DOCSLIB.ORG

Albian Sands Uses 3D Laser Scanning for Oil Sands Mining Albian Sands Energy Inc

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Albian Sands Uses 3D Laser Scanning for Oil Sands Mining Albian Sands Energy Inc CASE STUDY Albian Sands uses 3D laser scanning for oil sands mining Albian Sands Energy Inc. is a joint venture that operates the Muskeg River Mine on behalf of the owners of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project. The Muskeg River Mine, located 75 km northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada contains more than 6.5 billion barrels of mineable bitumen. Albian Sands geologist operates the I-Site 4400LR at Muskeg River Mine HIGHLIGHTS Operating at design capacity, the mine The I-Site 4400 cold weather accessories, • I-Site systems designed to produces 155,000 barrels of bitumen a day. including a scanner jacket and heated optimise management of In oil sands mining, a mix of oil and sand is batteries, proved successful in the sub- surveying, engineering and zero Celsius temperatures typical of geological tasks removed from just below the surface using shovels and trucks. This material is mixed northern Canada winters. • Cold weather package includes with warm water to separate the oil from the Convinced of the functionality of the I-Site a scanner jacket and heated sand. Since the oil sand mined at Albian is a system, Albian rented a scanner for 4 batteries very dark and organic material, determining weeks to evaluate data derived in its pit. different ore grades and mapping of The benefit of viewing scan data coloured • I-Site photos and scans are a ore-waste splits was a challenge for the by intensity of laser returns quickly became valuable real-time option geologists. evident. This colour scheme made the ore Data from drillholes and traditional surveys layers clearly visible. was not available in a timely fashion to support short-range adjustment to the Digitised ore faces were easily loaded geology models or mine plans. In addition, into Vulcan and used in conjunction with the dynamic nature of the short face oil sand drillhole data to map and design working pit made shovel face design a challenge. shovel faces. The geology department found Many times, data was not available before an additional benefit in the digital photo- the face changed. rendering feature when doing geological mapping. Albian already uses Maptek Vulcan™ software and two geologists were The soft shovel faces are unsafe and are introduced to the Maptek I-Site system at very rarely mapped geologically due to a Users Conference,. Albian later arranged highwall instability. Albian Sands geologists a field trial of the equipment at the Muskeg found measurements from the I-Site photos River Mine, with the primary objective of and scans to be a valuable, real-time testing the functionality of the I-Site system alternative to having no data. in cold weather. www.maptek.com Scan points of a shovel face at the Muskeg River Mine TESTIMONIAL Analysis of one scenario during the mined instead of being sent to the waste Studies proved that I-Site evaluation period yielded a nearly $500,000 dump with the underlying waste, a key scans and photographs are a CDN revenue stream that would have been factor used to justify Albian’s purchase of valuable option for collecting missed without the benefit of I-Site. the I-Site 4400LR. mapping data, with speed of data Using the traditional process, a band of The primary intended uses of the system acquisition the main advantage. waste had been defined. During mining, it will be determining pit volume changes and It is now a key element of the was noted there was ore above the waste geological mapping. Muskeg River Mine’s efforts to contact. The same face was scanned using The speed of data acquisition has made improve geological modelling the I-Site 4400LR. the I-Site 4400LR very popular at the mine. accuracy, survey control, and With the additional drillhole data in the The geology department has received general support of pit operations. surrounding area, a volume for the ore multiple requests for scanning dump piles, was calculated, and was determined to ramps and limestone collapse structures be economic to pursue. The ore was then from other groups on site. www.maptek.com © Copyright 2008, Maptek Pty Ltd - 200811AS.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Facts About Alberta's Oil Sands and Its Industry
