Air quality

Both our operations and the use of our products result in emissions into the atmosphere. The main sources of our operations’ SO₂, NO_x and VOCs are the combustion of fuels in petroleum production and refining and minor leaks of fugitive emissions from equipment and facilities.

Our approach

We manage our impact on air quality by:

• investing in fuel reformulation
• reducing energy use
• adding emission controls
• managing fugitive emissions
• monitoring regional air quality
• applying best practices and procedures to reduce emissions

Performance at a glance

SO₂ emissions (thousand tonnes)

NO_x emissions (thousand tonnes)

VOC emissions (thousand tonnes)

What we are doing

Adding emission controls

We are adding emission controls in different areas of our operations.  

Alberta: In our Upstream business, we made extensive vessel repairs and replacements to a sulphur recovery unit at the Quirk Creek gas processing plant south of Calgary. The facility removes hydrogen sulphide from the raw gas stream and converts it to elemental sulphur for commercial sale. At our Cold Lake operation, we completed the first full year of operation of a new sulphur recovery unit installed at the Mahkeses plant in 2008. This complements a sulphur recovery unit installed at Cold Lake in 2007. The two sulphur recovery units have contributed to a 32 percent decrease in the operation’s SO₂ emissions from 2008 levels. 

In the Downstream in 2009, for example, our Strathcona refinery successfully reduced fugitive emissions of solvent in the dewaxing plant through the implementation of best practices. The refinery also expanded its use of advanced optical imaging equipment to better detect and reduce fugitive emissions.

Ontario: Investments in facilities include:

• Construction of the tail gas cleanup unit in Sarnia to reduce SO₂ emissions. Completion expected in mid-2010.
• Installation of continuous emissions monitors to track NO_X and SO₂ emissions from our main stacks at Sarnia and Nanticoke
• Expansion and use of advanced optical imaging equipment to better detect and reduce fugitive emissions.

Nova Scotia: We upgraded our sulphur plant and work has commenced on a sour water stripper to reduce SO₂ emissions at Dartmouth in accordance with new provincial regulations. The start-up of the new vacuum furnace in 2009 also helped reduce NO_X and GHG emissions. In addition, we expanded our use of advanced optical imaging equipment to better detect and reduce fugitive emissions.

Managing fugitive emissions

We use leak detection and repair programs to monitor and reduce small fugitive hydrocarbon emissions that escape from facilities and equipment connections. Identifying and fixing emission leaks reduces environmental impacts, keeps valuable product in the pipes and protects worker safety.

Since 2008, we have augmented this program by using innovative optical imaging equipment to efficiently survey facilities for leaks of VOCs from equipment. In 2009, comprehensive camera surveys were carried out at all manufacturing sites.

This program is also in place for our Upstream business. In 2009, we completed a three-year project to survey the Cold Lake operation for small leaks of gas. Of the 40,000 sample points tested, 26 were found to be leaking – a leak rate of 0.07 percent. In 2008, the program was expanded to include a number of Upstream facilities across Western Canada. In 2008, 192,704 points were tested and 568 were found to be leaking, which equals a leak rate of 0.34 percent. Of the147,190 sample points tested in 2009, 300 were found to be leaking – a leak rate of 0.22 percent. All leaking components were tagged and repaired.

At Cold Lake, we have also implemented upgrades, such as improved vapour recovery equipment and reconfigured pipe, to capture and control venting emissions. These improvements contributed to a 40 percent decrease in the operation’s venting emissions from 2007 levels.

Monitoring regional air quality

We collaborate with government, industry and other groups to maintain regional air quality monitoring networks that measure and track long-term environmental trends. At the Sarnia, Nanticoke and Strathcona refineries, and in the Fort McMurray area for Kearl, this effort is coordinated through local industry associations.

At Cold Lake, we are a founding member of the Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA), which guides regional development. LICA members, including Imperial, have helped to establish a network that conducts continuous air monitoring across the Cold Lake region. In 2009, the provincial government gave final approval to LICA’s application to expand the geographic area of the monitoring network by incorporating Imperial’s and other operators’ industrial compliance monitoring. The changes are expected to provide more complete reporting of air quality throughout the airshed.