Hi Jurek:

My research is not just from the article that appeared in the Calgary Hearald dated April 9, 2010 http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Environmentalists+outraged+over+Long+Lake+oilsands+water+plan

but it also came from OPTI's website which states in the following quote: http://cnrp.marketwire.com/client/opti_canada/release.jsp?year=2010&actionFor=1114141&releaseSeq=1

"With the reservoir in the early stages of warm-up post-turnaround, average bitumen production for the fourth quarter was approximately 13,600 bbl/d with an average of 15,800 bbl/d (5,530 bbl/d net to OPTI) for the months of November and December [2009]. Recent bitumen production is approximately 18,000 bbl/d (6,300 bbl/d net to OPTI).

The all-in steam to oil (SOR) is currently approximately 6.0 including steam to wells that are in the steam circulation stage and not yet producing bitumen. The SOR ratio of the producing wells was approximately 5.0 in November and December. This SOR is expected to be higher at the current stage of bitumen ramp-up than our long term estimate of 3.0. A number of our wells have recently been converted to production status from circulation status which would be expected to result in an initially higher SOR. We expect SOR to decline during 2010 assuming we are able to maintain our recent reliability in delivering steam to wells."

The point I made was that both Connacher's POD 1 and Nexen's Long Lake projects have been in operation since 2008 (an equal amount of time) and the results speak for themselves. Yes Nexen's Long Lake Project may ultimately reach an SOR of 3.0 in a couple of years when they add more ESP's which they are planning to do, just as Connacher's POD 1 may reach it's design SOR of 2.75 in a couple of years after the additional 9 ESP's are added in April and September 2010. http://www.drifterprojects.ca/projects/cll_great_divide/gdoc_great_divide.html

Nexen's 2009 Annual Report Summary on Nexen's website states the following on page 19:

"3. The SOR in our producing wells is approximately 5.0 and is expected to trend down as bitumen rates increase, especially in wells that are early in their ramp-up cycle. The all-in SOR, currently around 6.0, includes wells that are in steam circulation but not yet producing. We continue to expect the long-term SOR to be in line with our project design of 3.0. " http://www.nexeninc.com/~/media/Files/AnnualReports/2009/Nexen_2009_Summary.ashx

My original point that Connacher's existing production at POD 1 to date has been a lot more successful than Nexen's production at Long Lake over a two year period, since 2008 stands. The word successful being a relative term.

Yes Nexen has wellpairs that are in the early stages of steaming as does Connacher's POD 1 which has wellpairs 16 and 17 which are not fully producing yet (and wellpairs 18 & 19 which are yet to have steam applied to them.)

These are my sources. Respectfully.

Best Wishes; Scott