Page 6 - Suncor 360 - Summer 2017

04
SUMMER 2017
360
FEATURE
Through the oil sands of time
FROM OUR OPENING DAY IN 1967 TO OUR UPCOMING GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY, IT’S BEEN AN ACTION-PACKED 50 YEARS.
1967
Suncor pioneers development in the oil sands with a $250-million plant. “This is a historic day for the province of Alberta,” said Premier Ernest Manning at the grand opening of Great Canadian Oil Sands (GCOS).
1968
First oil ows down the Interprovincial Pipe Line from Fort McMurray, Alta. to Sarnia, Ont.
1969
Natural gas is brought in for fuelling the plant, increasing reliability.
2001
Millennium is commissioned. The expansion to mining, extraction, upgrading and supporting infrastructure doubles production capacity to 225,000 barrels per day.
1971
Reclamation starts at Oil Sands.
1972
Average production is 49,500 barrels per day.
2006
Suncor sells its billionth barrel of oil sands crude.
2004
Firebag opens.
2009
Spending with Aboriginal companies in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo surpasses $1 billion mark.
2002
MacKay River begins production.
2010
Our rst tailings pond becomes Wapisiw Lookout.
2011
A nodosaur fossil is discovered in the mine at Base Plant.
The ve-millionth tree is planted at Oil Sands as part of the reclamation process.
1998
Steepbank Mine opens. Over the next eight years, mining personnel moves 466 million tonnes of oil sands.
2012
North Steepbank Mine extension opens, a month ahead of schedule.
1997
We produce more than 100,000 barrels of oil in 24 hours for the rst time.
2013
Suncor celebrates the grand opening of the Nikanotee fen, one of the rst man-made fens ever created.