Pierre River Mine Project

MINING AND PROCESSING ERCB SIRS 3 – 38
Section 4.1
Pierre River Mine Application in light of Muskeg River Mine’s challenges in
meeting existing approval conditions with a similar design.
Response 15b As outlined in the May 2009 Pierre River Mine, Supplemental Information,
Volume 1, SIR 159, several improvements have been made to the Muskeg River
Mine process in recent years to significantly improve solvent losses and achieve
regulatory compliance. These improvements will be applied to future designs,
including the Muskeg River Mine Expansion TRSU process starting up in 2010.
Shell is confident that, as design and operational experience grows, the Pierre
River Mine solvent losses will meet the current 4 vol/kvol requirement.
Question No. 16
Request Volume 1, Section 10.1, Page 10-85, Supplemental Information Responses.
Shell describes their development and investment philosophy. In Volume 1,
Section 1.2, Page 1-7, Supplemental Information Responses. Shell states,
“Although the overall scope of Shell’s development plans for the Pierre River
Mine and the Jackpine Mine Expansion remain unchanged, the timing of the
execution of certain approved Jackpine Mine and Muskeg River Mine facilities
has required some adjustment.”
16a Provide an updated integrated schedule for Jackpine Mine (JPM) Phase-1,
Muskeg River Mine (MRM) debottlenecking, Muskeg River Mine Expansion
(MRME), Jackpine Mine Expansion (JPME), and Pierre River Mine (PRM)
projects that includes production capacity, timelines for construction,
commissioning, and start-up.
Response 16a For the requested information, see the response to ERCB SIR 12.
Request 16b If an integrated schedule is not available, when will Shell commit to providing an
integrated schedule for JPM Phase-1, MRM debottlenecking, MRME, JPME, and
PRM projects that includes production capacity, timelines for construction,
commissioning, and start-up?
Response 16b Shell will provide updates to its plans for the Muskeg River Mine and Jackpine
Mine as part of the annual reporting to the Board, or when changes to the design
or operations scope necessitate the filing for amendments to the existing
approvals.
4-14 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
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