Proposed Site
Surveys and core sample drilling help us to gain better understanding of the oil sands resource on undeveloped leases, its quality and distance from the surface. Environmental assessments are also completed to provide a complete picture of local ecosystems, vegetation and geographical features to inform future reclamation. The oil sands found on Syncrude’s leases are accessed via mining operations. Syncrude does not operate in situ facilities.
Stakeholder and Customer Consultation
Syncrude consults with a wide range of interested groups and individuals about our plans. The input and expectations of stakeholders are integral to the decisions we make today and how we plan for the future. Furthermore, Syncrude and its owners work continuously to understand present and future requirements for refinery customers that process our Syncrude Crude Oil blend. These requirements are influenced by regulators and by end-use customers.
Research and Development
Science and technology provide the keys to unlocking the potential of the oil sands resource and improving our performance. In this area, Syncrude leads the way with one of the few dedicated corporate R&D programs in the oil sands industry. We are among the top 20 corporate R&D spenders in Canada, investing $107 million in 2014 alone in the pursuit of new and better ways. In addition, we currently hold over 150 active Canadian and U.S. patents. About 100 scientists and technologists work at our Research and Development Centre in Edmonton, and many more are engaged in research at a fundamental level through their work at universities and research institutes.
Purchase of Goods and Services
Syncrude helps sustain local and regional economies through the purchase of goods and services. In 2014, non-energy procurement amounted to about $7.4 billion. Governments also benefit through Syncrude’s payment of taxes and royalties – $1.2 billion in 2014.
Construction and Operations
Whether it’s fabrication, new construction or ongoing maintenance activities, we directly and indirectly employ many thousands of people across the country. In fact, Syncrude is one of the largest employers of Aboriginal people in Canada. Syncrude is seen as an employer of choice in the region, with 82 per cent of new hires from the local area. Syncrude has also been recognized as one of Alberta’s best workplaces.
Utilities
Utilities produce steam, electricity and air, and treat the water, required to run plant operations. Syncrude is a net exporter to the Alberta power grid, producing more electricity than it uses.
Mining
Shovels and trucks remove muskeg, overburden and earth overlying the oil sands at Syncrude’s Mildred Lake and Aurora sites. This material is put aside for reclamation activities. Shovels and trucks mine the oil sand, which is mixed with warm water to create a slurry that is pumped by pipeline to our extraction facilities.
Extraction
The slurry is fed into separation vessels, where the bitumen floats to the surface as froth. This froth is diluted with naphtha and fed into centrifuges, which spin out water and solids. Finally, the naphtha is removed, leaving clean bitumen, which is piped to our upgrading operation.
Upgrading
The cleaned bitumen goes into one of Syncrude’s three fluid cokers or a hydrocracker, where it is thermally cracked into hydrocarbon gases, naphtha and gas oils. The hydrocarbon gases are treated for use as refinery fuel. The naphtha and gas oils are further treated and blended into high quality light, sweet crude oil.
Delivery of Crude Oil
Syncrude Crude Oil becomes the property of the Joint Venture owners upon being shipped from our site. The oil is transported by pipelines to refineries throughout North America, where it is turned into gasoline and diesel fuels, jet fuels and chemical feedstocks. Syncrude is not responsible for marketing our product.
Mine Completion and Land Formation
After mining is complete, work starts to reclaim the land. Overburden, sand and/or tailings fill up former mines. Geotechnical engineers guide the design of the landscape while placement of muskeg, peat and organic matter from the forest floor are transferred from future mine areas.
Reclamation
Vegetation specialists manage native plants, shrubs and trees to recreate diverse boreal forest ecosystems. About a quarter of our footprint has either been fully reclaimed or is undergoing reclamation. Over seven million tree and shrub seedlings have been planted in these areas. Syncrude is the first oil sands operator to receive government certification for reclaimed land. Certification was received in 2008 for a 104-hectare area known as Gateway Hill, which was planted in the early 1980s.
