NOTICE OF APPLICATIONS
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RESOURCE CORP.
STP MCKAY THERMAL PROJECT—PHASE 2
ATHABASCA OIL SANDS AREA
ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD
APPLICATION NO. 1707306
ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT ACT
APPLICATION NO. 002-255245
WATER ACT FILE NO. 00262149
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB/Board) has received Application No. 1707306 and Alberta Environment and Water (AEW) has received Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) Application No. 002-255245 and Water Act File No. 00262149 from Southern Pacific Resource Corp. (STP) for approval to expand the STP McKay Thermal Project (the Project) to include Phase 2. This notice is to advise interested parties that the applications are available for viewing and that the ERCB, AEW, and other government departments are now undertaking a review of the applications and associated environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Description of the Project
The Phase 2 expansion of the Project would use steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) thermal technology to produce bitumen at an average rate of 3816 cubic metres per day (m3/d) (24 000 barrels per day [bbl/d]) for about 25 years. The Phase 2 expansion would increase the Project’s total bitumen production capacity to 5724 m3/d (36 000 bbl/d).
Based on current delineation, STP proposes to drill 216 well pairs from 36 well pads over the combined life of Phase 1 and Phase 2. The Project would include a central processing facility, thermal injection wells, production wells, utilities, and associated infrastructure. Major facility construction is planned to begin in the first quarter of 2014 with production anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2015.
The Project is located in Township 91, Ranges 14 and 15, West of the 4th Meridian, about 40 kilometres northwest of Fort McMurray in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area.
In support of the Project, STP has prepared and submitted the following:
- Application No. 1707306 to the ERCB, pursuant to Section 10 of the Oil Sands Conservation Act, for approval to construct and operate Phase 2 of the Project.
- Application No. 002-255245 to AEW, pursuant to Part 2, Division 2 of the EPEA, for approval to construct, operate, and reclaim Phase 2 of the Project.
- An application (File No. 00262149) to AEW, pursuant to the Water Act, to divert a maximum of 1 424 000 m3of groundwater per annum from wells completed in the Empress Formation. The production zones of the source wells would be from 75.6 m to 106.7 m below ground surface. The existing wells are located in Legal Subdivision (LSD) 8, Section 8, Township 91, Range 14, West of the 4th Meridian, LSD 16-8-91-14-W4M, and LSD 15-8-91-14-W4M. The proposed well would be located in LSD 10-80-91-14-W4M. The application would also divert 117 000 m3 of surface water runoff annually from a stormwater pond located in LSD 14-10-91-14-W4M.
- An EIA report associated with the above applications. The EIA forms part of the application to the ERCB.
To obtain a copy of the applications, contact
Southern Pacific Resource Corp.
Suite 1700, Bow Valley Square II
205 – 5th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 2V7
Attention: Mr. Vince Parsons
Telephone: 403-984-5335
Fax: 403-269-5273
E-mail: info@shpacific.com
To view a copy of the applications, EIA, and supporting documents, contact
ERCB Information Services
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Telephone: 403-297-8311 (Option 2)
(toll free: 1-855-297-8311)
Viewing hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Alberta Government Library
Great West Life Building
6th Floor, 9920 – 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2M4
Telephone: 780-427-5828
(toll free: 780-310-0000)
ERCB Fort McMurray Regional Office
2nd Floor, Provincial Building
Box 15, 9915 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, Alberta T9H 2K4
Telephone: 780-743-7214
Copies of the applications are also available for viewing at
Edmonton Public Library
Stanley A. Milner Branch
7 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2V4
Telephone: 780-496-7000
Fort McMurray Public Library
151 MacDonald Drive
Fort McMurray, Alberta T9H 5C5
Telephone: 780-743-7800
To File a Statement of Concern
Under Section 73 of EPEA and Section 109 of the Water Act, any person who may be directly affected by the EPEA application or the Water Act application may submit a written statement of concern. Statements of concern under the EPEA and Water Act must be submitted by April 6, 2012. Please quote Application No. 002-255245 (EPEA) or File No. 00262149 (Water Act) when submitting a statement of concern. If no statements of concern are received, the EPEA and Water Act applications may be approved without further notice. Failure to file a statement of concern may affect the right to file a Notice of Appeal with the Environmental Appeal Board. Please submit statements of concern to
Alberta Environment and Water
Regulatory Approvals Centre
9th floor, Oxbridge Place
9820 – 106 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2J6
Attention: Director, Northern Region
Telephone: 780-427-6311
Fax: 780-422-0154
Please note that the ERCB receives and reviews statements of concern.
Applications for Confidentiality
Section 13 of the Energy Resources Conservation Board Rules of Practice (Rules of Practice), Section 35(1) of the EPEA, and Section 15(1) of the Water Act (Ministerial) Regulation require that all documents filed in respect of these proceedings must be placed on the public record. However, any party may apply for confidentiality of information. For the ERCB, any application under Section 13(2) of the Rules of Practice must be copied to the other parties to the proceeding. For the purposes of AEW, such requests can be filed according to Section 35(4) of the EPEA and Section 15(4) of the Water Act (Ministerial) Regulation.
For information about ERCB procedures, contact
Oil Sands Branch, In Situ Applications Group
Attention: Ammar Baig
Telephone: 403-297-7365
Fax: 403-297-3187
E-mail: ammar.baig@ercb.ca
Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on January 25, 2012.
ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD
Patricia M. Johnston, Q.C., General Counsel
