Water Use

Syncrude is the most efficient user of water in the oil sands industry. Of all the water used at our operation, we import only about 20 per cent from the Athabasca River which flows north through the Athabasca Oil Sands Deposit.

Water Use and Conservation Analysis – Syncrude’s 2006 import of water from the Athabasca River, at 33.9 million cubic metres, was less than target due to lower than planned production and higher than targeted use of recycled water. Overall water consumption increased over 2005 due to higher year-over-year production and start-up demand associated with the Stage 3 expansion. Water intensity was 2.26 cubic metres per barrel of production, an improvement of nearly one per cent over 2005. About half of the fresh water used at Syncrude is returned to the hydrologic cycle through evaporation.

Currently over 85 per cent of process affected water is recycled and total water recycled from all uses, including process affected water, is about 80 per cent of all water used. Toward continued gains, a tailings steering committee is working to identify and implement additional re-use opportunities. Three projects underway at the Mildred Lake site to recover condensate and cooling water are expected to reduce fresh water intake by 2.1 million cubic metres per year when fully implemented in 2009. At the Aurora site, diversion projects to prevent entry of fresh water into the mine pit and settling basins are expected to preserve the integrity of about 6.5 million cubic metres of water per year.

No impacts from pipeline water leak – On April 20th, a leak was discovered in the 35-kilometre-long recycle water pipeline that connects Syncrude’s Mildred Lake and Aurora North sites. About 1,400 cubic metres of recycle water, which contains trace amounts of hydrocarbons, were released. The line was immediately shut down for repairs and the leaked water was contained and recovered. As well, water samples were taken in the Beaver Creek and Athabasca River and testing of the samples showed little or no impact on river water quality. Testing continued after the pipeline was repaired. Syncrude believes the leak was caused by a large rock coming in contact with the pipe, damaging the external protective coating.

Syncrude wins Stewardship Award

In May, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers presented Syncrude with its Steward of Excellence Award for leadership in water conservation and management. Syncrude cut its water consumption by 9.7 million cubic metres between 2002 and 2004 while increasing production by almost four million barrels annually over the same period.