While Tulsa-based Williams Cos. is in the midst of a merger that has upset Tulsa leaders over the possible loss of workers to Dallas, the company announced the startup of a second offgas liquids extracton plant in Canada. It is considered to be a key asset in the company’s Canadian midstream and petchem complex and according to an announcement, significantly reduces emissions in the oil sands production process.
The plant will serve an upgrader facility north of Fort McMurray, Alberta and is designed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by nearly 200,000 tons a year. It will also increase by 60 percent the amount of NGLs produced by Williams in Canada to a total of nearly 40,000 barrels a day.
“This new offgas plant at the upgrader is helping the environment and creating value from what was previously a low-value oil sands resource,” said David Chappell, president of Williams Energy Canada. “It adds to our world-class, long-life complex of assets with a highly sustainable competitive advantage in a key North American energy hub.”
The company’s two offgas processing plants in Canada will eventually reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 500,000 tons. That’s equal to taking 105,000 cars off the road every year and equal to the total yearly energy needs of 45,000 homes.
