Frequently Asked Questions
If you're looking for quick information, take a look at some of our most frequently asked questions.
What does Syncrude do?
Syncrude produces high-quality, light, sweet crude oil. We have the capacity to meet more than 15% of Canada's petroleum needs. This works out to approximately 350,000 barrels per day. Syncrude produces a single product which we call Syncrude Sweet Blend.
Where does this oil come from?
Syncrude's crude oil is produced by upgrading a molasses-like substance called bitumen. The process involves mining, extracting and upgrading the bitumen contained in the Athabasca Oil Sand Deposit in northeastern Alberta. The deposit, where the Syncrude operation is located, is the world's largest single oil deposit, containing an estimated 1.7 trillion - 2.5 trillion barrels of bitumen.
How much oil is in Alberta's oil sands deposits?
Alberta's three oil sand deposits — Athabasca, Cold Lake, and Peace River — contain resources that could supply Canada's energy needs for more than 475 years, or total world needs for up to 15 years. The production potential of all the oil sand deposits could be as high as 2.5 trillion barrels of bitumen (five times more than the conventional oil reserves in Saudi Arabia). The Athabasca deposit is twice the size of Lake Ontario.
What are the qualities of bitumen?
Bitumen is a black, naphthenic-based hydrocarbon with an API gravity of about 8o. The sulphur content of bitumen ranges from 4 to 6%.
What are the qualities of Syncrude Sweet Blend?
Syncrude's product, Syncrude Sweet Blend (SSB) is a 100% upgraded, high quality product with 30o to 32o API, low sulphur (0.1 - 0.2%), low residuals and excellent low temperature pour qualities.
When did Syncrude start operations?
Syncrude was incorporated in December 1964. Site preparations at Mildred Lake commenced in December 1973 and production began in July 1978.
What is the geology of the mining area?
Mining activities concentrate on the McMurray Formation — a lower Cretaceous oil-bearing quartz sandstone — which can be seen in outcrops along the lower Athabasca River in northeastern Alberta. Deposited approximately 130 million years ago, this formation overlies Devonian limestone of the Beaverhill Lake Group and underlies marine clays of the Clearwater Formation.
Does Syncrude concentrate on areas other than crude oil production?
Syncrude is among the top 50 research and development (R&D) spenders in Canada. The key to recovering the immense resource is more research and development. While some 175 billion barrels of oil are recoverable using present extraction techniques, Syncrude and our Owners collaborate with other oil sand operators, governments and our academia to realize the full potential of the oil sands.
Does Syncrude invest most of its research in technology development and mining?
Syncrude focuses its resources on ensuring we remain a competitive and responsible oil sands producer. Most research is focused on mining, extraction and environmental processes. We have developed a number of new technologies to minimize the impact of the operation on the environment. For example, the Tailings Oil Recovery (TOR) unit, developed by Syncrude and sold to other companies, has increased the amount of bitumen recovered in the extraction process.
Do Aboriginal people in the area benefit from such a project?
The company is the country's largest industrial employer of Aboriginal people. In 2007, we spent $143 million with local Aboriginal companies and contractors. In total, we have spent over $1 billion with Aboriginal-owned companies since we began tracking this data in 1992.
Does Syncrude consult with local Aboriginal communities on issues affecting them?
Yes, Syncrude has developed a number of agreements and partnerships with local Aboriginal people and consults them frequently on important matters.
Is the company regulated by any Federal and Provincial environmental acts and regulations?
Yes, Syncrude is regulated by more than a dozen government acts and is committed to performing at a level which exceeds the requirements of our environmental licences.
Did Syncrude create an environmental department because of these regulations/acts?
A decade before construction on the Syncrude plant began, we were already conducting benchmark studies to monitor physical and biological conditions, and planning ways to minimize our environmental impact. Professional staff were hired to implement protective measures with a clear mandate to ensure environmental standards were met or surpassed. Since then, both the base plant and additions have been built and operated on this premise.
What are Syncrude's long term plans for the land it operates on?
Syncrude's long term plans call for returning the land to a stable, biologically self-sustaining state. This means creating a landscape that has a productive capability at least equal to its condition before operations began. We envision a mosaic landscape dominated by productive forests, wetland areas alive with waterfowl and grasslands supporting grazing animals. And we've already taken steps in this direction. For example, in February 1993, a herd of wood bison were moved to reclaimed land in a grazing research project in cooperation with the Fort McKay First Nation. Today, the herd numbers approximately 300 head.
What has Syncrude done so far in terms of reclamation?
Syncrude spends more than $14 million each year to reclaim land disturbed by the surface mine. After the soil is reconstructed, trees and shrubs are planted, and grasses sown to prepare the land for future uses, ranging from forestry to wildlife habitat to recreation. Close to five million seedlings have been planted in these new landscapes and over 4,500 hectares reclaimed.
Does Syncrude consult with the public on its reclamation plans?
Syncrude works with government agencies, local communities and other stakeholder groups to ensure land reclamation achieves a wide range of land use capabilities, in tune with the needs and aspirations of the people in our region.
Has the company had any impact on the regional ecosystem as a result of its operations?
Constant monitoring of biological communities around its operation has shown that Syncrude has little, if any, impact on the region in which we operate. For example, a study on wild blueberries in the area showed they were actually lower in metals than those purchased in local grocery stores.
What is Syncrude doing about air quality?
To ensure air quality remains high, Syncrude is committed to an ongoing program to minimize and reduce atmospheric emissions. As well, we are founding members of the most sophisticated regional air monitoring system in North America. The network, called the Wood Buffalo Environment Association (www.wbea.org), is operated locally and reports to a variety of regional stakeholders and Alberta Environmental Protection.
Syncrude works to keep all air emissions well within legislated requirements and continuously looks at ways to reduce emissions. For example, control measure systems are in place to reduce releases of hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, particulate and fugitive emissions to the air. An ongoing review process ensures control measures are operating at peak performance and contain the best of current technology.
Who is responsible for developing environmental policies and standards at Syncrude?
Environmental policy and performance is reviewed by the Board of Directors' Environment, Health and Safety Committee which meets quarterly. Syncrude's Corporate Loss Management Committee and a specific vice-president are charged with environmental responsibilities and accountabilities on a day-to-day basis.
What else has Syncrude done to show its commitment to the environment?
Syncrude is a member of Alberta Ecotrust, a unique cooperative effort between major corporations and environmental organizations. The Ecotrust provides financial and technical support for community-based environmental programs. Syncrude is also a founding member of the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association, and the Cumulative Environmental Management Association, and belongs to the Regional Health Integration Coordination Committee, and the Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program.
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