Shell announced it has successfully completed a major growth project at its Scotford Refinery near Edmonton, Alberta that will increase hydrocracker production capacity by 20%. The project was completed through the debottlenecking of the hydrocracker, a core refining unit for making transportation fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel. The debottlenecking process replaces vessels, compressors and feed pumps to allow a greater volume of heavy crude oil to be processed.

“The completion of this upgrade will enhance the performance and competitiveness of Scotford’s integrated operations, which helps secure our position as an industry leader in this important region,” said Lori Ryerkerk, Executive Vice President for Shell’s global Manufacturing business. “This investment, in combination with other recent strategic investments, is a clear demonstration of Shell’s ongoing commitment to our refining and chemicals portfolio.”

The project will equate to a 14,000 barrel per day increase in the unit’s production and enable Scotford, one of North America’s most efficient and modern refineries, to deliver more high-quality diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline to customers.

An integrated site with a bitumen upgrader, oil refinery, chemical plant and carbon-capture-and-storage unit, Scotford produces a full range of products for the Western Canadian market.

The project received a final investment decision in January 2015. It created 1,000 construction positions in the Edmonton area to install the new and modified equipment.

“Scotford is Shell’s oil refining hub in western Canada. The enhancement of our hydrocracker increases our ability to process crude oil from Fort McMurray and strengthens our refining capability in Alberta,” said Achim Schempp, General Manager for Scotford Manufacturing site. “It has been 17 months of hard work to complete this project. I’m proud of the collaboration that delivered this ambitious project safely, on time and on budget.”

About Shell Scotford

- Shell Scotford is one of North America’s most efficient and modern hydrocarbon processing complexes. The Upgrader – a Shell-operated joint venture with Chevron Canada Ltd. and Marathon Oil Canada Corp. – processes 255,000 bbl/d of bitumen and the Refinery – a 100% Shell-owned business – processes 100,000 bbl/d of crude oil. Scotford makes a wide range of products, including a variety of fuels and feedstock for chemical plants.
- The debottlenecking process will allow an increase in production in the hydrocracker unit – a core refining unit for making transportation fuels – equivalent to 650,000 litres of jet fuel and 3 million litres of diesel per day.
- Shell Scotford is also the location of the Quest Carbon and Capture (CCS) Project. Quest is the world's first CCS project in the oil sands, and to date it has successfully captured and stored over 1 million tonnes of CO2.
- Shell Scotford employs around 1,300 staff and 700 long-term contractors plus another 10,000 short-term contractors each year.
- Shell Scotford is one of several integrated complexes that make up Shell's Global Manufacturing business. Other such integrated facilities operate in Singapore, Europe and the US Gulf Coast.
- Shell Global Manufacturing is part of an integrated value chain that converts crude oil into high-value products, which are moved and sold around the world for domestic, industrial and transport use.
- Shell has made strategic investments that grow the value and competitiveness of our manufacturing facilities and strengthen our presence in key markets. Recent investments include:
. April 2015 – Upgrade of the Singapore ethylene cracker complex (ECC) on Bukom Island, the company’s largest refining-chemicals integrated site, boosting production by more than 20%
. November 2015 – FID announcement to build a new alpha olefins (AO) unit at Geismar, Louisiana chemical plant, making the site the largest AO producer in the world
. December 2015 – FID announcement to build a new solvent de-asphalter unit at the Pernis, Netherlands refinery, the largest integrated refinery complex in Europe
- Today, our global manufacturing network includes interests in 23 refineries with the capacity to process more than 3.1 million barrels of crude oil per day (Shell share). About 35% of our refining capacity is in Europe and Africa, 39% in the Americas and 26% in Asia and Oceania.
- Our integrated global business helps us to share infrastructure and processing expertise and improves access to a variety of feedstocks. This gives Shell a competitive advantage over stand-alone refining companies.

About Shell Canada Limited

Shell has been operating in Canada for over 100 years and employs over 8,000 people across the country. Our business is providing energy to Canadians and people around the world, and we are one of the few truly integrated oil and gas companies in Canada. This means we do everything from exploring for oil and gas, production, refining, the manufacturing process, and delivery to our customers at over 1,200 retail stations across Canada.

About Royal Dutch Shell plc

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 70 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects.