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Oil Sands & SAGD

Steam It — and Mercer Will Clean It

Mercer delivers high-efficiency enhanced gravity separation for SAGD, CSS, and Oil Sands mining wastewater, handling heavy oil, bitumen, solids, and temperature extremes with proven reliability.

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Industry Overview

Oil Sands and Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) operations generate some of the most challenging oily water streams in the energy sector. High temperatures, bitumen-rich oils, fine clays, and suspended solids can overwhelm traditional knock out tanks, skim pits, and CPI-style units. Many operators still rely on massive concrete separators or oversized settling structures that struggle to keep up with modern production rates and environmental scrutiny.

Mercer International’s Compliance Master™ separator with the Multi-Pack™ coalescer system is engineered specifically to address these difficulties. Built for extreme fouling environments, temperature fluctuations, and complex oil chemistries, Mercer systems provide up to 99.9% removal of free and dispersed hydrocarbons, while minimizing maintenance and operator intervention.

These compact, rugged, and automation-ready enhanced gravity systems support regulatory compliance, oil recovery, operational uptime, and reduced OPEX, all critical performance drivers for today’s Oil Sands and SAGD producers.

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ENERGY INDUSTRIES

Common Oil Sands & SAGD Challenges

High-Temperature & Bitumen-Rich Wastewater

Produced and process waters often exceed 90°C and are saturated with heavy hydrocarbons that resist conventional coalescing media.

Dense Solids & Mineral Fines

Sand, silt, and fine particulate from extraction and mining quickly foul undersized plate packs, requiring frequent shutdowns.

Environmental & Regulatory Pressure

Operators must meet strict discharge criteria under provincial regulations and mine site water management frameworks.

Large Volumes & Continuous Operation

SAGD and mining facilities run 24/7 with high flow rates and no tolerance for downtime, separation equipment must match that expectation.

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MERCER ADVANTAGE

Mercer’s Solution

Mercer’s enhanced gravity systems overcome the limits of conventional API/CPI designs with engineered hydraulics, wide spacing, and fouling-resistant Multi-Pack™ technology.

Core Advantages:

Built for Heavy Oil & Bitumen

Engineered to handle elevated temperatures and viscous hydrocarbons without plugging.

Adjustable Multi-Pack™ Coalescer Assembly

No nooks or crannies. No corrugated plates. No air-scrubber media. Spacing and geometry are optimized for heavy crude and solids-rich environments.

Superior Solids Management

Wide-open Chimney zones™, full-length hopper bottoms, and unobstructed flow paths maintain separation performance even with dense settleable solids.

Compact & Retrofit Friendly

Fits where legacy skim tanks or API pits currently sit, allowing modernization without major civil work.

Oil Recovery = Revenue

Recovered hydrocarbons offset water treatment costs, improving overall project economics.

Automation Ready

Level controls, alarms, skimmers, auto-purge valves, and SCADA connectivity support zero-touch operation.

APPLICATION AREAS

Typical Applications

SAGD Produced Water Separation

Remove heavy crude and dispersed oil ahead of warm-lime softening, walnut shell filters, or reinjection systems.

Oil Sands Mining Process Water

Treat extraction water, bitumen froth cleaning effluent, and equipment drainage.

Surface Mining Runoff & Containment Drainage

Manage oily stormwater or diluted hydrocarbon runoff from haul roads, ore prep areas, and tank farms.

Diluent Recovery Support

Capture valuable hydrocarbons from drainage and washdown systems.

Tailings & Plant Water Recycle Streams

Improve clarity before reuse or downstream polishing processes.

Performance You Can Count On

Why SAGD & Oil Sands Operators Choose Mercer

Ready to Solve Your Oil Sands & SAGD Separation Challenges?

Work directly with Mercer engineers to configure a system matched to your site conditions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q.

Can Mercer systems withstand high temperatures typical in SAGD?

A.

Yes. Mercer provides high-temperature configurations engineered for SAGD thermal conditions.

Q.

Do these systems handle bitumen-rich or diluent-heavy water?

A.

Absolutely. Multi-Pack™ internals were designed for high-viscosity, heavy oil environments.

Q.

How often do they need to be cleaned?

A.

Intervals vary by solids load, but they are significantly longer than CPI or corrugated plate units.

Q.

Is SCADA integration available?

A.

Yes. All controls can be integrated into plant DCS/SCADA platforms.

Q.

Can Mercer replace existing skim tanks or API separators?

A.

Yes, often with a smaller footprint and far higher performance.