Page 19 - Suncor 360 - October 2014

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OCTOBER 2014
360

ALBERTA

Joslyn Fort Hills

Firebag
MacKay Syncrude

River

Steepbank /

Millennium

Fort McMurray
Edmonton

Calgary

Operated

Non operated

synergies and weeding out duplication, optimal from one perspective might be best

they uncover solutions more cost-effective overall. Some options may have been
and efficient than each group would be dismissed early on because they weren’t

able to come up with on its own.
seen as winners. By taking a holistic
approach, we can sometimes make one

“We’re responsible for planning the plus one equal more than two.”
long-term growth and sustainment of our

Oil Sands and In Situ businesses,” says That is the case with her team’s search for a
Chris. “A big part of this is doing more solution at the North Steepbank Extension

work in the early stages of development to Mine area. They are looking at a number of
better define problems, flesh out possibilities for when the mine is no longer

alternatives and find the best solution.”
producing. Currently, the mine produces
155,000 barrels of bitumen a day. Margo
It works like this: Regional Development
and her colleagues are considering ideas
first analyses a problem or opportunity to that may have been dismissed before the Chris Grant

gain a deep understanding of its underlying days of Regional Development.
risks. They then define business objectives our overall water strategy – received the

and identify a range of possible solutions. Chris adds one of the benefits of good 2014 President’s Award at the Canadian
Finally, they choose the best alternative planning is the liberty to take the time Association of Petroleum Producers’

from the short-listed options.
needed for a prudent analysis. “When Responsible Canadian Energy Awards.
you’re focused on day-to-day operations,
Margo Schellenberg, director of oil sands
it’s difficult to step back and see the big While Regional Development is still
development and a member of the Regional picture, because the urgent will always relatively young, the group is learning every
Development leadership team, says one of
dominate the long term until we’re backed day, and people now understand why the
the department’s benefits is that it brings into the next corner.”
department is crucial, says Chris.
together many perspectives to find a

solution that exceeds the sum of its parts.
He points to some early successes: “In the beginning, it felt like pushing a
rope, but now it’s much more like the rope
Development work on autonomous haul
“Before Regional Development was systems – which include haul trucks that run is being pulled by our clients,” he explains.
created, it was difficult for people to work
remotely – has led to successful field tests of “People are starting to realize the benefits
outside of their area’s silo and consider this technology. Similarly, re-use of tailings of good development planning.”
how an option that appeared less than
water in our In Situ business – an element of