    Facts about Alberta’s oil sands and its industry CONTENTS Oil Sands Discovery Centre Facts 1 Oil Sands Overview 3 Alberta’s Vast Resource The biggest known oil reserve in the world! 5 Geology Why does Alberta have oil sands? 7 Oil Sands 8 The Basics of Bitumen 10 Oil Sands Pioneers 12 Mighty Mining Machines 15 Cyrus the Bucketwheel Excavator 1303 20 Surface Mining Extraction 22 Upgrading 25 Pipelines 29 Environmental Protection 32 In situ Technology 36 Glossary 40 Oil Sands Projects in the Athabasca Oil Sands 44 Oil Sands Resources 48 OIL SANDS DISCOVERY CENTRE www.oilsandsdiscovery.com OIL SANDS DISCOVERY CENTRE FACTS Official Name Oil Sands Discovery Centre Vision Sharing the Oil Sands Experience Architects Wayne H. Wright Architects Ltd. Owner Government of Alberta Minister The Honourable Lindsay Blackett Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Location 7 hectares, at the corner of MacKenzie Boulevard and Highway 63 in Fort McMurray, Alberta Building Size Approximately 27,000 square feet, or 2,300 square metres Estimated Cost 9 million dollars Construction December 1983 – December 1984 Opening Date September 6, 1985 Updated Exhibit Gallery opened in September 2002 Facilities Dr. Karl A. Clark Exhibit Hall, administrative area, children’s activity/education centre, Robert Fitzsimmons Theatre, mini theatre, gift shop, meeting rooms, reference room, public washrooms, outdoor J. Howard Pew Industrial Equipment Garden, and Cyrus Bucketwheel Exhibit. Staffing Supervisor, Head of Marketing and Programs, Senior Interpreter, two full-time Interpreters, administrative support, receptionists/ cashiers, seasonal interpreters, and volunteers. Associated Projects Bitumount Historic Site Programs Oil Extraction demonstrations, Quest for Energy movie, Paydirt film, Historic Abasand Walking Tour (summer), special events, self-guided tours of the Exhibit Hall.
    [Show full text]
  • Quest Opens Page 4 2 Shell News
    ALUMNIPUBLISHED FOR SHELL ALUMNI IN THE AMERICAS | WWW.SHELL.US/ALUMNINEWSMARCH 2016 ULTIMATE JOURNEY TO THE DEEP WATER MAKES ENERGY LAST FRONTIER HEADLINES IN EFFICIENCY MARS-URSA BASIN Shell alumnus takes the trip Shell Eco-marathon of a lifetime. Shell announces Americas returns 100 million boe discovery to Detroit. at Kaikias field. QUEST OPENS PAGE 4 2 SHELL NEWS ALUMNINEWS AlumniNews is published for Shell US and Canada. Editors: Design: Heather Pray Russell and Jackie Panera Production Centre of Excellence Shell Communications Calgary Writer/copy editor: Shell Human Resources: Susan Diemont-Conwell Annette Chavez Torma Communications and Alicia Gomez A WORD FROM OUR EDITORS GO GREEN! A company that is simpler, more focused and U.S. AlumniNews moving to a digital more competitive. That’s the aim of a recent version starting December 2016 global structure change introduced by CEO Beginning with our December 2016 issue, Ben van Beurden and implemented at the AlumniNews will be delivered in an start of 2016. Along with the evolved global electronic format and will no longer be structure come projects that exemplify Shell’s offered as a printed and mailed publication. continued innovation and willingness to lead CONTENTS We invite our U.S. subscribers to sign up the industry. online at www.shell.us/alumni or by email This issue of AlumniNews features articles on at [email protected]. We will notify the company’s support of Alberta’s climate you directly when the latest version of change proposal and the historic opening of AlumniNews is posted online each quarter. Quest, a carbon capture and storage project designed to capture more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO²) each year.
