Syncrude

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Photo: A herd of wood bison on land reclaimed from Syncrude mining operations. The ranch is co-managed with the Fort McKay First Nation and celebrates its 20th year of operation in 2013.

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Highlights

We are proud to be one of the largest producers in the oil sands. But we take even greater pride in how we do it. Responsibly. Take a closer look and you’ll see that our commitment to the environment, our neighbouring communities and our people guides everything we do.

Question:
What percentage of water used by Syncrude is recycled?

60% 25% 85%

The correct answer is 85%.

In fact, over the last 5 years the average has been 88%. Scroll down to test your knowledge on other topics discussed throughout the site. x

Committing $2.7 billion
to tailings reclamation solutions.

Over $1.8 billion spent with Aboriginal businesses since 1992.

Donating
$6 million
to community projects annually.

Investing
$1.6 billion to reduce SO₂ emissions by 60%.

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Air Quality

Good news is a breath of fresh air. Studies show
Fort McMurray’s air quality is better than Edmonton, Toronto and Seattle. What’s more, we are investing $1.6 billion to ensure air quality stays that way.

Support enhanced federal and provincial government environmental monitoring.

15 continuous and 20 passive air quality monitoring stations are located throughout the region. Learn more: www.wbea.org

Local air quality better than in major cities in North America.

Question:
How often is air quality measured in Fort McMurray?

24 hours a day Once daily Three times weekly

The correct answer is 24 hours a day.

Air quality is independently monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA). x

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Climate Change

The oil sands industry accounts for 6.9% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions and 0.1% of global emissions*. A focus on energy efficiency and conservation will help minimize the growth of GHG emissions from our operations in the future.

*Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Environment Canada

Pioneered low energy bitumen extraction and reduced growth
of GHG emissions.

The oil sands industry reduced GHG emissions per barrel by 26% between 1990 and 2010. Source: Environment Canada

Oil sands crude has similar CO₂ emissions to other heavy oils. Source: CERA 2010, CAPP 2013

Question:
What percentage of oil sands GHG emissions is equivalent to that of emissions from U.S. coal fired power generation?

3.5% 1.2% 12.9%

The correct answer is 3.5%

GHGs from the oil sands industry were 48 megatonnes in 2010, roughly equal to 3.5% of emissions from the U.S. coal fired power generation sector. x

Contribute to research studies on
CO₂ capture. Learn more: www.ico2n.com

Photo: The Primary Separation Vessel is an integral part of our low energy extraction process.

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Land Reclamation

Today, we have more than 4,000 hectares of land permanently reclaimed or available for revegetation. That’s equivalent to over 20% of our disturbed land. What’s more, our land is home to a herd of wood bison managed in partnership with the Fort McKay First Nation. In 2013, the ranch celebrates 20 years
in operation.

Required by
law to progressively reclaim the land we disturb.

First oil sands operator to receive government certification for reclaimed land.

Question:
How many trees and shrubs have been planted at Syncrude?

4.5 million 900,000 7 million

The correct answer is 7 million

To date, we have planted seven million tree and shrub seedlings on reclaimed land. x

The industry’s largest reclamation projects are now underway in our former east and west mines.

The fen research area is located on part of our former East Mine.

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Tailings Management

Tailings is a by-product of bitumen extraction that is primarily composed of water, clay, sand and small amounts of hydrocarbon that occur naturally within the oil sands deposit. Methods of reclaiming tailings include:

Water capping - layering water over dense tailings to form a lake.
Composite tails - adding sand and gypsum to densify tailings.
Centrifuge - spinning out water to produce material that can be used in reclamation.

Research continues on additional methods, like thin lift drying and accelerated dewatering, to further optimize tailings management.

Composite tails are being used to reclaim the former east mine.

Around 3,000 instruments are in place to monitor our tailings structures.

Tailings ponds enable us to recycle water for use in the bitumen extraction process.

Question:
How much is Syncrude spending on reclaiming tailings?

$2.7 billion $90 million $675 million 

The correct answer is $2.7 billion.

We are spending $2.7 billion on tailings reclamation technologies, like composite and centrifuge  tails. This is roughly equivalent to purchasing three NFL teams or six million iPads. x

Photo: Dried tailings about one year after centrifugation.

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Biodiversity

Syncrude’s commitment to environmental stewardship encompasses biodiversity and programs aimed at ensuring our operations do not have a long-term, permanent impact on local ecosystems. As well, through ongoing reclamation, we will re-establish a diversity of wildlife habitats similar to those that existed prior to mining.

Our operations are subject to extensive environmental regulations.

Radar system deters birds from tailings ponds by tracking and then activating deterrents.

Studies indicate a healthy presence of songbirds in our reclaimed areas. Learn More: innovationanthology.com

Question:
How far into the future does Syncrude plan its reclamation?

2020 2035 2080

The correct answer is 2080

We submit a reclamation plan to the Alberta Government every ten years, with a five year update in between. This plan details our reclamation goals and activities up to the end of our current mine life, which is around 2080. x

Early morning songbird monitoring on reclaimed land, 2011.

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Aboriginal Relations

Long before Syncrude even put a shovel in the ground, we pursued a progressive Aboriginal relations program that, to this day, shares the benefits of our oil sands operations. These include employment and business opportunities as well as investments in a broad range of community initiatives like education and
cultural retention.

