Actuators for ‘clean’ oil processing plant in Canada
21/10/2008
Rotork enjoys a long association with the Canadian oil sands industry, which is recognised as the largest single petrochemicals resource on the North American continent. Over the years thousands of Rotork valve actuators of all descriptions have been supplied to the industry for the processing and transportation of this valuable resource.
One of the latest Rotork contracts involves 180 GP and CP range heavy duty pneumatic actuators supplied to Mogas Valves for the first phase of the Shell Scotford Upgrader Expansion Project. The Scotford Upgrader, which is situated next to Shell Canada’s Scotford Refinery, near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, uses hydrogen-addition technology to upgrade the high viscosity heavy crude oil (bitumen) from the Muskeg River Mine into a wide range of synthetic crude oils.
The process has significant environmental advantages, introducing dramatically lower levels of sulphur dioxide emissions and producing synthetic crude oils which enable refiners to manufacture clean, high quality products, including petrol and diesel, with low levels of aromatics, particulates and sulphur. The expansion project will create a 60% production capacity increase when completed in 2010 as well as significant new employment opportunities in the area.