    [Show full text]
  • Ledcor Goes Anywhere Our Clients Need Us, Discovering New Opportunities and New Ways to Support Their Success Along the Way
    LEDCOR EARNS GROWING OUR REDEVELOPING EXPANDING OUR SUNCOR OPERATIONAL PRESENCE IN SAN DieGO’S AVIATION SERVICES IN EXCELLENCE AWARD SASKATCHEWAN WATERFRONT NORTHERN CANADA THEGLOBE SPRING 2013 VOLUME ELEVEN – ISSUE ONE INVESTING IN NORTH AMERICA Ledcor GOES ANYWHERE OUR CLIENTS NEED US, discovering NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND NEW waYS to SUPPORT THEIR SUCCESS ALONG THE waY. Ledcor’s first out-of-province project was in 1957, when we entered Saskatchewan for our client, Texaco, now owned by Chevron. We were in a position to bring our construction services to the oil market, and within six months our team was doing 90 percent of the oil field work in the province for several clients. Fifty-five years later, we are still expanding across North America, travelling with clients to new markets, opening new offices, and entering new business ventures wherever we find opportunity. We bring our corporate standards to every new market, but always invest in local talent and suppliers. This approach is important to our growth strategy and provides stability to the company in the form of a more diverse, more resilient portfolio. In this issue of The Globe, you will learn about some of the projects and businesses that have taken us to new territories and helped our company and clients continue to grow. Sincerely, Dave Lede Chairman & CEO FIREBAG STAGE 4 17 WOOD CANTS FOR ASIAN 2 MARKETS 20 LEDCOR INVESTS IN NORTH AMERICA 8 BUILDING 20 forestrY Ruocco Park Wood Cants for Asian Markets Marciano Winery 21 transportation Ritchie Bros. Auction Facility Ledcor
    [Show full text]
  • Albian Sands Energy in C . Muskeg River Mine
    A QUATIC E NVIRONMENTAL S ETTING R EPORT A LBIAN S ANDS E NERGY I NC. M USKEG R IVER M INE E XPANSION P ROJECT SUBMITTED TO: SHELL CANADA LIMITED CALGARY, ALBERTA S UBMITTED BY: AXYS ENVIRONMENTAL C ONSULTING LTD. C ALGARY, ALBERTA I N A SSOCIATION W ITH: N ORTH/SOUTH C ONSULTANTS I NC. C AGARY, ALBERTA AND H YDROCONSULTANT C ALGARY, ALBERTA F EBRUARY 25, 2005 OS1182 AXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd. Aquatic Environmental Setting Report ALBIAN SANDS ENERGY INC MUSKEG RIVER MINE EXPANSION PROJECT Submitted to: Shell Canada Ltd. Calgary, Alberta Submitted by: AXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd. Calgary, Alberta In association with: North/South Consultants Inc. Calgary, Alberta and Hydroconsultant Calgary, Alberta February 25, 2005 OS1182 ALBIAN SANDS ENERGY INC MUSKEG RIVER MINE EXPANSION PROJECT Aquatic Environmental Setting Report Executive Summary Albian Sands Energy Inc. (Albian) is proposing to expand the existing Muskeg River Mine (MRM) located in Shell Lease 13, in the Muskeg River watershed. The Expansion will involve development in the northwest portion of Lease 13 (the ‘West Pit Area’), in the south central portion of Lease 13, between Muskeg River and Jackpine Creek (the ‘Sharkbite’) and in Lease 90. These three development areas constitute the Expansion area or Muskeg River Mine Expansion (MRME) Development Area. This report provides a baseline description of the surface water hydrology, surface water quality, sediment quality and aquatic resources of the region, based on a compilation of available historical information and new baseline studies conducted in 2003-2004 designed to update and supplement the historical information. The aquatic systems in the area may be affected during various phases of the Expansion including construction, operation, and closure.