Syncrude Oil Sands Leases
The long life and high quality resource base of Syncrude’s oil sands leases provide our Joint Venture participants with a sound platform for continued sustainable operations and future growth. All of Syncrude’s leases can be mined and are among the best in the Athabasca deposit for quality of ore, low stripping ratios, and low total volume-to-bitumen in place, all of which enhance the economics of the Syncrude project. Syncrude uses the Dean & Stark extraction quality assurance method to test core samples and provide an accurate picture of the oil contained within its leases. Our operations are not located on, or adjacent to, any protected area, park or nature reserve.
Key Performance Indicators
Biodiversity
Wildlife Incidents
| |
|
|
Number of Incidents
|
| Avian1 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 488 |
12 |
24 |
47 |
128 |
|
| Other Animal2 |
| 2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
| 16 |
12 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
|
1 Includes all bird and waterfowl mortalities related to oiling. Incidents are reported to Alberta Environment and Parks. An additional 23 mortalities were related to vehicle collision, natural or unknown causes.
2 Includes all animal mortalities, exclusive of birds and waterfowl, regardless of cause, including those in which the cause was natural, due to predation or unknown.
Air Quality
Air Emissions
| |
|
Ozone-depleting substances 1
(kg of CFC11 equivalent/year) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,316 |
1,653 |
1,332 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sulphur dioxide
(thousand tonnes/year) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 72.77 |
64.73 |
72.97 |
63.13 |
25.43 |
|
Sulphur dioxide emission intensity
(kg/m3 production) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 4.22 |
3.84 |
4.34 |
4.02 |
1.67 |
|
Sulphur dioxide emission intensity
(tonnes/thousand barrels production) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.67 |
0.61 |
0.69 |
0.64 |
0.27 |
|
Nitrogen oxides
(thousand tonnes/year) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 30.85 |
30.65 |
27.67 |
26.11 |
26.73 |
|
Nitrogen oxides emission intensity
(kg/m3 production) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1.79 |
1.82 |
1.66 |
1.67 |
1.75 |
|
Nitrogen oxides emission intensity
(tonnes/thousand barrels production) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.28 |
0.29 |
0.26 |
0.26 |
0.28 |
|
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)1
(thousand tonnes/year) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 13.77 |
12.41 |
12.41 |
28.21 |
29.01 |
|
VOC emission intensity1
(kg/m3 production) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.80 |
0.74 |
0.74 |
1.80 |
1.90 |
|
VOC emission intensity1
(tonnes/thousand barrels production) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.13 |
0.12 |
0.12 |
0.29 |
0.30 |
|
PM - Total particulate matter
(tonnes/year) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 16,408 |
15,796 |
13,929 |
14,052 |
18,067 |
|
PM10 - Particulate matter <= 10 microns
(tonnes/year) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 5,829 |
5,270 |
4,868 |
5,124 |
6,633 |
|
PM2.5 - Particulate matter <= 2.5 microns
(tonnes/year) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,191 |
971 |
972 |
1,096 |
1,391 |
|
Sour gas diverting
(tonnes/day SO2) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.4 |
0.9 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
1.11 |
|
Flaring (emergency and non-emergency)
(million standard m3) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 148.2 |
133.4 |
136.4 |
177.3 |
222.8 |
|
Flaring Intensity (emergency and non-emergency)
(m3/m3 production) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 8.60 |
7.90 |
8.12 |
11.29 |
14.66 |
|
1 Syncrude reports annually to the National Pollutant Release Inventory. A comprehensive annual breakdown of substances reported, including VOCs, can be found at
http://www.ec.gc.ca/inrp-npri/
and typing “Syncrude” in the Facility Name search field.
