Operator: Strathcona Resources Ltd.
Facility Licence: F-32143
Location: 12-28-064-04W4
Field: Tucker Lake | AER Field Centre: Bonnyville
Regulator: Alberta Energy Regulator (Directive 056) Strath IAR_22145257_256 (1)
Project Overview
Strathcona Resources has filed a Directive 056 licence amendment to install additional electric pumps at its Tucker Lake multi-well bitumen battery (F-32143). The amendment is a capacity and reliability expansion at an existing facility, not a new build. The filing reflects a response to increasing fluid handling requirements driven by continued drilling and production activity in the Tucker Lake area.
What Is Changing
The amendment authorizes the installation of a new pumo making a total of 10 electric pumps with a combined installed power of 7,454 kW, alongside 5 electric compressors totaling 3,808 kW. There is no increase in flaring or venting, and emissions remain within existing regulatory limits. All environmental, noise, and safety directives are met under current AER standards Strath IAR_22145257_256 (1).
Why the Pump Addition Is Needed
Analysis of wells drilled by Strathcona Resources through 2025 shows sustained development in and around Section 28, Township 64, Range 4, W4, directly aligned with the battery’s legal location and field designation. As additional wells are brought online, the facility experiences:
- Higher total fluid volumes (oil/bitumen + produced water)
- Increased water handling demand, consistent with mature bitumen development
- Operational bottlenecks at existing pump capacity thresholds
The pump addition addresses these constraints by de-bottlenecking inlet handling, improving uptime, and supporting steady production without requiring a new facility licence.
Facility Design & Operating Context
- Facility Type: Bitumen battery – multiwell
- Licensed Inlet Rates:
- Oil/Bitumen: 5,562 m³/d
- Water: 21,552 m³/d
- Raw Gas: 275 ×10³ m³/d
- Sulphur Inlet: 2.0 t/d
- H₂S Management: Non-regenerative sweetening with subsurface acid gas disposal
- Flaring/Venting: None (0.00)
- Noise: Predicted 38.6 dBA at nearest residence (below 40 dBA nighttime limit) Strath IAR_22145257_256 (1)
Development Cadence Implications
The pump addition fits a manufacturing-style development cadence:
- Wells drilled and tied in across the Tucker Lake area
- Rising produced fluids (especially water) increase load on the battery
- Facility expansion via pump additions maintains throughput and reliability
- No change to footprint or emissions profile, enabling faster regulatory approval
This approach allows Strathcona to scale production incrementally, aligning surface infrastructure with subsurface development timing.
Commercial & Operational Significance
The amendment signals:
- Confidence in continued production from existing well inventory
- Electrification of surface operations, reducing emissions intensity
- Near- to mid-term service demand for electrical systems, pump optimization, instrumentation, and maintenance
- A stable, long-life asset rather than short-cycle development
Bottom Line
The Tucker Lake pump addition is a targeted, low-risk infrastructure upgrade designed to support ongoing well development and rising fluid volumes. It reflects a disciplined strategy: optimize existing assets, maintain regulatory compliance, and sustain production growth without expanding surface footprint.
