tough callI can't say what the cost of maintenance on the verticle reactors will be,but my guess is it will be major. 4 verticle reactors were built, with plans to have one shutdown every 3 months(my source was our Belgium Masons that oversaw the building of these original linings, they have built similar reactors throughout the World). I believe they can run the full operations on two verticle reactors and work in the maintenance of the other two to avoid any delays if all goes as planned. 1 - 4 weeks for each reactor to do only brick lining maintenance. The Co. I worked for that built the four reactors at the time, sold the brick below cost( $6 to $7 /brick X tens of thousands of pieces + labour) as they knew the maintenance contract that they secured would more than pay multiples of the original 60 foot high linings,ten foot diameter...approximately( x 4 units). I believe from what I have read here, that the process could revert back to natural gas,but there goes your cost efficiencies.
Alot of new technology, perhaps not new to the world,but new to the Tar Sands.
This one is far from an easy call.