Sandwell’s extensive background in engineering of bulk handling facilities for products such as iron ore, coal and industrial minerals has provided the required expertise for design of oil sands handling systems. Recent experience includes design of open pit truck dumps and crushing stations accepting product from 300 tonne trucks. Our experience in dredging and pumping of slurries for international marine projects and interface with recognized dredging specialists can be applied to investigating dredging/slurry pumping of oil sands.
For oil sands projects we have designed open pit truck dump systems, including crusher and hopper installations, for trucks in the 270 tonne class, conveyors with capacities up to 16,000 tonnes per hour and reclaim systems to 13,000 tonnes per hour. We have also provided specialist engineering input into investigation of dredging options at operating oil sands mines.
Sandwell also provides expertise in design of steam and power generation systems, general infrastructure development and can provide piping, electrical/instrumentation services in the process area.
Esso Resources Canada Ltd. Kearl Lake, Alberta
Development services
Both separately and as part of the Norswego Ltd. joint venture, Sandwell provided bulk handling expertise in the development phase of the 75,000 bbl/d OSLO Kearl Lake oil sands deposits. We assisted in developing capital and operating cost estimates, investigated conveying/mobile crusher alternatives, frost blasting, optimizing mine facilities, and determining location of construction material sources.
Syncrude Canada Ltd., Fort McMurray, Alberta
Development services
As a member of the Norswego Ltd. joint venture project team, Sandwell provided project management and materials handling expertise in the development of engineering design specifications for the North Mine expansion project. The scope of work included preparing detailed mining equipment specifications (shovels, trucks, conveyors, crushers, draglines, reclaimers and support equipment) for overburden and ore handling.
