ConocoPhillips Announces Second Phase of Surmont Oil Sands Project

Company plans to begin initial construction in 2010

CALGARY – ConocoPhillips [NYSE: COP] today announced the second phase of the Surmont project, a Canadian oil sands steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) facility. Phase 2, slated to begin initial construction in 2010, will increase Surmont’s gross production capacity from 27,000 to 110,000 barrels per day.

“Surmont is an important part of our oil sands portfolio and we’re pleased to announce its next phase of development,” John Carrig, president and chief operating officer of ConocoPhillips, said. “The oil sands are an area of significant future oil production growth and are important for short- and long-term energy and economic security in North America. This phase of Surmont will also result in a significant increase in construction and operating jobs.”

Surmont is located approximately 63 kilometers southeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, in the Athabasca oil sands region. Surmont is operated by ConocoPhillips Canada and is a 50/50 joint venture with Total E&P Canada. Phase 2 is scheduled to begin production in 2015.

“We believe that our oil sands projects and the conversion of crude oil produced from oil sands to fuel can be conducted in an environmentally sustainable manner and that technology will play a significant role in managing the environmental footprint,” Carrig said. “Accordingly, we are actively investing in research and technology development that holds promise for reducing the impacts on air, land and water. We anticipate spending more than $300 million in heavy oil technology research and development over the next five years to improve economic and environmental performance.”

SAGD is a production technology used to recover the oil from the oil sands. Steam is injected into long horizontal wells to lower the oil’s viscosity. The oil is then produced by horizontal wells to surface and sent by pipeline for upgrading and refining. Surmont will continue to use SAGD as its recovery method. For more information about ConocoPhillips’ oil sands business, including technology and environmental management, go to the company’s Canadian website www.conocophillips.ca.


About ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips is an international, integrated energy company with interests around the world. Headquartered in Houston, the company had approximately 30,100 employees, $152 billion of assets, and $142 billion of annualized revenues as of September 30, 2009. For more information, go to www.conocophillips.com.


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