|
Offshore East Coast Canada production comes from our interests in the Terra Nova Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility, which we operate, as well as the partnered operated Hibernia and White Rose developments. We continue to expand around existing projects and also have an interest in a proposed project known as Hebron Ben Nevis.
As the Operator of Terra Nova, our East Coast team has invested heavily in the reduction of the amount oil in water content in produced water, which is discharged from offshore installations. We made these investments to improve upon our already solid environmental performance, as well as to comply with regulatory requirements.
Emerging greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant regulations are being closely watched for their implications with respect to East Coast operations. The Terra Nova FPSO continues to implement process improvements to its gas compression and flaring systems. These improvements, which are focused on gas compression reliability, will assist Petro-Canada to better manage flare volumes, thereby reducing GHG and air pollutant emissions from the FPSO.
Learn more about:
Partnering with Newfoundland and Labrador
We recognize that the development of the Terra Nova oilfield represents a significant industrial opportunity for Canada and, in particular, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Our Canada-Newfoundland Benefits Plan details our strategies to meet the legislative requirements of the Canada-Newfoundland provisions of the Atlantic Accord Acts. Our procurement plan requires that local suppliers be provided a full and fair opportunity to participate on a competitive basis in the supply of goods and services. First consideration is given to those located within the province, provided they are competitive in terms of fair market price, quality and delivery. As well, our approach to human resources is to first consider training and employment of residents of the province. In fact, more than 90% of our employees have been hired locally.
In addition to bringing business benefits to Newfoundland and Labrador, we are also committed to contributing to the community. Petro-Canada has long been associated with supporting various initiatives and organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2007, we expanded our reach to include two $500,000 capital campaigns. As a result of our support, the Boys and Girls Club of St. John’s will be constructing a much needed facility in the centre of the city. The Fluvarium, a freshwater resource centre specializing in environmental education, will also be revitalized thanks in part to a sponsorship from Petro-Canada.
Leaders in Safety
We are also extremely proud of our safety record and performance. Any industrial environment inherently has potential risks to safety and the environment and, in our offshore operation, there is the added complication of an extreme marine climate. This is a managed risk environment, one where safety and environmental protection are always a top priority.
Demonstrating this commitment to safety, our East Coast operations reduced their total recordable injury frequency by 54% in 2007, compared with 2006. We introduced an exposure-based safety program for onshore and offshore employees and contractors. We continue to work with our local contractors through our Zero-Harm forums, as we further our goal to achieve and sustain Zero-Harm.
2007 President’s Award for Safety
These efforts have not gone unnoticed. The East Cost Operations team was rewarded with Petro-Canada’s highest award for safety, the 2007 President’s Award for Safety. The intent of the President’s Award Program is to recognize one or more operating areas and/or projects each year for achieving a Zero-Harm workplace of 250,000 hours or more through use of innovation, technology, employee engagement, or effective transfer of learning.
Process Safety
The East Coast region has also been an active participant in Petro-Canada’s process safety initiatives. Process operations on offshore installations can be particularly challenging due to a number of factors, but those challenges can also be educational. Tapping into knowledge from our own experiences, and from other industries, is a big part of our safety culture at Terra Nova.
A Commitment to the Environment
Given the harsh and challenging environment of the Grand Banks, which experiences high winds and seas, as well as fog, ice and icebergs on a seasonal basis, our stakeholders expect that we will demonstrate a high level of due diligence with regard to the environment.
The East Coast region has a highly developed regulatory regime—we work actively with the regulator and through our industry associations to influence new regulations and to transfer effective practices from other operating locations. Together with our partners, we participate in an annual Synergy exercise that is designed to test our environmental response capabilities. As well, we are constantly revising and changing our methods to respond to the challenging nature of working in the North Atlantic.
|