Environmental Performance Programs

Offshore Operations

Environmental Effects Monitoring

Husky has implemented an environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program designed with public input and the assistance of an independent group of qualified persons. The program was subject to review and approval by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) and other environmental regulatory agencies. Baseline data were collected in the White Rose Field in 2001 and 2002, and the program was designed based on this information.

The first year of program implementation was carried out in 2004 after development drilling commenced in October of 2003. As of 2006, environmental effects monitoring data is collected every two years.

The White Rose Production Phase Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Design document and the Baseline Data Collection Reports can be viewed or downloaded by clicking on the following:

Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Report (2006 Volume 1)

Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Report (2005 Volume 1)

Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Report (2004 Volume 1)

Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Design Report (May 2004)

Baseline Data Collection Supplementary Report (July 2003)

Baseline Data Collection Report (July 2000 - large file)

Environmental Incidents

While Husky has a policy of zero-tolerance for spills and other environmental incidents it also recognizes that these events sometimes occur. When these events occur it is important that they are fully investigated to determine root causes so the risk of re-occurrence is minimized or eliminated.

Any and all spills to the ocean, regardless of volume, are immediately reported to the C-NLOPB and the Canadian Coast Guard Spill Reporting Centre. The C-NLOPB reports all  environmental incidents on their website.

Authorized Discharges

Under the Atlantic Accord Implementation Act the C-NLOPB has developed guidelines governing the kinds and concentrations of discharges that can be released to the marine environment. The Offshore Waste Treatment Guidelines (August 2002) are available on the C-NLOPB's website. Such discharges are termed authorized discharges. Discharges or emissions not addressed and managed under these guidelines are deemed unauthorized discharges or in the case of petroleum - spills.

Discharges from Drill Rig Operations

The following describes the authorized discharges from Husky's drilling operations controlled under the Offshore Waste Treatment Guidelines.

Drilling Discharges

Husky employs both water-based and synthetic fluid based drill muds in its drilling programs.

Water-based mud is used for upper drill hole sections while synthetic-based fluids are used in deeper hole sections, especially during directional drilling operations, where drilling conditions are more difficult and hole stability is critical to safety and success.

Water-based Drilling Discharges

From October 2003 to September 2009 the total mass of water based drilling fluids and associated drill cuttings discharged to the sea floor at the four drill sites on the White Rose field was 17,229 metric tonnes. Of those, 13,313 metric tonnes were rock cuttings and 3,916 metric tonnes were water-based drilling fluids.

These water-based mud and cuttings discharges occurred at the four drill sites in the following proportions: 27.96 percent at the Southern Glory Hole (nine wells), 13.48 percent at the Northern Glory Hole (three wells), 30.64 percent at the Central Glory Hole (nine wells), and 27.92 percent at the North Amethyst Glory Hole (two wells).

Synthetic fluid based Drilling Discharges

From October 2003 to September 2009, 24,875 metric tonnes of synthetic-based drilling muds and associated cuttings were discharged to the sea floor at the four White Rose drill sites - 14,599 metric tonnes was rock cuttings and 3,981 cubic metres synthetic based drill fluid and the remainder consisted of emulsifiers and weighting agents.
These synthetic based drilling fluid and cuttings discharges were in the following proportions: 37.09 percent at the Southern Glory Hole, 19.06 percent at the Northern Glory Hole and 40.58 percent at the Central Glory Hole, and 3.27 percent at the North Amethyst Glory Hole.

To manage and minimize the discharge of synthetic-based drilling fluids to the marine environment Husky employs the best available technology and practices. These efforts include installing additional and specialized centrifuge technology on its drill rig and managing drilling fluids to enhance opportunities for reusing fluids by recovering and recycling barite and other constituents.

The C-NLOPB's Offshore Waste Treatment Guidelines require operators to target a value of 6.9 percent or less synthetic based drill fluid on cuttings.

Husky has worked diligently to target the lowest value of Synthetic Oil Cutting (SOC) under various conditions. Depending on geological conditions for different wells and well sections Husky's performance has varied from approximately 5.7 to 9.5 percent SOCs based on 48-hour rolling averages of measurements made in accordance with regulatory requirements.

The following table summarizes Husky's performance since 2003.

Drilling Site	Southern Glory Hole	Northern Glory Hole	Central Glory hole	North Amethyst Glory Hole
Range of % Synthetic Fluid on Discharge Cuttings for each well drilled within a glory hole	6.8 - 9.5	7.5 - 8.3	5.7 - 9.4	5.46  - 6.99

 

Other Operational Discharges

The operational discharges from Husky's drilling platform operations other than drill cuttings and drilling mud over the past year are summarized below. Each discharge stream is briefly described following the table.

