Syncrude expected to get back to full production in September

Suncor Energy Inc. says production at the Syncrude oilsands complex is expected to ramp up to full production in early to mid-September after a power disruption in June that shut down operations.

The company, which holds a 58.7 per cent stake in the partnership, says a preliminary investigation indicates the disruption was caused by a transformer malfunction the cut power on June 20.

It says power and steam systems have been restored and the assessment and repair for the transformer is underway.

One coker, producing approximately 150,000 barrels per day, is expected to return to service during the second half of July, while a second coker, producing approximately 100,000 bpd, is expected to return to service in August.

However, work on Syncrude's third coker is expected to take longer. Syncrude is considering advancing some of the planned maintenance for this coker that had been scheduled for this fall and next spring to mitigate the impact.

Suncor says pipeline shipments of treated product are estimated to be approximately 60 per cent to 70 per cent of capacity for August before ramping up to full production in early to mid-September.