Pierre River Mine Project

MINING AND PROCESSING ERCB SIRS 3 – 38
Question No. 24
Section 4.1
Shell is confident that the steps outlined in the response to ERCB SIR 23a will
result in continued recovery improvement toward meeting the requirements of
ID-2001-7 on an annual basis.
Request Volume 1, Section 10.2, Page 10-126, Supplemental Information Responses.
Shell states, “The densities used in these material balances are solvent = 650
kg/m3 whole bitumen = 1,000 kg/m3 asphaltene = 1.050 kg/m3.”
24a The densities used in these material balances are not consistent with the densities
used at Muskeg River Mine. Clarify the difference in densities.
Response 24a The densities used in the application are design values, not actuals. The design
values were selected to support equipment sizing. For design purposes, these
values are not significantly different from the actual values used for reporting
purposes for the Muskeg River Mine i.e., Muskeg River Mine whole bitumen =
1,007 kg/m 3 and solvent density = 657 kg/m 3 . Any consequences resulting from
the differences between the actual values and design values are well within
normal design margins.
Request 24b Provide the density for the final bitumen product.
Response 24b The final bitumen density (de-asphaltened bitumen) is 995 kg/m 3 .
Question No. 25
Request Volume 1, Section 7.1, Pages 7-11 and 7-12, Figures 9-1 and 9-2,
Supplemental Information Responses; Volume 1, Section 10.1, Pages 10-127
and 10-128, Figure 197-1 and 197-2, Supplemental Information Responses.
The following clarifications are required in regards to the provided site-wide
material balances:
25a Provide corrected material balances on the calendar day basis for:
i Deaeration and Froth Screening: Solids balance
ii. Froth Treatment: Solids balance, Solvent balance
iii. Tailings Solvent Recovery Unit: Solvent balance
iv. Asphaltene Recovery Unit: Water balance, maltene balance, asphaltene
balance, solids balance
4-22 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
CR029