Total E&P Canada and ConocoPhillips Achieve First Steam at Surmont 2

Together, Total E&P Canada and ConocoPhillips have achieved a significant milestone at the Surmont oil sands project with the on-schedule start of first steam at Phase 2 on May 29, 2015.

Surmont uses steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) to recover bitumen. This technique requires the reservoir to be heated with steam to allow the oil to flow. First steam is a significant step toward production, or first oil, expected by third quarter this year.

Production will ramp-up through 2017, adding approximately 118,000 barrels of oil per day (BOD) gross capacity. Total gross capacity for Surmont 1 and 2 is expected to reach 150,000 BOD.

The Surmont project is located in the Athabasca Region of northeastern Alberta, approximately 63 kilometers southeast of Fort McMurray. Surmont is operated by ConocoPhillips under a 50/50 joint venture agreement with Total.