Honeywell Process Solutions announced in June that it had been selected by Suncor Energy to provide automation systems for the multibillion-dollar Fort Hills Oil Sands project in Alberta, Canada. Honeywell will supply technology to integrate the site’s control and safety systems, manage alarms, and provide advanced simulation software that enables critical operations planning and operator training.
As the Main Automation Contractor (MAC), Honeywell said it will play a key role in helping the facility achieve its future productivity and operational efficiency goals. The facility is expected to be operational in late 2017.
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Honeywell Process Solutions’ automation contract for the Fort Hills project will include process control software, safety systems, alarm management and advanced simulation software.
“Honeywell has the expertise to fully integrate this project’s assets, from monitors and sensors in the field, to system controls, to planning and logistics,” said Frank Whitsura, vice president, Honeywell Process Solutions. “Suncor will also be able to use our innovative technology to run a wide range of simulations that will help maximize the efficiency of the operations.”
In a related development, Edmonton, Canada-based Aecon Group announced that it was awarded a mining contract with an estimated value of $123 million by Fort Hills Energy L.P. for mine-site development at the Fort Hills project. Work under the contract was expected to start soon and is projected to be complete in the second quarter of 2016. No additional details of the contract were provided.
Site construction at Fort Hills began in 2008 at which time Ledcor, a diversified construction and mining services company, was awarded a contract to install pilings for the project’s wastewater treatment plant. Construction resumed in April 2012 after the project was put on hold in 2008. Ledcor said it also has provided pipeline and conduits, mechanical, civil, structural and architectural, electrical, and instrumentation services for the early works site infrastructure build out, which included raw water intake, water treatment and wastewater treatment plants, natural gas conditioning, electrical power distribution system, utility pipelines, and fiber optics.
