Air Quality
Syncrude manages air emissions in order to minimize any operational impact on the environment. We operate our business in strict compliance with our regulatory requirements, and are also pursuing a variety of projects to improve our performance in the short- and long-term.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Syncrude recognizes the links between increasing global temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions. To address this challenge, our focus in 2006 was on energy conservation and a return to reliable operations at our Mildred Lake upgrader. Syncrude also continues to explore additional means of controlling greenhouse gas emissions and is committed to meeting imminent new provincial and federal regulations through both direct action and the offset mechanisms that are being proposed by regulators.
Sulphur Emissions – The release of sulphur compounds from the Syncrude operation fell to an average of 218 tonnes per day in 2006, down from 227 tonnes per day in 2005, even as production of crude oil increased. The gains were enabled by the start-up of a new flue gas scrubbing unit, which captures sulphur dioxide from one of our three cokers which otherwise would be released into the atmosphere. The flaring and diverting of sour gas increased to 11.4 tonnes per day in 2006, due to start-up of new operating units built as part of the Stage 3 expansion, including the start-up of Coker 8-3 and its associated flue gas scrubbing unit (see discussion below).
Nitrogen Oxides Emissions – The release of nitrogen oxides increased to an average of 65.6 tonnes per day in 2006, due to a larger mobile equipment fleet. Emissions intensity was consistent with previous years, at 0.25 kilograms per unit of production.
Flue Gas Desulphurization Unit – A new flue gas desulphurization unit constructed as part of Syncrude’s Stage 3 expansion is now operating reliably after some initial start-up difficulties. The unit is designed to improve Syncrude’s environmental performance by capturing sulphur compounds which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and is credited for an overall reduction in Syncrude’s SO2 emissions. The unit also helped reduce by 20 per cent the intensity of Syncrude’s SO2 emissions.
During start-up procedures in April and May, ammonia-like odours that were physically upsetting to residents were detected in surrounding communities. These were traced to the new unit. While limits for occupational exposure and ambient air quality were not exceeded, the unit was shut down by order of the provincial government on May 18th until it could be proven to operate without odours. Syncrude took the problem very seriously from start to remediation, and maintained constant contact with all affected stakeholders. Impurities in our internally produced ammonia are believed to have caused the odours. The unit is currently being operated using ammonia purchased from other sources.
See further discussion on this topic in Stakeholder Engagement.
Emissions Reduction Project – Preliminary site preparation for the Syncrude Emissions Reduction Project (SERP) began in 2006. The project will reduce emissions of sulphur compounds to an annual average of less than 100 tonnes per day after it is operating to specification in 2011. The civil construction phase of excavation, pilings, and foundation work is slated for completion in mid-2007. SERP will retrofit flue gas scrubbing facilities into the operation of Syncrude’s two original cokers and, when combined with Stage 3 improvements, should reduce stack emissions of sulphur compounds by 60 per cent from current approved levels of 245 tonnes per day. Emissions of particulate matter also should be significantly reduced.
Managing Transboundary Emissions – The continuing expansion of the oil sands industry has generated attention on the downwind effects of air emissions such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Several meetings between government officials in Alberta and Saskatchewan took place in 2006 to review an agreement on transboundary environmental effects and to discuss related issues. Analyses of the potential impacts of oil sands emissions on Saskatchewan are now to be included in environmental assessments and environmental monitoring also will increase.
Syncrude, through its Emissions Reduction Project, will achieve a major reduction in emissions of sulphur dioxide by 2010-11. As well, work is ongoing to further develop and implement nitrogen oxide reduction mechanisms. Our efforts in reducing sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions will play a major role in reducing the cumulative impacts of oil sands development in the region.
Carbon Sequestration – In 2006, Syncrude, along with three participants in the Syncrude Joint Venture and other companies, contributed funding as members of the Integrated CO2 Network (ICON). The group was formed to explore the viability of developing a large scale Canadian carbon dioxide capture, transportation and storage network. Carbon sequestration is believed to be the single largest near-term opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions stemming from power plants, oil and natural gas processing facilities and oil sands developments.
ICON, an undertaking of industry and the Alberta and Canadian governments, envisions a system whereby a portion of the captured CO2 would be used for enhanced oil recovery in the conventional crude oil industry, and the balance would be sequestered indefinitely in secure geological formations thereby reducing atmospheric emissions of CO2, perhaps by 20 million tonnes by 2015. While the technologies have been proven elsewhere, a large part of the current challenge relates to the significant costs required to construct the multi-billion dollar system and the limited opportunities for cost recovery.
Analysis of Key Air Indicators – Main stack opacity hours over 40 per cent increased in 2006 due to problems with the electro-static precipitators that help remove particulates from Syncrude’s main stack emissions. The source of the problem has been identified and repairs to address this will be completed in early 2007.
The 40 odour complaints in 2006 relate largely to the incidents discussed above (see Flue Gas Desulphurization Unit). During this period, Syncrude referred concerned residents to Alberta Environment’s odour complaint line to ensure odour complaints were properly logged with regulators.