Elders provide advice and feedback on reclamation programs.

$1.6 million in direct Aboriginal community investments in 2012.

Over $1.8 billion spent with Aboriginal businesses since 1992.

The only oil sands operator recognized for top excellence in Aboriginal relations by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

Question:
What percentage of Syncrude’s workforce is comprised of Aboriginal people?

2% 18% 9%

The correct answer is 9%

About 9% of our workforce is comprised of employees who are of self-declared First Nations, Metis, or Inuit descent. x

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Water Use

Water is essential to Syncrude’s operations and plays a key role in our production processes. We recognize that water is a limited resource that must be managed carefully. That’s why we’re committed to taking prudent steps to manage and conserve the water we use and to protect the health of regional water bodies.

Over 85% of the water we use is recycled.

We only withdraw 1/5 of 1% of the Athabasca River’s average annual flow. During the winter, our withdrawal is 0.5%.

We do not discharge any process-affected water into local water bodies.

Question:
How many barrels of fresh water is used in the process to produce one barrel of oil?

2 5 12

The correct answer is 2.

At Syncrude, we use 2 barrels of fresh water to produce a barrel of oil. By comparison, National Geographic states it takes over 16 barrels just to make one cotton shirt. x

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Research and Development

Innovation has been a cornerstone of our operations for more than 40 years. In the last five years, we have invested over $330 million to improve operations and reduce our environmental impact. It’s this dedication to R&D that has made us a leader in the oil
sands industry. 

Syncrude research shows petroleum coke from our process acts like a home water filter and could treat tailings water.

One of the top 50 corporate R&D spenders in Canada.

Received over 140 Canadian & U.S. patents for our technology developments.

Question:
What percentage of Syncrude’s research budget is invested in the environment?

15% 35% 50%

The correct answer is 50%.

Over half of our research budget is invested in improving environmental performance such as tailings management, reclamation and energy use. x

Member of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) to improve industry environmental performance. Learn More: COSIAwebsite

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Community

At Syncrude, contributing to local communities is more than “good business.” It’s about strengthening the places we call home and supporting the people who are our neighbours, friends and family.

Question:
Fort McMurray ranks as the top community in Canada for:

Number of trucks Per capita United Way donations Number of engineers

The correct answer is per capita United Way donations.

Fort McMurray has ranked as the top community in Canada for per capita United Way donations six years in a row. x

Good Neighbours employee volunteer recognition program awarded $196,000 to local organizations in 2012.

We donate
$6 million to community projects each year.

Raised a record $2.2 million for the
United Way in 2012.

Photo: Barb Jewers, Manager, Tailings and Lease Development | President, Fort McMurray United Way Board of Directors

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OUR PEOPLE

Syncrude is one of Alberta’s largest employers, counting over 5,000 employees in Fort McMurray, Edmonton and Calgary. We are a diverse organization, made up of highly skilled and talented individuals from across Canada and around the world.

Recognized as one of the top 60 employers in Alberta.

One of the safest oil and gas operations in Alberta.

Named one
of the
country’s top
employers
for young people.

Question:
How much does Syncrude award in scholarships annually to children of employees?

$500,000 Up to $2400 per student $1million

The correct answer is both $2,400 and $1 million.

The correct answer is both $2,400 and $1 million. Children of Syncrude employees can qualify for up to $2,400 for each year of their post-secondary degree or diploma education. About $1 million in scholarships are granted each year. x

Photo: Narry Ramnath, Syncrude Safety, Health and Environment Coordinator.

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Economic Impact

Syncrude’s economic benefits are enjoyed clear across Canada. Since our start-up in 1978, we have contributed over $12 billion in royalties and taxes to all levels of government. These funds have helped build new infrastructure and provide essential
public services.

Oil sands activity is forecast to generate economic benefits of $28 billion in B.C. and $63 billion in Ontario alone over the next 25 years. Source: CERI 2011

Oil sands expected to contribute over $2.1 trillion to economy over the next 25 years. Source: CERI 2011

Employment in Canada from oil sands activity is predicted to grow by at least 1000% by 2035. Source: API 2011

Question:
How much did Syncrude spend on goods and services in 2011?

$4.2 billion $1.5 billion $900 million

The correct answer is $4.2 billion

In 2011, we spent $4.2 billion on the purchase of goods and services from companies across Canada. x

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LEARN MORE

For more information on topics discussed in this booklet, please visit:

www.syncrude.ca

Environmental Monitoring

www.wbea.org www.ramp-alberta.org

Carbon Capture and GHG Emissions

www.ico2n.com www.ihs.com

Research and Collaboration

www.research.syncrude.ca www.cosia.ca

Aboriginal Relations

www.ccab.com

General Oil Sands Information

www.oilsands.alberta.ca www.oilsandsdevelopers.ca www.oilsandstoday.ca

Comments or questions?

info@syncrude.com

We take great pride in our commitment to responsible development.

This pride is evident throughout our achievements to date, and our aim to do even better. We work hard to make Syncrude a great place to work, while pushing the limits of technology and championing the growth, health and heart of our communities. This website provides a brief overview of interesting facts, videos and polls that highlight our outstanding achievements in oil sands development. We invite you to explore this content and share it with others. We hope the information provides you with a fresh perspective on Syncrude and how we are securing Canada’s energy future.