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A commitment to safe, sustainable, socially responsible development has characterized OPTI's approach to oil sands development since our company's inception.  We believe that incorporating environmentally responsible practices that meet or exceed regulatory requirements into strategic project planning leads to strong business results.

We are committed to developing and applying strategies that address key environmental issues such as emission management, reduction of fresh water use and minimization of our developmental footprint.

MONITORING AIR QUALITY

OPTI and Nexen have made substantial proactive efforts to include stakeholders in the environmental planning and development process.

In 2005, based on input from residents of Anzac and approval by local First Nations groups, an air quality monitoring unit for Long Lake Phase 1 was installed in the hamlet of Anzac. Equipped with a variety of sensors that evaluate various aspects of air quality, the data gathered by this monitoring facility extends well beyond required regulations and will be in place through the life of the Project.

OPTI and Nexen are sharing air quality monitoring information with the community via the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association website. The air quality monitoring trailer began collecting data in late 2005 and will create a baseline assessment of local air quality in advance of the Long Lake Project’s start-up.

PROTECTING GROUND WATER

Conserving and protecting ground water is a key priority for the Long Lake Project, which is among the first SAGD oil sands projects in Alberta to initiate the use of “brackish” (nonpotable) water. Over 90 percent of the water required by the Project will be recycled, significantly reducing water consumption.

The Long Lake Project will have a ground water monitoring infrastructure in and around the Project site. This state-of-the-art ground water monitoring system will employ electronic real-time monitoring equipment.

To decrease overall water consumption, we are also investigating the use of dry nitrous oxide (NO_x) burners to reduce our water requirements.

ADDRESSING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

The Project will process almost 100 percent of every barrel of oil it produces into useable products, including the heavy “bottoms” or what is typically discarded as waste in comparable projects.

All upgrading processes are carbon intensive. However, through the application of our proprietary OrCrude™ process, in combination with gasifier technology, our projects are designed to substantially reduce the requirement for external sources of natural gas to fuel the SAGD process. OPTI and Nexen have incorporated energy saving technologies into the Project, such as the development of a co-generation facility, and the use of ORMAT Energy Converters, which convert waste heat into electricity that can be sold or used at the plant. We are investigating the feasibility of carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture as our gasifier positions us to collect CO₂ in a concentrated stream.

We recognize the importance of realistic government policies that protect Canada’s economic competitiveness, while addressing greenhouse gas emissions reductions in a meaningful context.

REDUCING WASTE

In 2006, OPTI announced that we had developed an innovative way to reduce the amount of soot waste product from the gasifier. By adding a wet oxidation unit, this solid waste stream is reduced to about 10 percent of its original volume and processed into a metals-rich product.  The facility adds further value to our upgrading process by transforming our waste into a marketable commodity, significantly reducing the waste we send to landfills, decreasing traffic to and from the site and creating operating cost savings.

UNDERSTANDING BIODIVERSITY

The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI), a multi-stakeholder effort, began in 1998 with the goal to provide a comprehensive, ongoing analysis of the province’s biodiversity.

The program is designed to compile data from hundreds of sites in order to assess changes over time on a regional basis. As participants in this program, OPTI and Nexen are working with the ABMP to help the organization to field test its biodiversity management protocol. The goal is to implement this program province-wide in 2007. Through this program, we will be equipped to realistically evaluate any changes in biodiversity over time.