You’re getting ready for your big summer road trip. You’ve ironed your speedos, taken the cat to the sitter and stocked up on bug spray. Suddenly you have a chilling thought: Is your car going to be up to the trip? Does the oil need changing? Will the tires hold up? What about the brakes, belts and hoses?
Suncor's recent six-week turnaround involved more than 4,000 people.
A turnaround is preventative maintenance geared toward keeping our facilities in top shape so they can continue delivering a reliable supply of energy. A turnaround doesn’t mean our facilities are in bad shape, but just like a well-maintained car will last longer and get you there in one piece, good maintenance vastly extends the life and reliability of our operations. And, just like a well-maintained car, a well-maintained facility uses less fuel and has lower emissions.
Our recent turnaround, of course, was just a bit larger and more complex than the typical 100-point car inspection and tune up. Just how large and complex was it?
The turnaround lasted just over six weeks and involved more than 4,000 people who put in 1.2 million hours to pull it off. Workers completed a total of 682 piping jobs and 87 substation maintenance jobs. Equipment that underwent maintenance included:
• 80 vessels;
• 101 exchangers;
• 300 control valves;
• 141 pressure safety valves;
• 316 block valves; and
• 260 instruments.
During the course of the six-week turnaround, the crude oil equivalent of approximately 10 per cent of Canada’s energy supply was removed from the supply chain. Meaning that there’s great incentive for us to get the turnaround done safely and on time.
Planning, preparation and flawless execution are key - just like getting the car ready before hitting the highway for the big trip.