Key Air Indicators
| |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015
target |
|
Diverter stack usage
(hours/year) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 56.28 |
118.09 |
90.79 |
97.70 |
268.70 |
< 100 |
|
Sour gas flaring
(tonnes/day SO2) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 2.3 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
7.4 |
8.23 |
< 5 |
|
Main stack sulphur dioxide
(hours greater than 16.4 tonnes per hour) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Main stack sulphur dioxide
(90-day rolling average >245 tonnes) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Main stack nitrogen oxides
(# of hours > 1.5 tonnes per hour) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Main stack opacity
(# hours > 40) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 5 |
9 |
4 |
21 |
656 |
< 5 |
|
Ambient air exceedences H2S hourly
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 0 |
13 |
14 |
1 |
11 |
0 |
|
Ambient air exceedences H2S 24-hour period
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 0 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Ambient air exceedences SO2 hourly
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ambient air exceedences SO2
24-hour period
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Odour incidents
(# attributed to Syncrude)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 0 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
|
Climate Change
Energy Use & Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| |
|
|
Energy Use
|
Total energy consumption
(billion BTUs) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2015 |
| 136,623 |
136,647 |
133,926 |
131,213 |
131,902 |
|
Energy intensity
(million BTUs per barrel) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1.26 |
1.27 |
1.28 |
1.31 |
1.39 |
|
Energy intensity reduction
(% as compared to 1990) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 7.2 |
6.6 |
6.3 |
4.8 |
1.0 |
|
EROEI
(Energy Returned on Energy Invested – ratio of million BTUs of crude oil product per million BTUs of energy consumed) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 4.4 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
4.3 |
4.0 |
|
|
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
|
GHGs - millions of tonnes
(as per Environment Canada quantification guidelines) 1,4 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 12.72 |
12.87 |
12.37 |
12.46 |
11.90 |
|
GHGs - millions of tonnes
(as per Specified Gas Emitters Regulation) 2,3,4 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 11.09 |
11.24 |
10.67 |
10.91 |
10.37 |
|
| GHGs - tonnes CO2e per barrel produced 2,3,4 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.10 |
0.11 |
0.10 |
0.11 |
0.11 |
|
| GHGs - tonnes CO2e per cubic metre produced 2,3,4 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.64 |
0.67 |
0.63 |
0.68 |
0.68 |
|
1 As reported to Environment Canada. Emission calculations for the purpose of provincial and federal regulatory reporting will differ, as certain sources of emissions are excluded.
2 CO2 equivalent emissions reported include all Syncrude sources (net of industrial process, biomass, and waste and wastewater emissions) as reported to the Government of Alberta under the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER).
3 Syncrude’s GHG emission estimates were verified by Conestoga-Rovers & Associates to satisfy the ‘Third party Review’ required by the SGER.
4 Syncrude is a large producer of electricity and is a net exporter to the Alberta grid. Syncrude exported 210,000 Megawatt hours of electricity in 2014. Emissions from electrical power generation are included in the Syncrude total and are part of the intensity calculated on a per-barrel produced basis.
Land Reclamation
Land Use
| |
|
Cleared
(cumulative hectares)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 3,072 |
2,597 |
3,719 |
3,526 |
3,876 |
|
Disturbed: land used for mine or plant purposes
(hectares)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 16,954 |
18,287 |
19,155 |
19,552 |
19,984 |
|
Total active footprint – mine and plant site footprint
(hectares)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 25,265 |
25,858 |
27,861 |
28,120 |
28,951 |
|
Reclamation material moved
(million tonnes)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 41 |
40 |
37 |
27 |
17 |
|
Soils placed – land available for revegetation
(hectares) 1
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,216 |
1,202 |
1,086 |
1,075 |
1,047 |
|
Temporary reclamation
(cumulative hectares) 1
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 422 |
690 |
690 |
668 |
632 |
|
Permanent land reclaimed
(hectares per year)
1
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 130 |
200 |
330 |
103 |
62 (target)
81 (actual) |
|
Permanent land reclaimed
(cumulative hectares)
1,2,3
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 3,572 |
3,186 |
3,316 |
3,403 |
3,516 |
|
Trees and shrubs planted
(# per year)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 250,000 |
356,000 |
954,000 |
305,000 |
157,000 |
|
Trees and shrubs planted
(millions, cumulative)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 5.5 |
5.9 |
6.9 |
7.2 |
7.4 |
|
1In 2010, the Government of Alberta established a new definition for “permanent reclamation.” For an area to be considered reclaimed, it must be revegetated in accordance with government-approved plans. Syncrude’s prior definition of a reclaimed area was land that, at a minimum, had been shaped, formed, capped with soil and ready for revegetation. This change resulted in the reclassification of land previously reported by Syncrude in our reclamation numbers. We have amended our data to ensure consistency with government reports.
