As the managing contractor on the Cooperative Upgrader Project, the Fluor/Kilborn joint venture oversaw the engineering, procurement, and construction of the project. This first heavy oil upgrader was built in conjunction with the existing cooperative refinery in Saskatchewan,Canada. The Upgrader converts 50,000 bbl/day of heavy crude into a lighter, higher quality product, which is used as feedstock for the cooperative refinery. In addition to overall management responsibilities, Fluor/Kilborn was responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of the ARDS unit, HRC unit, offsites, utilities, and existing refinery unit revamps.
The ARDS vessels were the largest pieces of equipment by weight ever handled by the port of Duluth and the largest ever moved by CP rail. During this project Fluor provided full project services from concept development through detailed engineering.