Scotford Refinery

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, Shell's Scotford Refinery is one of North America's most efficient and modern refineries, and is the first to exclusively process synthetic crude from Alberta's oil sands.

Location: Approximately 40 km northeast of Edmonton, Alberta in Strathcona County

Employees: More than 750 full-time staff and long-term contractors at the Scotford Refinery and Upgrader

Capacity: 100,000 barrels of synthetic crude oil daily

Products: Gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, propane, butane and extracted sulphur

Scotford’s mission is to produce quality products and meet customer needs while practicing and recognizing our responsibilities to protect health, safety and the environment.

Opened in 1984, Shell’s Scotford Refinery processes Alberta synthetic crude into products such as gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, propane and butane for customers across Canada. The refinery also supplies benzene to the Shell Chemicals plant located adjacent to our facility.

Shell continues to invest in its facilities to ensure they comply with all new federal regulations and environmental best practices. The Scotford Refinery was part of Shell's $400 million investment to meet new federal regulations to reduce sulphur in on-road diesel by more than 90 per cent from previous levels.

Together the Scotford Refinery and Scotford Upgrader form Shell Scotford. Shell Scotford is proud to play an important role in Shell Canada’s operations and in helping meet the energy needs of Canadians.

Shell's Scotford Upgrader is designed to produce over 155,000 barrels per day of synthetic crude oil, while the Refinery processes approximately 100,000 barrels per day to produce a range of refined products, such as gasoline, jet fuel and various petrochemicals.

Refining is a general term that refers to a range of manufacturing processes that turn crude oil into useful products such as gasoline, jet fuel and various petrochemicals. Scotford’s refining processes include distillation and hydrocracking, and hydrotreating and reforming.

Started up in 1984, the Scotford Refinery consistently rates as one of North America’s most efficient refineries, producing some of North America’s lowest sulphur gasoline and diesel fuel.

The following products are produced at Scotford:

Low Sulphur Gasoline

Shell Canada refines only low sulphur gasoline, which contains approximately five parts-per-million sulphur content. To ensure that only Shell stations and customers receive Formula Shell gasoline, Shell injects its Formula Shell^TM additive package at the truck loading facility, instead of at the refinery.

Distillates

Distillates include different grades of diesel fuel, furnace oils and jet fuel. These fuels are called distillates because they are drawn out when crude is distilled, or separated, in a distillation tower at the refinery.

Diesel

Shell Scotford refines only ultra low sulphur diesel, which contains less than 10 parts-per-million sulphur content.

In 2006 the Scotford Refinery was part of Shell's $400 million investment to meet new federal regulations to reduce sulphur in on-road diesel by more than 90 per cent from previous levels.

Shell supplies different grades and types of diesel fuel to Shell-branded as well as other retail, cardlock and bulk agents across Canada. Diesel fuel is commonly used for commercial road transportation, public transportation, industrial applications, and farming.

Aviation Turbine Fuel (Jet Fuel)

More information on Shell Aviation - opens in new window products or aviation site locations.

Liquified Petroleum Gas

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is better known by the chemical names butane and propane. LPG is produced as a result of refining crude oil.

Propane

Propane is used for residential and commercial heating, automotive propane and industrial fuel applications. Shell markets propane to retail, wholesale and industrial consumers.

Butane

Butane is primarily used for seasonal gasoline blending and is stored under pressure at the refinery. A portion is sold as industrial feedstock for other industries.

Pure Chemicals

Benzene

Benzene is a clear liquid formed by natural processes and human activities. Benzene is a natural part of crude oil and most benzene is extracted during the refining process.

Community Connections newsletter issue 1, Q1, 2009 (PDF, 531 KB)

Community Connections newsletter issue 2, Q2, 2009 (PDF, 521 KB)

Community Connections newsletter issue 3, Q3, 2009 (PDF, 469 KB)

Community Connections newsletter issue 4, Q4, 2009 (PDF, 3131 KB)

Community Connections newsletter issue 5, Q1, 2010 (PDF, 1030 KB)

Community Connections newsletter issue 6, Q2, 2010 (PDF, 1995 KB)

Community Connections newsletter issue 7, Q3, 2010 (PDF, 1296 KB)

Emergency response and safety are important parts of operations at each Shell facility. Our goals are no harm to people, to protect the environment and to minimize pollution. To achieve our goals, we have a systematic approach to emergency response and safety designed to protect our employees and the community.

Emergency Contacts

Call (780) 992-3666 to report an emergency at the Scotford Refinery of Upgrader.

Our Approach

Shell’s Scotford Refinery and Upgrader have extensive safety devices in place to eliminate, reduce or control the potential hazards surrounding a large upgrading and petrochemical operation. The facilities have a sequence of built-in safeguards or barriers designed to prevent an incident from occurring. However, in the event of an incident, we also have an effective emergency response plan in place to help us to manage all risks and protect the community and our employees.

Shell Scotford has a strong commitment to health and safety through the careful design of our facilities, employee training, and having the resources to respond quickly to emergencies.

Shell Scotford’s Emergency Response Team is extensively trained and can be quickly mobilized to respond to an incident, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In addition to Shell Scotford’s on-site Emergency Response Team, Shell also has access to a strong national network of experts that can be called upon to assist.

Mutual Aid

Scotford is an active member of Northeast Regional Community Awareness and Emergency Response (NR CAER) - opens in new window. This organization brings together local and municipal response groups to assist each other in situations that are beyond the capabilities of an individual member company or municipality. Planning and cooperation are critical to the success of NR CAER, as are joint committees and regular training exercises.

The NR CAER update line is a call-in system that provides latest status on industrial site activities at 1 866-653-9959.

Transportation Emergencies

Shell transports large quantities of what are defined under legislation as "Dangerous Goods" primarily because of our products’ flammable nature. Through a specially trained and equipped Scotford group called SERTS – Shell Emergency Response Team System, we are prepared to deal with transportation emergencies that might arise. This group has responded to incidents throughout Western Canada.

Shell Scotford depends on highly skilled and dedicated people to ensure upgrader and refinery equipment and processes operate safely and effectively.

Together, the Scotford Refinery and Upgrader employ about 750 full-time and contract employees whose responsibilities range from:

• Operations to engineering
• Maintenance to administration
• Engineers, technologists, plant operators
• Environmental, safety, health experts and chemists
• Purchasing agents, accountants, and computer analysts
• Welders and other trades people

At Scotford, all these groups work together to ensure we achieve our main goal – operating a facility that continues to produce quality products safely and in an environmentally friendly manner.

Shell recruits from the local community and each year provides both summer and co-op employment for students enrolled at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (N.A.I.T.), University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan College.

For information on Shell’s new graduate recruitment program, please visit our Campus Recruiting pages.

For more information on employment opportunities at Shell’s Scotford Refinery and with Shell across Canada, see our Jobs & Careers page.