The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) will hold a public hearing Jan. 9, 2018, on applications from Prosper Petroleum Ltd. associated with the construction and operation of a steam-assisted gravity drainage oilsands project about 64 kilometres northwest of Fort McKay.

The hearing, to begin at 9 a.m. at Shell Place on MacDonald Island, had been scheduled for Oct. 17 but was rescheduled following requests for the adjournment.

The proposed Rigel bitumen recovery scheme would produce up to 10,000 bbls/d from the Wabiskaw Member on Prosper’s leases in sections 20 and 21-96-17W4.

An application under the Water Act seeks approval to withdraw 255,500 cubic metres/year of non-saline water from the Viking and Undifferentiated Drift (Deep Drift) formations.

The complete project is anticipated to include a central processing facility for steam generation and production connected to six multi-well pads. Each pad will have eight horizontal SAGD well pairs (injection and production).

The project site also includes observation wells, water source wells, steam generation facilities, production facilities, water treatment and recycling facilities, pipelines, support buildings, an access road, utility corridors, a laydown area, sumps, borrow pits, and a construction camp.