Authorized Discharges (m3)	2003 (Oct-Dec)	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Bilge Water	16	71.8	75.5	115.8	168.4	84.7	199.1
Glycol-based fluid from Blow Out Preventer	12.3	43.0	152.56	7.82	100.8	66.63	99.12
Deck Drainage	0.4	1430.9	2238.6	2249.5	3000	2423.3	3869.0
Glycol-based fluid from Subsea Equipment	0	297	660	0	1700	1100	900

 

• Bilge and deck drainage discharges are maintained at 15 parts per million (ppm) or less
• Blow-Out Preventer (BOP) testing is to ensure functionality and therefore safety and environmental protection; glycol-based fluid volumes are total BOP fluid which is comprised of water, 30% (max) glycol and 2% (max) Erifon.
• Losses from subsea equipment during hookup and installation work are unavoidable; volumes are the amount of active ingredient i.e., glycol and triethanolamine at a maximum of 70 percent and of 5 percent of total volume discharged.

Bilge Water

The machinery and other spaces aboard the drill rig must have oily water treatment in accordance with International Marine Organization requirements. To that end all bilge water is subject to treatment using oily water separators that are designed to conform with the oil in water discharge limit of 15 parts per million at a maximum and automatic alarms are in place should this limit be exceeded.

Discharge of Glycol-based Hydraulic Fluids from Safety Critical Equipment - the Well Blow-out Preventer

Regulations and responsible drilling practices require the use of a blow-out preventer (BOP) located on the seabed on the drill string. This equipment is comprised of hydraulically driven rams that, in the event of an incident, can be activated to stop oil under pressure from being released up the drill string. The BOP must be put in place at the beginning of each well drilling operation and tested regularly. Testing and normal operations of the BOP result in the loss of hydraulic fluids which in this case are glycols mixed at a 30% concentration with water. The amounts of these fluids that are discharged vary in relation to the amount of drilling activity that takes place over time.

Deck Drainage

Minimizing the loss of hydrocarbons from drilling operations requires continuous effort in terms of engineered containment and appropriate operating polices and procedures. Guidelines require that deck drainage from installations in the Newfoundland Offshore Area contain less than 15 parts per million hydrocarbons. For areas on the drilling rig where oily drainage is a risk, containment measures are in place and oily water is managed to ensure that when discharged it meets guidelines. If this cannot be assured by inspection and/or testing on site, then there is provision to bring it to shore for treatment and disposal. In addition, provisions and procedures are in place to recycle some deck drainage water in the drill cuttings treatment process to minimize the use of fresh seawater.

Discharge of Glycol-based Fluids during the Installation of Subsea Equipment

During the installation of subsea infrastructure (e.g., risers, flow lines, manifolds etc.) there are routine and unavoidable losses of glycol-based hydraulic fluids containing 50-80 percent water. The volumes of these fluids that are lost vary with the installation operations being undertaken.  

Discharges from Production Operations

There are four primary discharge streams from Husky's SeaRose FPSO; bilge water, slop water, produced water and cooling water. Each discharge stream is briefly described following the table.

Authorized Discharges (m3)	2005 (Nov*-Dec)	2006	2007	2008	2009
Bilge Water	0	115.8	58	0	0
Slop Water	1,300	2,002.5	0	729.4	1,306.4
Produced Water	0	0	231,402**	1,172,780	1,805,554
Cooling Water	2,419,200	13,789,440	13,870,080	4,731,040	3,227,520

Source: Husky Energy Monthly Compliance Monitoring Reports submitted to C-NLOPB
*    Operations phase commenced in November 2005
** Produced water on March 9, 2007

Bilge Water

The bilge water system consists of a series of catchment trays and drains to collect any seawater and small leaks and spillages of diesel and lube oil from around machinery spaces. The normal route for the waste water collected by the various bilges is generally via the engine room bilge pump into the bilge hold tank. The bilge hold tank gravity feeds into the oily water separator (OWS), with the separator pump ejecting the recovered water overboard if the oil content meter confirms the oil content is within acceptable limits – 15 ppm, as stated in the Offshore Waste Treatment Guidelines. If the content is too high, the oily water can be returned to the bilge hold tank. This pump works automatically from a level controller in the hold tank, and from the oily water monitor controlling the route overboard or recirculation to the bilge hold tank. The oil is transferred to the separated bilge oil tank for storage until it can be off-loaded for transfer/disposal with all other oil and sludge tanks.

Slop Water

Slops tanks are reservoirs for collecting both rainwater (washed over the production facility from open and closed drains) and bilge water. Contents of the slops tanks undergo oil/water separation before discharging (to a level of less than 15 ppm hydrocarbon as per the Offshore Waste Treatment Guidelines).

Produced Water

Produced water is any water that is retrieved from a reservoir during oil extraction. Included in produced water is formation water, injection water which is pumped into the reservoir to maintain pressure, and process water. Produced water undergoes oil/water separation before being discharged. Water samples are taken regularly, every 12 hours at a minimum, and must have less than 60 ppm hydrocarbons based on a 24hr average, or 30 ppm hydrocarbons based on a 30-day rolling average.

Cooling Water

Seawater is pumped aboard the SeaRose FPSO and is circulated around equipment as cooling water to reduce operating temperatures. Approximately 9,840 m³ is discharged from the cooling water system daily. To prevent biofouling within the lines, cooling water is treated with chlorine and is managed such that the target residual chlorine level at discharge is less than 1.0 ppm. Between November 2005 and December 2009, the monthly average concentration of chlorine prior to release was 0.26 ppm (Note for most Canadian drinking water supplies, up to 2.0 ppm free chlorine residual is typical).