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Petroteq resumes processing at Asphalt Ridge plant
2021-05-27 07:37 ET - News Release
Mr. Alex Blyumkin reports
PETROTEQ ENERGY ANNOUNCES THAT PRODUCTION OF OIL FROM THE POSP HAS RECOMMENCED
Processing operations at Petroteq Energy Inc.'s oil sands plant at Asphalt Ridge (the POSP) have been restarted after a suspension of operations following receipt on May 14, 2021, of a cessation order (CO) from Utah's Department of Oil, Gas and Mining (DOGM).
One concern articulated in the CO dealt with the processing of offsite oil sands ore, which had not been specifically addressed in the Company's existing Notice of Intent ("NOI") filed with the DOGM. Following a conference with the DOGM on 21 May 2021, Petroteq received notice from DOGM on 25 May 2021 that DOGM was modifying the CO such that operations could immediately recommence at the site. The modified CO allows for processing and testing operations at the POSP to take place until 30 June 2021, utilizing both local and offsite oil sands ore. Operation of the POSP after that date will be subject to Petroteq submitting an updated NOI before 1 July 2021, satisfactory to DOGM, covering sources of ore to be processed, mineral processing methods and facilities, management and handling of clean sand tailings, and a mine reclamation plan.
The POSP was able to integrate a trial solids processing unit into the process stream during the time that processing operations were on hold, and that unit is now undergoing testing. With this trial, the collection of test data, to better inform the design of the Company's proposed first 5,000 barrels per day ("BPD") commercial production train, is now essentially complete. Until now, the Company's primary focus has been on data collection (testing of different oil sands ores, solvent concentrations and mix tank residence times) and not sustained commercial production from the POSP. The Company can now move to a focus on sustained production. A third party engineering firm has been engaged to review and certify the commerciality of Petroteq's Clean Oil Recovery Technology ("CORT").
A truckload of cleaned sand has now been collected by a nearby drilling fluids company for evaluation and testing. The initial evaluation of the sand was positive and indications are that they will collect additional sand tailings for further evaluation, processing and possible sale.
George Stapleton, Petroteq COO, commented: "DOGM's decision to modify the CO so as to allow POSP operations to resume pending the submission of an updated, revised NOI is very much appreciated. Data gathering for the design of a 5,000 BPD commercial production train should be completed shortly, which will allow for a shift to production operations."