Exploration & Production | Oil Sands | Production Rates | Forecast - Production

Canadian Natural Resources Completes Coker Plant Expansion Early

Share Print Bookmark    |    Friday,September 12,2014

Canadian Natural Resources Limited has provided an update on the status of the Company's Horizon Oil Sands project and its recent plant shutdown for routine maintenance and the tie-in of additional coker capacity.

On September 10, 2014, the expansion of the Coker Plant (Phase 2A), was safely completed and production of synthetic crude oil (SCO) recommenced with a targeted increase in production capacity to 127,000 bbl/d, an increase from the previous production capacity of 115,000 bbl/d.

Horizon production was taken offline for approximately 25 days commencing August 16, 2014 to complete this tie-in work and to perform routine maintenance. Canadian Natural targets to be within previously issued full year 2014 guidance of 109,000 bbl/d to 115,000 bbl/d.

The coker tie-in and the associated increase in coker capacity was originally scheduled to be completed in mid-2015; however, due to strong construction performance and the early completion of the coker installation, Canadian Natural accelerated the tie-in to mid-2014.

Phase 2A is one step in a staged expansion that will bring Horizon production capacity to 250,000 bbl/d. The next step, Phase 2B, is targeted to be completed in late 2016 and will add 45,000 bbl/d of production capacity followed by Phase 3 which will add 80,000 bbl/d of production capacity targeted for late 2017. Expansion activities remain on schedule and within sanctioned cost estimates.

Canadian Natural is a senior oil and natural gas production company, with continuing operations in its core areas located in Western Canada, the U.K. portion of the North Sea and Offshore Africa.