ALBERTA, CANADA, May 31, 2013 --GE's (NYSE: GE) produced water evaporation technology has been chosen by Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. for its West Ells project in Ft. McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The system will treat de-oiled produced water, boiler and heat recovery steam generator blowdown and brackish makeup water to produce a high-quality distillate suitable for use as feedwater for conventional drum boilers.
The steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) project will initially produce 10,000 barrels per day (bpd) of bitumen -- 5,000 bpd for each of the first two phases -- and by using GE's produced water evaporation process, will recycle 98 percent of the wastewater produced by the heavy oil production technique. Sunshine expects its West Ells site to eventually produce greater than 100,000 bpd of bitumen.
Sunshine continues a trend of oil producers choosing GE's evaporative technology to treat and recycle SAGD produced water, enabling them to minimize makeup water consumption and comply with the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board regulations and directives pertaining to water use.
The Canadian Oil Sands have emerged as a critical resource in the world oil market producing 1.6 million barrels per day (MMbpd) of heavy oil or bitumen in 2011. This is up 13 percent from 2010 and the growth is forecast to continue reaching 3.3 MMbpd by 2020 and 5.4 MMbpd in 2045, according to the Canadian Energy Research Institute.
"As projects in Alberta's oil sands continue to grow, so does the potential for production activities to produce large quantities of wastewater," said Yuvbir Singh, general manager, engineered systems -- water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. "Developers of oil sands resources are increasingly turning to GE's evaporative and zero-liquid discharge technologies to address this critical issue."
About Sunshine Oilsands Ltd.
Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. (the “corporation” or “Sunshine”) is a Calgary-based public company, listed on the SEHK since March 1, 2012, and the Toronto Stock Exchange since November 16, 2012. Sunshine is focused on the development of its significant holdings of oil sands leases in the Athabasca oil sands region. The corporation owns 100 percent of approximately 1.1 million acres of oil sands leases. The corporation is currently focused on executing milestone undertakings in the West Ells project area, where first steam is scheduled for the third quarter of 2013. West Ells has an initial production target rate of 5,000 barrels per day, which will be followed immediately by an approved expansion to a planned production capacity of 10,000 barrels per day in early 2014. In addition to West Ells activities, Sunshine is progressing regulatory approvals for two additional 10,000 barrels per day projects, one in Thickwood and one in Legend.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar, biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Power & Water’s six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy, Thermal Products and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.
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