Fieldbus-based automation solution for Shell

I/A Series systems are integrated with Foxboro and third-party instrumentation at one of the world's largest Foundation fieldbus installations, the Athabasca Oil Sands Project for Shell Canada

In its role as automation supplier for the Athabasca Oil Sands Project in Alberta, the Foxboro Canada unit of Invensys plc has successfully implemented the latest I/A Series automation technology throughout both the Scotford Upgrader, located north of Fort Saskatchewan, and the Muskeg River Mine, located north of Fort McMurray.

Two of the main production units at the Upgrader - the Hydrogen Manufacturing Plant and the two Sulphur Recovery trains - utilise advanced Foundation fieldbus technology to help reduce installation, operations, and maintenance costs.

The I/A Series system in these two units hosts approximately one thousand Foundation fieldbus devices, making the Scotford Upgrader one of the world's largest Foundation fieldbus installations.

These devices include a mix of Foxboro pressure transmitters, Foxboro and Rosemount temperature transmitters, Yokogawa vortex flowmeters, and Fisher postioners, all residing on common Foundation fieldbus segments.

FoxCAETM computer aided engineering software was utilised to provide a consistent configuration environment across all Foundation fieldbus instrumentation.

The individual fieldbus segments are integrated into the I/A Series system via Foxboro's advanced remote I/O subsystem and high-speed Ethernet "home run" network.

"The successful completion of this major Foundation fieldbus-based I/A Series automation system for the world-scale Athabasca Oil Sands Project clearly demonstrates Invensys leadership in advanced automation technology and our capability to deliver open fieldbus-based automation solutions on any scale," commented Sasan Goodarzi, president of the Manufacturing and Process Solutions business unit of Invensys.

Now in operation, the Athabasca Oil Sands Project was one of the largest mine and hydrocarbon construction projects on the planet.

It is the first new fully integrated mining and upgrading oil sands project in 25 years.

Upon achievement of full production in late 2003, it will supply 10 percent of Canadian oil needs.

The project consists of two main components: the Muskeg River Mine and the Scotford Upgrader.

The Upgrader uses hydrogen-addition technology to upgrade the high viscosity "extra heavy" crude oil from the Muskeg River Mine into a wide range of premium quality, low sulphur and low viscosity synthetic crude oils.

The Athabasca Oil Sands Project is a joint venture between Shell Canada Limited (60%), Chevron Canada Limited (20%), and Western Oil Sands (20%).

As the majority owner, Shell is the overall project administrator as well as operator of the new Scotford Upgrader, which is located adjacent to the existing Shell Scotford Refinery.

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