THE GLOBE&MAIL (CANADA): Repairs cut Athabasca oil sands output: “Yesterday, Shell Canada Ltd. and Western Oil Sands Inc., both of Calgary and two of the Athabasca project partners, said one of two RHC trains at the upgrader was moving back toward full production when the tubing leak was detected.” (ShellNews.net) 22 Dec 04

Canadian Press

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - Page B5

CALGARY -- The Athabasca Oil Sands Project will continue to lose production through to the end of January as more repairs are needed on the Scotford upgrader at Fort Saskatchewan, northeast of Edmonton.

It's the second extension of the repairs that began at the site on Oct. 19, when a catalyst pump at the upgrader failed, forcing the shutdown of a residue hydrocracker, or RHC.

Repairs on the original problem were completed in late November but a tubing leak was detected in one of the aerial coolers on Dec. 8, forcing another shutdown.

Yesterday, Shell Canada Ltd. and Western Oil Sands Inc., both of Calgary and two of the Athabasca project partners, said one of two RHC trains at the upgrader was moving back toward full production when the tubing leak was detected.

Subsequent inspections determined that five of the coolers on the RHC train "require extensive repairs to ensure the integrity of these assets," the companies said.

The second train continues in full service, allowing the upgrader to maintain about 65 per cent of full production volume, while producing more heavy products in the overall mix. The upgrader and the Muskeg River mine, about 75 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alta., make up the project.