2Includes land certified by the Alberta Government.
3Numbers include the addition of all newly reclaimed areas, as well as any reclamation losses due to redisturbance that may occur. Every effort is made to minimize disturbance of permanently reclaimed areas; however, by progressively reclaiming, we may reclaim areas that are later required for operations or other reclamation activities, such as soil stockpiling.
Note: Syncrude conducts quality assurance checks of reclamation data in support of the Alberta Government geospatial database submission requirement. This process involves survey and investigation to verify field conditions, interpretation of air photos and satellite imagery to adjust boundaries, and analysis of historic data and classification. This work can result in adjustments to previously reported information. Numbers reflect land classification status as of December 31st, 2014, as reported to the Government of Alberta.
Tailings Management
Tailings Management Performance
| |
|
|
Mildred Lake
|
Fines capture, annual
(thousand tonnes) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,388 |
3,115 |
1,932 |
3,605 |
5,391 |
|
Fines capture, annual*
(%) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 15.7 |
18.8 |
12.3 |
25.7 |
47.8 |
|
Fines capture, cumulative
(thousand tonnes) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,388 |
4,503 |
6,435 |
10,040 |
15,431 |
|
|
Aurora North
|
Fines capture, annual
(thousand tonnes) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4,058 |
|
Fines capture, annual*
(%) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
25.0 |
|
Fines capture, cumulative
(thousand tonnes) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4,058 |
|
*
Note: There are currently several differences in the way oil sands operators measure fines and therefore the percentage of fines which must be captured. Our methods, which yield higher fines values, are reflected in the numbers reported in this table. Work is underway through Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) to standardize measurement procedures.
Water Management
Water Use
| |
|
Fresh water withdrawal
(million m3)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 34.1 |
38.5 |
39.6 |
37.2 |
38.8 |
|
Fresh water use intensity
(barrel water/barrel production SCO)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1.97 |
2.28 |
2.35 |
2.37 |
2.55 |
|
Fresh water use intensity
(barrel water/barrel bitumen)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1.70 |
1.93 |
2.03 |
2.09 |
2.18 |
|
Water returned to the Athabasca River - treated sanitary
(million m3)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.32 |
0.32 |
0.31 |
0.27 |
0.30 |
|
Water returned to the Athabasca River - other
(million m3)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 10.5 |
7.9 |
4.8 |
5.9 |
6.5 |
|
Process water recycled
(millions m3)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 278 |
270 |
242 |
259 |
218 |
|
Process water recycled
(% of total water used)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 89 |
88 |
86 |
87 |
85 |
|
Water discharge quality exceedences (treated sanitary)
(# of incidents)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Water discharge quality exceedences (industrial process)
(# of incidents)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Reportable spills to natural water bodies
(m3) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Note: Fresh water withdrawal and use reported here is for production use only. The Sandhill Fen watershed research project diverted 0.002 Mm3 of fresh water in 2014 from the Athabasca River. Under regulatory approval, an additional 6.56 Mm3 was diverted from Beaver Creek Reservoir for the Base Mine Lake project.
Waste Management
Waste Management
| |
|
Non Hazardous Waste Recycled or Reused
Solid (tonnes)1
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 28,913 |
28,157 |
19,268 |
20,035 |
15,803 |
|
Non Hazardous Waste Recycled or Reused
Liquid (m3)2
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 4,280 |
2,858 |
1,700 |
1,917 |
4,378 |
|
Non Hazardous Waste On Site Disposal
(tonnes)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 41,218 |
17,807 |
38,329 |
25,176 |
13,336 |
|
Non Hazardous Waste Off Site Disposal
(tonnes)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 3 |
15 |
3 |
29 |
99 |
|
Solid Hazardous or Potentially Hazardous Materials Sent for Offsite Recycling
(tonnes)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 4,009 |
5,551 |
593 |
2,790 |
2,864 |
|
Solid Hazardous or Potentially Hazardous Materials Sent for Offsite Treatment or Destruction
(tonnes)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 2 |
98 |
102 |
382 |
3,391 |
|
Liquid Hazardous or Potentially Hazardous Material Sent for Offsite Treatment or Destruction
(m3)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1 |
1 |
1 |
<1 |
31 |
|
Sanitary Non-Hazardous Disposal – Onsite
(tonnes)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,027 |
720 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sanitary Non-Hazardous Disposal – Off-site
(tonnes) 3
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 874 |
1,098 |
2,603 |
2,603 |
3,060 |
|
1 Includes recycled materials such as catalyst, scrap metal, tires, conveyor belting batteries aerosols, oil/fuel filters, oily rags, refrigerant, plastic and metal drums, electronic waste, fluorescent tubes, kitchen grease, paper/cardboard/newsprint, beverage containers and printer cartridges.
