Transporting bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands to refineries

Polaris Pipeline Expansion Project

Sending bitumen from Point A, Alberta’s oil sands, to Point B, oil refineries, is a simple concept but a complex practice.

That’s why the Polaris Pipeline Expansion Project is being completed in several phases. We’ll be there for the duration, handling engineering, procurement, and construction management. Inter Pipeline supplies the key diluent that thins bitumen (so it can be transported via pipeline). We’re working closely with them on our designs for the project.

The first phase of the project includes a new pump station near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, and a receiving station that delivers the diluting condensate to the Kearl Lake mine, near Fort McMurray, Alberta. So far, our work has included process design of the plant systems, and complete civil, structural, and mechanical design of the facilities. We’ve also designed process piping, electrical systems, instrumentation, and control and automation systems for the project.

All this work will help send thick, unprocessed bitumen from the source to the plants that convert it to fuel and petrochemicals.