Reality Check: Water and the Oil Sands

Lately it seems the oil sands are being blamed for all of Canada’s environmental ills. By reading articles in your daily newspaper or perusing the website of your favourite environmental group, it would seem that oil sands developments are to blame for all of our country’s greenhouse gas emissions and sucking up all of Alberta’s water. Case in point, the recent Rethink Alberta campaign lists many “facts” on the environmental impacts of the oil sands, many of which are based on misinformation and half-truths.

It’s time for a reality check, and to get the truth out on water and the oil sands. The most common misconception on the issue is that the oil sands industry is the primary user of water in Alberta. In fact, agriculture uses a far greater percentage of our water. In 2007, agriculture in Alberta was allocated 4.1 billion cubic metres of water. Current allocations for the oil sands are in the range of 7 cubic metres per second (about 221 million cubic metres total), which is about 5 per cent of agricultural allocations. Even if all existing, approved and announced oil sands projects proceed, the oil sands industry would only use 2 per cent of the Athabasca river flow – today, the industry uses about 1 per cent of the river’s flow.

Oil sands companies are also actively trying to reduce their water use. The industry limits its use of fresh water and relies heavily on recycled water for its operations. In-situ operations rely primarily on non-potable and even saline ground water and up to 90 per cent of the water used for in-situ oil sands extraction is recycled. Over 80 per cent of water used for surface mining is recycled.

Water quality is also a major concern for oil sands developers. A recent study, by University of Alberta biological scientists Erin Kelly and David Schindler, reported higher concentrations of certain elements closer to oil sands developments compared with samples from further away. These findings contrast with the years of extensive monitoring by the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP) which has shown there has been no measurable change in the aquatic ecosystem in the Athabasca. Clearly, it is important to maintain water quality monitoring, which is something the oil sands industry wholeheartedly supports. Increasing our knowledge of this unique environment will only be beneficial.

Water quality often leads to a discussion of tailings ponds. The tailings ponds so often criticized by opponents of the oil sands are in fact properly designed to settle tailings and recycle water. Any seepage from the ponds is collected by monitoring wells and returned to the ponds. Industry is developing new tailings management technologies that will both see tailings ponds reclaimed faster, and reliance on tailings ponds reduced. The reclamation of the first oil sands tailings pond, owned by Suncor Energy, is scheduled to be completed this month. Furthermore, more than 80 per cent of the oil sands will be developed using drillable or in-situ technologies, which resemble conventional oil development and do not require mine pits or tailings ponds.

If nothing else, I hope that people remember the fact that the oil sands industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, and that we take our responsibility to the environment very seriously. All of these examples show that the oil sands industry is working hard to improve environmental performance and develop technologies that will allow companies to lower water usage, maintain water quality and improve the management of tailings. While we’re not perfect yet, the reality is that our companies are showing continuous improvement on many environmental issues, including water.

Don Thompson is President of The Oil Sands Developers Group (OSDG). Don, with his Board, determines the group’s position on various issues brought forward by members for collaborative consideration, action and resolution. Don is also the external voice for OSDG, presenting OSDG members’ actions and ideas to external audiences across Canada, in the United States and in Europe – industry, community and government. As a result of his outreach program Don has established strong working relationships with business, industry and government leaders within Canada and internationally. Don serves in his capacity with OSDG through the support of Syncrude Canada Ltd. where he has worked since 1979.