NORTHERN ALBERTA - SYNCRUDE CANADA reports that it has successfully contained a leak of recycled water in a pipeline that runs between the company's Mildred Lake operation and the Aurora mine site to the north. The leak was discovered on April 20 and the pipeline immediately shut down. Water was contained behind a temporary dike the same day.
Vacuum trucks were dispatched to remove the leaked water, substantially lowering the level of the shallow pond that formed. Trucks will continue to remove residual water leaking from the pipeline until the leak is repaired.
Preliminary tests, both upstream and downstream of the leak, indicate the recycled water has been significantly diluted and will have little or no impact on the river system, according to Syncrude. Those results have been provided to regulators and stakeholders downstream of the incident. Testing is ongoing with subsequent results confirming the preliminary findings. Work is continuing to stop the small leak, with preparation for the safe excavation and subsequent repair of the pipeline underway.
Syncrude is investigating the cause of the leak that will help determine steps to prevent a similar incident in the future.
More information about Syncrude's oil sands mines and extraction plant are available at www.Syncrude.ca.
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