    [Show full text]
  • The Expansion of the Shell Albian Sands Aerodrome
    Meeting the Needs of the Alberta Oil Sands Industry The Expansion of the Shell Albian Sands Aerodrome Dean Reidt, P.Eng. Associated Engineering Alberta Ltd. Paper prepared for presentation at the Goods Movement – Past, Present and Future Session of the 2014 Conference of the Transportation Association of Canada Montreal, Quebec ABSTRACT To accommodate passenger demands associated with the local Alberta oil sands industry, Shell Canada Ltd. is expanding the capacity of their Albian Sands Aerodrome. This aerodrome is a key transportation component for the accessing of oil sands developments to north of Fort McMurray and supports an industry that provides a major contribution to the Canadian economy. Over the last century, the Alberta oil sands industry has relied upon an evolving transportation system including river paddle-wheelers, float planes, roadway and more recently air. The provision of an efficient air service to this area is critical in the transportation of many thousands of industry employees to and from their homes located across Canada. The existing aerodrome commenced operations in 2008 and is currently accommodating approximately 200,000 passengers annually. The aerodrome includes a 7500 foot runway; apron/parking stands to accommodate two Code C aircraft and two Code B aircraft, an air terminal building that accommodates approximately 120 people and various equipment facilities relating to emergency response, operations and maintenance. Recent growth in passenger traffic has resulted in capacity issues on the terminal building apron, the terminal building itself, the groundside staging areas/access roads and the groundside facilities for maintenance equipment. The proposed expansion will increase the size of the apron to accommodate a total of five B737 Code C aircraft (including provision for collection of de-icing fluids), increase the size of the terminal building to accommodate 300 passengers, provide a groundside staging area for 20 highway buses and provide improved facilities for emergency services and maintenance equipment.
    [Show full text]
  • 2016 Shell Sustainability Report, Which Covers Our Performance in 2016 and Significant Changes and Events During the Year
    SUSTAINABILITY REPORT Royal Dutch Shell plc Sustainability Report 2016 03 39 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION OUR PERFORMANCE 04 Introduction from the CEO 40 Safety 06 Topic selection for 2016 43 Security 08 About Shell 43 Environment 10 How sustainability works at Shell 48 Social performance 14 Sustainability governance 53 Embedding sustainability into projects COVER IMAGE The cover shows how collaborations and discussions with communities, 15 55 customers and partners worldwide ENERGY TRANSITION WORKING TOGETHER help Shell provide more and cleaner 16 Towards a low-carbon future 56 Living by our principles energy solutions. 18 Our work to address climate change 57 Environmental and social partners DIGITAL 24 Natural gas 60 Collaborations The Sustainability Report has moved to 25 Liquefied natural gas 61 Shell Foundation an online digital report 26 Research and development 62 Contractors and suppliers reports.shell.com. The digital version 28 Lower-carbon alternatives 63 Our people includes further information such as an interactive GRI index to enhance 64 Our business partners usability for and the experience of the 65 Tax and transparency readers of the report. In the event of 32 any conflict, discrepancy or MANAGING OPERATIONS inconsistency between the digital 33 Our activities in Nigeria 66 report and this hardcopy report of the 35 Oil sands DATA AND REPORTING Sustainability Report then the 36 Shales 67 Abour our reporting information contained in the digital report will prevail. This hardcopy 37 Decommissioning and restoration 68 Environmental data report is provided for the readers’ 38 Measuring the impact of earthquakes in 69 Social and safety data convenience only. Groningen 70 External Review Committee NEW LENS SCENARIOS CAUTIONARY NOTE (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in This publication contains data from The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling Shell’s New Lens Scenarios.
