Pierre River Mine Project

AIR ERCB SIRS 40 – 45
Question No. 41
Section 6.1
Request Volume 1, Section 11.1, Page 11-28, Supplemental Information Responses.
Shell states, “A cold period is when additional thermal energy is required to
provide heat inputs to oil sands feed and recycle water. Typically, this additional
thermal energy will be provided by the co-generation units. However, during
extreme winter conditions, or if there is capacity constraints as a result of
undefined downtime of the co-generation unit, then one or more of the auxiliary
boilers will be brought into service. Currently, historical data is not available to
determine how frequently this backup heat generation will be required. Some of
the main factors that define the cold period (or winter conditions) are:
• oils sands feed temperatures being below 0°C
• raw water and reclaim water makeup at, or below, 2°C
• recycle pond temperatures below 5°C”
41a Provide a discussion whereby Shell utilizes historical temperature records and
its experience at the Muskeg River Mine and Jackpine Mine Phase-1 operations.
Provide a conservative estimate for how often on an annual basis the main
factors described above would be met.
Response 41a In the EIA and in the May 2008 EIA Update, Shell conducted an air quality
assessment, which reflected the continuous air emissions expected for both the
Pierre River Mine and the Jackpine Mine Expansion projects. Shell premised the
air quality assessment on the intermittent use of auxiliary boilers to supplement
heat during cold periods. This premise has raised concerns that the air quality
assessment for the projects might not be conservative if Shell is required to fire
its auxiliary boilers more than currently expected.
To provide assurance that potential air quality effects resulting from the projects
are not understated, Shell is providing an air quality assessment of an alternative
emissions scenario (see the response to ERCB SIR 41b). This alternative
emissions scenario conservatively assumes that all of the projects’ auxiliary
boilers are in continuous use.
Shell does not capture historical data on all of the main factors which define the
cold period and, consequently, the amount of time that the temporary boilers
would need to be fired. In addition, the need to fire these boilers is influenced by
other factors, some of which are not directly linked to ambient air conditions.
As an alternative emissions scenario was assessed to indicate the potential
impacts of firing auxiliary boilers continuously throughout a full year, a
discussion of the factors that would dictate auxiliary boiler use is unnecessary, as
impacts from this more conservative alternative emissions scenario do not change
the EIA’s air quality impact assessment conclusions, as discussed in the response
to ERCB SIR 41b.
6-2 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
CR029