2 Includes used oil and used solvents.
3 In August of 2010, Syncrude began sending most of the sanitary waste generated at Syncrude to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s landfill.
Aboriginal Relations
Aboriginal Workforce
| |
|
| Number of Employees |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 484 |
492 |
474 |
467 |
464 |
|
| Percentage of permanent workforce |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 8.4 |
8.6 |
9.1 |
8.8 |
8.9 |
|
Aboriginal Business
| |
|
| $ billions cumulative |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1.57 |
1.72 |
1.87 |
2.05 |
2.28 |
|
| $ millions annually |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 148 |
145 |
147 |
186 |
228 |
|
Community and Stakeholder Relations
Corporate Donations
| |
|
| $ millions |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 5.0 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
6.6 |
6.0 |
|
Includes donations made under the Community Investment Program, Aboriginal Community Investment Program, sponsorships and gifts-in-kind.
People
Workforce by the Numbers
| |
|
| Total permanent workforce |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 5,689 |
5,515 |
5,083 |
5,188 |
5,121 |
|
| % under age 20 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.1 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
| % age 20-24 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 6.9 |
5.2 |
4.7 |
2.3 |
2.8 |
|
| % age 25-29 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 14.2 |
14.3 |
14.2 |
12.9 |
13.4 |
|
| % age 30-34 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 14.1 |
14.5 |
15.1 |
14.9 |
14.8 |
|
| % age 35-39 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 12.1 |
11.8 |
12.1 |
13.7 |
13.6 |
|
| % age 40-44 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 12.0 |
12.4 |
13.0 |
12.5 |
12.4 |
|
| % age 45-49 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 13.7 |
14.0 |
14.4 |
13.1 |
13.2 |
|
| % age 50-54 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 15.2 |
14.8 |
15.7 |
15.3 |
15.4 |
|
| % age 55-59 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 9.0 |
10.9 |
8.4 |
10.9 |
10.3 |
|
| % over age 60 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 2.6 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
4.3 |
4.0 |
|
| Trades and operators |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 3,132 |
3,094 |
2,827 |
2,848 |
2,827 |
|
| Administrative, professional and technical |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 2,557 |
2,421 |
2,256 |
2,340 |
2,294 |
|
| Temporary and casual |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 102 |
145 |
133 |
156 |
127 |
|
| Employees covered by collective bargaining agreements (%) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| New permanent employees – all categories |
| All categories |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 569 |
234 |
326 |
508 |
138 |
|
| Trades and operators |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 395 |
172 |
189 |
331 |
95 |
|
| Administrative, professional and technical |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 174 |
62 |
137 |
177 |
43 |
|
| New employees - diversity |
| Aboriginal |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 59 |
36 |
32 |
32 |
16 |
|
| Female |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 111 |
45 |
88 |
113 |
28 |
|
| Recruiting effectiveness |
| New hire acceptance rate (% of offers) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 88 |
89 |
94 |
82 |
91 |
|
| Local hires (% of all new hires) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 72 |
71 |
76 |
74 |
82 |
|
| Job applications received (#) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 44,343 |
25,452 |
57,899 |
55,598 |
29,572 |
|
1
Fewer applications in 2011 and 2014 reflect a reduced number of job postings during those years.
