Advertisement

Second environmental order issued over northern Alberta oilsands leak

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. provides media access to spills at its Primrose site near the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range in northeast Alberta. August 8, 2013.
Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. provides media access to spills at its Primrose site near the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range in northeast Alberta. August 8, 2013. Vassy Kapelos, Global News

EDMONTON – The Alberta government is ordering more environmental protection work be done on the Primrose oilsands project in northern Alberta.

Earlier this fall, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (TSX:CNQ) was told it must remove most of the water from one of its bitumen leak sites – a small lake – before it freezes.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

On Monday, the company was told it must also determine the impact to subsurface groundwater and work to find the root cause of all four bitumen releases.

The province says that will require a drilling program, adding that doing so in the winter months minimizes the environmental impact of the drilling activities.

In July, Canadian Natural Resources said a mechanical failure at an old well was behind bitumen seepage at its project on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range.

Four sites were identified and about 1.5 million litres of bitumen has since been recovered.

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices