Environmental and socio-economic impact assessments
Our approach
Another way we address environmental issues is through increased levels of protection when planning new projects. Environmental and socio-economic impact studies are conducted to examine how a potential project may affect the surrounding environment. These studies examine a project’s potential to impact the biological, physical, socio-economic and cultural environment of the proposed activity. If any potential project activity is identified as having an unacceptable risk to the environment, the project design is revised or mitigation measures are developed to provide the necessary environmental protection.
What we are doing
Beaufort Sea exploration program
A multi-year exploration licence covering more than 500,000 acres in the Beaufort Sea was acquired by Imperial and ExxonMobil Canada in 2007. Since then, we have been actively evaluating the oil and gas potential of this acreage. Following an extensive 3-D seismic survey in 2008, we are carrying out a baseline data collection program to support environmental and socio-economic impact assessment studies for a future exploration drilling program.
Jim Hawkins, arctic operations and regulatory manager, onboard the CCGS Amundsen in Quebec City before the ship traveled to the Beaufort Sea to collect field data on the Ajurak exploration block.
In 2009, we collaborated with ArcticNet, a network within the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada, to gather biological and physical data associated with our Ajurak licence area. Researchers and local Inuvialuit participants on board two ice-breakers documented the environmental conditions in the region near the Ajurak license area. Studies undertaken included monitoring the distribution of whales and polar bears, studying fish and zooplankton present in the water column and monitoring life found on the seafloor of the lease area. Also, water and sediment quality in water depths of up to one kilometre deep were studied to understand the baseline conditions in areas where our project may operate in the future. In addition to field studies, Imperial is working with local Inuvialuit communities to collect traditional knowledge, an important source of information to help understand the natural environment in which we operate. Our environmental and socio-economic impact assessment for this program will also take into consideration results from the BP-TransOcean incident investigation in the Gulf of Mexico. We will incorporate lessons learned about spill response and well control, as appropriate. The work on the Ajurak program is ongoing and we remain committed to safety and environmental protection.
Horn River Basin
In 2009 and early 2010, the Fort Nelson First Nation Lands Office conducted a traditional land use study of our exploration acreage in the Horn River Basin near Fort Nelson, B.C. The study involved archeological assessments, as well as the collection of interview data and field work on the traditional use and occupancy of the land by First Nations people. As a result, it was determined that a traditional meeting place was located in a planned road access area, and a spot where flint knapping, or stone-tool making, once took place was on a projected site for a borrow pit. The road was redrawn and the borrow pit was relocated to prevent any impact to the historically significant areas.
Cold Lake expansion project – Nabiye
In 2009, Imperial commissioned a review to determine the potential environmental effects of the proposed modifications to the design of Imperial’s Nabiye expansion project. Imperial proposed three modifications to the project: the addition of a cogeneration plant and hydrogen sulphide removal facilities, and a reduction to the surface footprint of the field development. The review looked at potential effects on air, water, vegetation and wildlife and used the 2002 Nabiye and Mahihkan North Environmental Impact Assessment for comparison. Additional information, including current monitoring and study data, updated regulatory requirements or limits and modeling results, were also incorporated. In the end, it was determined that the proposed project changes would result in similar or reduced environmental effects compared with the approved project.