Scholarships, Bursaries and Endowments
| |
|
|
Annual scholarships, bursaries and endowments ($)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,054,800 |
940,415 |
1,033,200 |
971,964 |
814,329 |
|
| Numbers of employee student scholarships |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 461 |
516 |
558 |
553 |
461 |
|
| Number of tuition refunds to Syncrude employees |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 84 |
144 |
130 |
106 |
129 |
|
Human Resources Scorecard
| |
|
| Employee Productivity |
| Thousand barrels of crude oil per employee |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 18,815 |
19,174 |
20,628 |
18,785 |
18,391 |
|
| Average employee service (in years) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 9.2 |
9.6 |
9.5 |
9.5 |
8.9 |
|
| Female |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 7.9 |
8.6 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.2 |
|
| Aboriginal |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 9.6 |
10.2 |
10.2 |
10.8 |
10.7 |
|
| Leadership Development |
| % leaders completed training |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 57 |
60 |
59 |
62 |
66 |
|
| % leaders completed diversity training |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 64 |
69 |
61 |
67 |
69 |
|
|
% leaders completed harassment and discrimination awareness training
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 64 |
73 |
65 |
78 |
77 |
|
| Diversity |
| Aboriginal representation 1: |
| Number of Employees |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 484 |
492 |
474 |
452 |
451 |
|
| % of permanent Syncrude workforce |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 8.4 |
8.6 |
9.1 |
8.7 |
8.9 |
|
| % of new hires |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 10.4 |
15.4 |
9.8 |
6.3 |
11.6 |
|
| Aboriginal leaders (% of permanent Syncrude leaders) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 5.8 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.2 |
5.8 |
|
| Female representation: |
| Number of Employees |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,011 |
950 |
958 |
988 |
958 |
|
| % of permanent Syncrude workforce |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 18.9 |
18.6 |
18.8 |
19.0 |
18.7 |
|
| % of new hires |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 19.5 |
19.2 |
27.0 |
22.2 |
20.3 |
|
| Female leaders (% of permanent Syncrude leaders) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 10.6 |
11.8 |
12.7 |
11.6 |
12.3 |
|
| Attrition (% of Syncrude workforce) |
| All employees, including retirements |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 8.0 |
5.5 |
14.2 |
7.5 |
4.0 |
|
| Employee initiated termination |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 4.0 |
2.6 |
7.4 |
4.7 |
2.0 |
|
| Company initiated termination |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1.2 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
|
| Retirements |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 2.7 |
1.9 |
5.8 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
|
| Aboriginal |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 10.2 |
5.6 |
10.4 |
8.2 |
6.0 |
|
| Female |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 10.1 |
6.5 |
12.7 |
8.3 |
28.5 |
|
| Trades and operators |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 6.9 |
4.9 |
12.1 |
8.5 |
45.8 |
|
| Administrative, professional and technical |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 9.4 |
6.3 |
16.1 |
6.8 |
54.2 |
|
| Ratio of standard entry level wage to minimum wage 2 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 3.6 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
|
| Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) utilization |
| # of clients as % of Syncrude workforce |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 16.7 |
18.5 |
16.3 |
16.8 |
19.7 |
|
| Training |
| % hours in training per employee/per annum |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1.1 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
2.1 |
|
| Employee recognition |
|
# of recognitions to employees
3
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 5,912 |
6,415 |
5,081 |
6,519 |
5,457 |
|
| Ethics |
| Anonymous submissions to EthicsPoint |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 16 |