    [Show full text]
  • ALBIAN SANDS ENERGY INC. Stratus and Rockwell Ensure Always-On Availability of Asset Management System
    Software Solution Case Study | 1 ALBIAN SANDS ENERGY INC. Stratus and Rockwell ensure always-on availability of asset management system Albian Sands Energy Inc. runs the oil sands Quick Facts mining operation at the Solution Profile Muskeg River Mine • Oil sands operation that produces 155,000 barrels located 75 kilometers per day, supplying 10 percent of Canada’s oil needs north of Fort McMurray, • Critical solution for centrally managing maintenance Alberta, Canada. In and control of remote mining assets oil sands mining, a mix of oil and sand is removed from • Always-on availability of Rockwell Software just below the surface using shovels and trucks. This Maintenance Automation Control Center (RSMACC) material is mixed with warm water to separate the oil • Applications are installed, run, managed and accessed through a single virtual server, eliminating from the sand. the need to license, install and manage multiple copies as required in clustering and failover situations The oil sand operations At full production, the Muskeg River Mine produces 155,000 Products barrels per day (bpd) of bitumen, a naturally occurring thick • Stratus® everRun® software oil comprised mainly of hydrocarbons, for the Athabasca Oil Sands Project. The Muskeg River Mine and the Scotford Upgrader together comprise the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, a joint venture of Shell Canada Limited, Chevron Canada Limited (a wholly owned The problems managing subsidiary of ChevronTexaco Corp.) and Western Oil Sands Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) Inc. The amount of oil and oil-related products produced by Albian Sands needed a reliable and efficient way to maintain the Athabasca Oil Sand Project could fill one in three cars in its automation system at the processing facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Alberta Oil Sands Industry Quarterly Update
    ALBERTA OIL SANDS INDUSTRY QUARTERLY UPDATE WINTER 2013 Reporting on the period: Sep. 18, 2013 to Dec. 05, 2013 2 ALBERTA OIL SANDS INDUSTRY QUARTERLY UPDATE Canada has the third-largest oil methods. Alberta will continue to rely All about reserves in the world, after Saudi to a greater extent on in situ production Arabia and Venezuela. Of Canada’s in the future, as 80 per cent of the 173 billion barrels of oil reserves, province’s proven bitumen reserves are the oil sands 170 billion barrels are located in too deep underground to recover using Background of an Alberta, and about 168 billion barrels mining methods. are recoverable from bitumen. There are essentially two commercial important global resource This is a resource that has been methods of in situ (Latin for “in developed for decades but is now place,” essentially meaning wells are gaining increased global attention used rather than trucks and shovels). as conventional supplies—so-called In cyclic steam stimulation (CSS), “easy” oil—continue to be depleted. high-pressure steam is injected into The figure of 168 billion barrels TABLE OF CONTENTS directional wells drilled from pads of bitumen represents what is for a period of time, then the steam considered economically recoverable is left to soak in the reservoir for a All about the oil sands with today’s technology, but with period, melting the bitumen, and 02 new technologies, this reserve then the same wells are switched estimate could be significantly into production mode, bringing the increased. In fact, total oil sands Mapping the oil sands bitumen to the surface.
    [Show full text]
  • Canadian Oil Sands (Now Suncor Energy) Built a Mine and Upgrader North of Fort Mcmurray
    OIL SANDS INDUSTRY UPDATE Prepared by Alberta Economic Development June 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page WHAT’S NEW? ..........................................................................................................................................................1 1. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................................5 2. OIL SANDS INDUSTRY OVERVIEW.............................................................................................................6 2.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................6 2.2 OIL SANDS INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES..................................................................................................................7 2.3 FUTURE OIL SANDS EXPENDITURES .............................................................................................................23 2.4 CO-OPERATIVE INITIATIVES .........................................................................................................................25 3. OIL SANDS REGIONS ....................................................................................................................................28 3.1 THE WOOD BUFFALO REGION ......................................................................................................................28 3.2 COLD LAKE REGION.....................................................................................................................................30
    [Show full text]
  • FIFO in the Oil Sands: Fly-In/Fly-Out Operations in the RMWB Submitted To: Oil Sands Community Alliance (OSCA)
    Position Paper FIFO in the Oil Sands: Fly-In/Fly-Out Operations in the RMWB Submitted to: Oil Sands Community Alliance (OSCA) January 2018 Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary .................................................................. 1 2. Background and Purpose ......................................................... 3 3. Current State of FIFO ............................................................... 6 4. Rationale Behind FIFO ........................................................... 11 5. Investment by Industry ........................................................... 17 6. Local Economic Impacts ......................................................... 19 7. Other Considerations .............................................................. 20 Participating Companies • Suncor • Devon • Cenovus • Syncrude • Nexen • CNRL • Jacos • Imperial Oil • Connacher • ConocoPhillips 1. Executive Summary Purpose of this Paper FIFO-Based Projects are Predominantly in There is considerable discussion and debate in Remote Locations the Wood Buffalo region regarding the use of Most of the FIFO-based projects in the region are fly-in/fly-out (FIFO)-based operations. With the remote, located an average of 110 km from Fort increased use of FIFO, especially in relation to McMurray. The northern projects are an average of ongoing operations, the municipality and others in 100 km from the edge of Fort McMurray, while the the community are expressing concerns of potential southern projects are an average of 120 km. Drive effects from FIFO, including taking jobs away from times to these projects are correspondingly long. locals and limiting the region’s potential growth. Including the time for neighbourhood pickup and In response, the Oil Sands Community Alliance drop off routes and from the project gate to work (OSCA) has developed a discussion paper areas, one-way trips range from a minimum of one regarding the oil sands industry’s use of FIFO. and one-half hours to over three hours.
    [Show full text]
  • 2008 Annual Report and Form 20-F for the Year Ended December 31, 2008 Contact Information
    ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 20-F FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 DELIVERY & GROWTH REPORT ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 20-F FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 OUR BUSINESS With around 102,000 employees in more than 100 countries and DOWNSTREAM territories, Shell helps to meet the world’s growing demand for Our Oil Sands business, the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, extracts energy in economically, environmentally and socially bitumen – an especially thick, heavy oil – from oil sands in responsible ways. Alberta, western Canada, and converts it to synthetic crude oils that can be turned into a range of products. UPSTREAM Our Exploration & Production business searches for and recovers Our Oil Products business makes, moves and sells a range of oil and natural gas around the world. Many of these activities petroleum-based products around the world for domestic, are carried out as joint venture partnerships, often with national industrial and transport use. Its Future Fuels and CO2 business oil companies. unit develops biofuels and hydrogen and markets the synthetic fuel and products made from the GTL process. It also leads Our Gas & Power business liquefies natural gas and transports company-wide activities in CO2 management. With around it to customers across the world. Its gas to liquids (GTL) process 45,000 service stations, ours is the world’s largest single-branded turns natural gas into cleaner-burning synthetic fuel and other fuel retail network. products. It develops wind power to generate electricity and is involved in solar power technology. It also licenses our coal Our Chemicals business produces petrochemicals for industrial gasification technology, enabling coal to be used as a chemical customers.
    [Show full text]
  • NATIVE BASKETRY NEW ORLEANS W'ms
    ALBERTA LATINO CHICAGO NATIVE BASKETRY NEW ORLEANS W'ms. 40th Annual Smithsonian Foli<life Festival Alberta AT THE SMITHSONIAN Carriers of Culture LIVING NATIVE BASKET TRADITIONS Nuestra Musica LATINO CHICAGO Been in the Storm So Lon SPECIAL EVENING CONCERT SERIES Washington, D.C. june 3o-july n, 2006 The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival brings together exemplary practitioners of diverse traditions, both old and new, from communities across the United States and around the world. The goal of the traditions Festival is to strengthen and preserve these by presenting them on the National Mall, so that with the tradition-bearers and the public can connect and learn from one another, and understand cultural differences in a respectful way. Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage 750 9th Street NW, Suite 4100 Washington, D.C. 20560-0953 www.folklife.si.edu © 2006 Smithsonian Institution ISSN 1056-6805 Editor: Frank Proschan Art Director: Krystyn MacGregor Confair Production Manager: Joan Erdesky Graphic Designer: Zaki Ghul Design Interns: Annemarie Schoen and Sara Tierce-Hazard Printing: Stephenson Printing Inc., Alexandria, Virginia Smithsonian Folklife Festival The Festival is supported by federally appropriated funds; Smithsonian trust fijnds; contributions from governments, businesses, foundations, and individuals; in-kind assistance; and food, recording, and craft sales. General support for this year's programs includes the Music Performance Fund, with in-kind support for the Festival provided through Motorola, Nextel, WAMU-88.5 FM, WashingtonPost.com. Whole Foods Market. Pegasus Radio Corp., Icom America, and the Folklore Society of Greater Washington. The Festival is co-sponsored by the National Park Service.
    [Show full text]