Shell Products Canada Inc.

Project Overview

Delsan-AIM carried out the Shell Montreal East demolition after signing an Asset Sales Agreement with Shell Products Canada Inc. in 2012. This project involved fully decommissioning and dismantling aboveground process equipment at the former Shell Montreal East Refinery (MER) in Montreal, Quebec. The site had previously operated at a peak capacity of 161,000 barrels per day before shutting down in 2010.

Managing Site Challenges and Constraints

Several critical hazards were present at the site, including active ground-level and underground pipelines and live high-tension power lines. Therefore, our team developed a detailed plan to mitigate risks and ensure that all demolition activities followed strict safety protocols.

Hazardous Material Removal and Decommissioning

We began by identifying and safely removing asbestos and other hazardous materials. In addition, we disconnected all utilities linked to the targeted structures. This step ensured a safe environment before demolition began.

Demolition Techniques and Equipment

Our team used various methods tailored to structural type and proximity to live infrastructure:

• Equipment Salvage: We used cranes to recover reusable components for resale.
• Mechanical Demolition: Excavators with advanced attachments handled most steel and concrete dismantling.
• Engineered Control-Drop: Tall process units were lowered safely to avoid damaging nearby assets.

Scrap Processing and Recycling

After dismantling, our team transported all scrap metal to the AIM Montreal Recycling Facility. There, it was shredded and sorted with minimal torch-cutting. As a result, we maximized material recovery while reducing processing time.

Dismantling and Export of Hydro-Treating Unit

We successfully dismantled and exported a complete diesel hydro-treating unit. This complex task involved packaging oversized components for international delivery. Meanwhile, Self-Propelled Mobile Trailers (SPMTs) moved heavy items on-site. Altogether, this operation required over 3,500 man-hours of crane-assisted handling.

Final Results of the Shell Montreal East Demolition

Once completed, the Shell Montreal East demolition project demonstrated Delsan-AIM’s ability to deliver safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible results. We achieved our objectives without incident and maintained seamless coordination with neighboring Shell terminal operations throughout.