13 |
11 |
15 |
18 |
|
1 Self-declaration only; Syncrude does not mandate employees to disclose cultural or minority status.
2 Based on basic wage for entry level trades/operators position and Alberta hourly minimum wage of each reporting year.
3 Includes service and safety awards.
4 In 2014, 18 calls were received by EthicsPoint, of which one led to a confirmed breach of corporate ethics.
Safety and Health
Safety and Health
| |
|
| Employee lost-time incident (LTI) rate1 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.09 |
0.07 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.09 |
|
| Contractor lost-time incident (LTI) rate1 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.04 |
0.09 |
0.05 |
0.05 |
0.05 |
|
| Combined employee and contractor lost-time incident (LTI) rate1 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.06 |
0.08 |
0.04 |
0.04 |
0.06 |
|
|
Employee lost-time injuries (#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 5 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
Contractor lost-time injuries (#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 4 |
8 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
|
Combined employee and contractor lost-time injuries
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 9 |
12 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
|
| Employee total recordable incident (TRI) rate1 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.36 |
0.83 |
0.66 |
0.71 |
0.56 |
|
| Contractor total recordable incident (TRI) rate1 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.47 |
0.70 |
0.80 |
0.71 |
0.62 |
|
| Combined employee and contractor total recordable incident (TRI) rate1 |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0.43 |
0.75 |
0.76 |
0.71 |
0.60 |
|
|
Employee recordable injuries
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 21 |
48 |
36 |
38 |
30 |
|
|
Contractor recordable injuries
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2009 |
| 43 |
66 |
97 |
103 |
81 |
|
|
Combined employee and contractor recordable injuries
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 64 |
114 |
133 |
141 |
111 |
|
| Syncrude injury severity rate |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 6.54 |
7.55 |
0.60 |
2.25 |
4.60 |
|
| Contractor injury severity rate |
| 2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
| 4.18 |
11.92 |
2.52 |
5.45 |
2.44 |
|
| Syncrude and contractor injury severity rate |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 5.09 |
10.26 |
1.92 |
4.59 |
3.07 |
|
|
Injury-free performance – maximum hours between LTIs
(millions of hours)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 13.1 |
10.9 |
5.9 |
10.2 |
10.7 |
|
|
Employee health – new long-term disability
(LTD)
cases
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 22 |
32 |
28 |
29 |
21 |
|
|
Employee and contractor health – health centre visits
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 15,025 |
16,088 |
14,049 |
14,262 |
13,349 |
|
|
Employee fatalities
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2009 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Contractor fatalities
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
| On-site responses by emergency services (#) |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 2,095 |
1,986 |
1,487 |
2,032 |
1,698 |
|
|
Off-site responses by emergency services
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 72 |
68 |
82 |
68 |
96 |
|
|
SH&E professionals on staff
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 107 |
97 |
118 |
122 |
104 |
|
|
Workforce represented in formal joint management-worker H&S committees
(i.e. safe operating committees)2
(%)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
|
Health and safety convictions
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
On-site workforce3
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 14,963 |
15,178 |
16,830 |
18,923 |
17,532 |
|
|
Workforce hours
(millions)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 29.9 |
30.4 |
35.3 |
39.7 |
37.0 |
|
1 Syncrude changed its illness and injury classification and reporting system effective January 1st, 2011. Occupational illnesses are now included in the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) and the Lost-Time Incident Rate (LTIR).
2 Safe Operating Committees are a requirement of the Operations Integrity Management System; official tracking of participation began in 2011.
3 Full-time equivalent.
Definitions:
A lost-time incident is an injury/illness that requires medical attention and results in the worker being absent from work beyond the day of the injury/illness; lost-time incident statistics include all lost time injuries/illnesses and fatalities.
Total recordable incident rate includes all injuries/illnesses requiring medical attention, involving work restrictions, or that resulted in a worker being absent from work (recordable injury/illness statistics include all non-first aid injuries/illnesses); it is expressed as injuries/illness per 200,000 work hours.
Injury severity is the average rate of lost workdays per lost-time injury/illness; only lost-time injuries/illness have days lost.
