Water Resource & Protection

Improving water management

Improving water management

Purpose and Progress

Husky continues to improve its ability to track water metrics across the company using its Environmental Performance Reporting System. It provides information to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the International Oil and Gas Producers Association for better industry awareness.

The Company participates in the CDP Water Module, an international forum which measures, discloses, manages and shares environmental information. Providing this information helps drive better measurement and transparency of water issues across the industry.

Water Withdrawals

Husky continues to seek ways to conserve and recycle water, including looking at alternative water sources, recycling produced water and using an alkali surfactant polymer (ASP) to increase water efficiency.

The Company withdraws water for industrial use, drawing on saline and non-saline sources.

In 2013, non-saline water withdrawal increased slightly due to new thermal projects in Saskatchewan, which are located in areas with relatively low surface water use. Offshore saline withdrawals increased year over year as the SeaRose returned to full operation following planned maintenance.

Approximately 7.4 million m3 of non-saline water withdrawn for use in the refineries was offset by 5.2 million m3 returned to the surface hydrologic cycle after being treated in multiple stages, including separating oil from the water and applying biological treatments. Before being discharged, the water is tested for regulatory compliance.

The withdrawal of 17.6 million m3 of offshore saline water in 2013 was offset by discharging 12.5 million m3 of cooling water that wasn’t impacted back to the sea.

Non-saline Water Withdrawal by Watershed

Husky considers the water source for its operations, and any risks associated with using that source, including reliability, sustainability, quality, technical feasibility, net environmental effect, economics and regulatory and stakeholder concerns. Where risks are identified, mitigation plans are developed.

In 2013, 98 percent of non-saline water withdrawals occurred in areas considered not water short or low intensity, as defined by provincial regulatory bodies. One percent of the withdrawals occurred in areas considered water short or high intensity and one percent in areas considered potentially water short or moderate intensity.

Appromimately half of the Company's onshore non-saline withdrawals were from the North Saskatchewan River watershed in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It was primarily used in thermal production and upgrading operations. Water is withdrawn from along the river in areas that aren't considered water short.

Approximately 30 percent of onshore non-saline withdrawals were from the Maumee River watershed in Ohio, for use at the Lima Refinery. More than 70 percent was returned to the surface hydrological cycle after being treated.