High Quality Housing

When Husky Energy and BP PLC (BP) partnered to develop their Sunrise Energy Project, 60 kilometres northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, one of the first things the companies realized they needed during the first phase of the $2.5 billion project was sturdy housing.

With a world-class reservoir containing 3.7 billion barrels of proved, probable and possible reserves (0.24 billion proved, 1.78 billion probable, and 1.68 possible) at the site, dozens of workers will require accommodations during the early stages of development and many more as the Sunrise project progresses.

Because the project is located in a harsh setting where temperatures can play a major factor in worker performance, it was decided early in the planning stages that housing had to be well built and suited for the environment as well as being extremely comfortable for the workers.

To answer these requirements, ATCO Structures & Logistics of Calgary was hired to build a 112-person permanent workforce housing lodge and provide camp catering and services for the project.

The lodge, like most central facilities on oil sands’ projects, is the “hub” or “meeting place” for the workers and to help ensure their time there is enjoyable, ATCO has designed it to feature large, private bedrooms with ensuite washrooms and a full range of amenities including a games room and fitness centre.

The manufacturer is also providing the Sunrise Energy Project with modular site offices and other structures to support the delivery of services.

Sunrise, expected to reach 60,000 bpd by 2014, is truly one of the more ambitious projects in the oil sands right now and with the help of suppliers like ATCO, it will also be one of the most accommodating when it goes into production.