Finance, Operations and Resource Management
Operations Summary
| |
|
|
Crude oil production1
|
| Millions of barrels per year |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 107.0 |
105.2 |
104.9 |
97.5 |
94.2 |
|
| Thousands of barrels per day |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 293 |
288 |
286 |
267 |
258 |
|
| Millions of cubic metres per year |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 17.01 |
16.70 |
16.70 |
15.50 |
14.98 |
|
Realized SCO selling price
($ per barrel)4
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 80.53 |
101.20 |
91.90 |
99.55 |
99.24 |
|
|
Average West Texas Intermediate ($ per barrel)4
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 79.61 |
95.11 |
94.15 |
98.05 |
92.91 |
|
|
Total operating costs2
|
| Millions of dollars |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 4,040.2 |
4,344.4 |
4,428.7 |
4,379.8 |
4,845.9 |
|
| $ per barrel of production |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 37.74 |
41.28 |
42.24 |
44.94 |
51.55 |
|
|
Expenditures and revenue
|
Capital expenditures3
(millions of dollars)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,376.7 |
1,477.4 |
2,501.7 |
3,232.6 |
2,036.6 |
|
|
Research and development expenditures (millions of dollars)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 74.0 |
92.0 |
158.2 |
192.0 |
107.4 |
|
|
Revenues4
(millions of dollars)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 8,655 |
10,708 |
9,706 |
9,703 |
9,306 |
|
|
Retained earnings5
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| – |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|
|
Operations
|
Bitumen produced
(million barrels)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 126.3 |
125.2 |
121.2 |
117.8 |
111.9 |
|
Bitumen produced
(million cubic metres)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 20.1 |
19.9 |
19.3 |
18.7 |
17.8 |
|
|
Bitumen recovery
(%)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 90.7 |
91.7 |
91.6 |
91.0 |
91.2 |
|
|
Upgrading yield
(%)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 85.8 |
85.7 |
86.3 |
85.2 |
84.9 |
|
|
Spills6
(cubic metres)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Environmental compliance incidents7
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 5 |
4 |
17 |
28 |
12 |
|
|
Environmental fines
($ millions)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 3.2 |
0 |
08 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Environmental protection orders
(#)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 Production is Syncrude crude oil shipped.
2 Operating costs are costs related to the mining of oil sands, the extraction and upgrading of bitumen into Syncrude Crude Oil (SCO), and maintenance of facilities; they also include administration costs, start-up costs, research, and purchased energy, but do not include development expenses. There is no generally accepting accounting definition as to what constitutes “Operating Costs.”
3 Capital expenditures includes development expense related to sustaining capital and growth capital projects. The accounting treatment of certain costs may vary significantly between different producers; some producers may elect to capitalize or defer and amortize certain expenditures that are recorded as an expense by other producers, and may segment “Corporate” costs.
4 Production of Syncrude Crude Oil (SCO) becomes the property of Syncrude’s Joint Venture owners at point of departure from the Syncrude plant. As the operator, Syncrude does not collect revenue from the sale of crude oil or other products. Selling price and revenue reported here reflects only that of Canadian Oil Sands Limited, a 36.74 per cent owner, grossed up for 100 per cent Syncrude, and is solely meant to provide an indication of performance.
5 Syncrude’s annual operating and capital expenditures are funded pro-rata by Syncrude’s Joint Venture owners.
6 Numbers have been restated to reflect only those spills or leaks of hydrocarbons, chemicals, waste water and/or recycle water which were not fully captured nor directed into approved containment or disposal. Releases are reported to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP). During the reporting period, no spills occurred off-lease or into the surrounding environment. In 2014, 150 m3 of clean surface runoff water was discharged into a ditch that connects to a local creek. This water had not come into contact with oil sand or process affected water, and we are confident the release did not enter the creek. A water sample was taken and results were within approved regulated limits.
7 An Environmental Compliance Incident is a failure, equipment bypass, or upset, that results in a numerical limit exceedence or operating without a control device (or a malfunctioning control device) as identified in Syncrude’s Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) Operating Approval. Control devices not in service or malfunctioning were added to this metric in 2012. Data prior to 2012 includes only those incidents of limit exceedences.
8 In 2012, an administrative penalty of $5,000 was paid to the Government of Alberta for failure to sufficiently report the release of emissions due to an isolated on-site sour water leak in July 2010.
Note: These figures may differ from those reported by any of the Joint Venture participants due to differences in reporting conventions and methodology.
Economic Contribution by Category
($ millions)
| |
|
| Royalties, payroll & municipal taxes |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1,204 |
1,269 |
853 |
1,064 |
1,204 |
|
|
Purchased energy1
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 458 |
528 |
339 |
392 |
560 |
|
|
Employees (salaries and benefits)
|
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 843 |
907 |
866 |
849 |
702 |
|
| Goods and services |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 3,924 |
4,191 |
5,510 |
6,289 |
5,503 |
|
| Total |
| 2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| 6,430 |
6,895 |
7,568 |
8,594 |
7,969 |
|
1 Includes expenditures related to purchased bitumen.
Due to rounding, some figures may not add up to the calculated total.
