GE Energy gas turbines have been selected for an integrated gasification/cogeneration plant being constructed near Fort McMurray, Alberta as part of the Long Lake Project, the fourth major integrated-oil sands project in Alberta. The Long Lake Project is a joint venture between Nexen, Inc., one of Canada's largest energy and chemical companies, and OPTI Canada Ltd., a developer of integrated bitumen and heavy oil projects. Both companies are based in Calgary, Alberta.

For this in-situ oil sands recovery project, OPTI's patented OrCrude upgrader process will produce a heavy liquid asphaltene byproduct for a Shell gasification process. The process then will produce clean syngas as fuel for the cogeneration plant and hydrogen production facilities. Nexen will operate the cogeneration facility and OPTI Canada will operate the gasification facility.

GE will supply two Frame 7EA gas turbine-generators, technical advisory services for field installation, and unit training. These machines will be the first gas turbines in Canada to use syngas as the primary fuel, and the project also marks the first use of syngas-fired gas turbines in a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oil production facility.