Advanced Process Control for Oil Sands Operations

An Oil Sands facility was experiencing significant process variability across key units, limiting throughput and forcing operators to run conservatively to maintain stability. Manual control strategies and uncoordinated unit operations made it difficult to respond effectively to disturbances, resulting in lost production opportunities and inconsistent performance.

• Increased throughput by enabling operators to safely run closer to process constraints
• Reduced process variability, improving overall stability and predictability
• Enabled smoother operation and faster response to disturbances
• Reduced the need for conservative operating margins, unlocking latent production capacity

By applying Advanced Process Control, the facility achieved more stable, efficient operations while maximizing production potential without compromising safety or reliability.