 | | | Environmental performance |
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Water management
Imperial uses fresh water, recycled water and water produced with crude oil for a variety of applications, such as process cooling, steam generation and enhanced oil recovery. We are committed to the responsible use of this valuable resource through the design and operation of facilities, and recycling and reuse practices.
Managing impacts on the Athabasca River
It is estimated that just over two percent of the Athabasca River’s flow will be needed to support existing and approved oil sands developments in northern Alberta. Community groups have raised concerns over the impact of these and other industrial developments on the river during lower-flow winter months.
As operator of the proposed Kearl oil sands project, we recognize these concerns. For several years, we have worked with regulators and members of the Cumulative Environmental Management Association, a multi-stakeholder organization, to develop a science-based approach to understanding the effects of water withdrawal on the environment. This input was incorporated into a government water management framework introduced in early 2007, which establishes a cap on water withdrawals from the river and requires a water-sharing agreement by industry. We are working closely with developers of existing and planned operations in the region to develop the agreement and identify ways to manage the cumulative impact on the river. A key component of the Kearl project design will be the use of water storage to enable reduced water withdrawal during low-flow winter periods.
| Water recycling at Cold Lake
At our Cold Lake operation, water is used to create steam to warm highly viscous oil so it can be pumped to the surface. Most of the water used to generate steam is treated, recycled water that is produced along with the oil. However, additional water is required. To minimize the amount of fresh water used for this purpose, the water balance is supplemented by subsurface brackish (salt) water, the quality of which makes it unfit for human, livestock or agricultural use.
In 2006, the Cold Lake operation achieved one of its best years ever for recycling produced water, with more than 98 percent recycled. Today the operation uses 0.5 barrels of fresh water for every barrel of oil produced. When the operation was commercialized in 1985, the ratio was 3.7 to 1.
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