The Quickest “Zero to 400” in Oilfield History

One of Dover Operating Corp.’s biggest differences is our focus and motivation for being “on track” to build a world-class operation.

Dover began with bold aspirations: to move rapidly into production and to build quickly toward a target of 400,000 barrels per day. We have taken an enthusiastic, yet methodical approach, never losing sight of our target. With approvals for 150,000 bbl/d well in hand, we are pushing ahead to 400!

In our MacKay River Commercial Project, we expect to produce 150,000 bbl/d of bitumen; and in our Dover Commercial Project, we are targeting production of up to 250,000 bbl/d.

MacKay River Commercial Project (MRCP)

In December 2011, Dover received regulatory approval for the MRCP. Project construction on our first phase, which will produce 35,000 bbl/d beginning in 2014, is underway. With an ultimate design capacity of 150,000 bbl/d, the project is expected to recover 1.7 billion barrels of bitumen over its projected 45-year lifespan.

Located in northeast Alberta’s Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo about 30 kilometers northwest of Fort McMurray, the MRCP is being developed with a four-phase construction strategy:

  • Phase 1: 35,000 bbl/d (targeting 2015 start-up)
  • Phase 2: 40,000 bbl/d (targeting 2018 start-up)
  • Phase 3: 40,000 bbl/d (targeting 2020 start-up)
  • Phase 4: 35,000 bbl/d (targeting 2022 start-up)

For MRCP, Dover is using steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)—an enhanced, environmentally sensible thermal recovery technology for bitumen.

Dover Commercial Project (DCP)

Our second project is located approximately 95 kilometers northwest of Fort McMurray. Like the MRCP, the DCP will utilize SAGD technology and a phased construction strategy with an ultimate design production capacity of 250,000 bbl/d of bitumen.

The larger of Dover’s two projects, the DCP will recover an estimated four billion barrels of bitumen over its projected production lifetime of 50 years.

The DCP is currently in the final stages of the regulatory approval process.