process technologies at the pilot scale. To offer a safe, flexible and cost-effective venue to demonstrate and optimize production and related environmental aspects. To give operators evaluating new technologies a venue for commercial viability prior to capital investment.

What We Bring to the Partnership Proven experience in process development, benchmarking, separation technologies, process engineering and pilot testing. Purpose-built piloting facilities in Fort MacKay, the heart of the oil-sands area. ISO/IEC 17025 analytical and environmental testing laboratories in Fort McMurray to support to pilot operations. Familiarity with big-project engineering needs and the related global financial requirements. Ability to help you make the right choices, without upsetting existing production schedules or putting up large capital outlays. An excellent reputation for technical work unbiased by any commercial interests.

Pilot testing for SGS and you our client starts with safety. Our site health and safety policies and procedures have been developed to protect:

• Our staff, and you, our client.
• The environment that surrounds our facilities.
• Our reputation as well as your reputation.

Our Safety Program

SGS is committed to operational safety in all our workplaces. The Safety and Loss Management Program includes:

• The required permits needed to ensure safe work for all parties involved.
• The isolation, lock-out and tag-out of equipment.
• The management of change policies.
• A joint health and safety committee to monitor health and safety and environmental issues on a daily basis.
• Full time safety management to ensure all health and safety issues are dealt with.
• A full HAZOP review of all our activities.

Come, let's tour our oil sands pilot plant in Fort McKay