Energy Briefs

              The oil and gas industry’s greenhouse gas emissions rose by 4.5 million tonnes last year, while emissions from gas flaring also increased after years of significant reductions, says the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).

              On the positive side, the industry has made “vast improvements” in sulphur recovery and in emissions of sulphur dioxide and benzene, CAPP said in its 2007 Stewardship Report (http://stewardship.capp.ca). The number of injuries for industry workers is also at the lowest level since Stewardship reporting began in 1999.

              CAPP also announced the recipients of the 2007 Stewards of Excellence awards. They are:

.   ConocoPhillips Canada for Environmental Performance. ConocoPhillips’s use of new infrared video technology to identify and measure fugitive emissions has the potential to provide an 18-per-cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at the company’s facilities across Canada.

.   EnCana Corporation for Social Performance. Through its “Courtesy Matters” campaign, EnCana improved relations with its stakeholders – landowners, local communities, town planners and even local schools.

.   BP Canada Energy Company for Safety Performance. BP Canada’s rig site injury rate dropped nearly 80 per cent as a result of the “Make A Difference Today” program, which is owned and operated by the rig workers themselves.

.   Suncor Energy Inc. received the Presidents Award for its “Journey to Zero” program, which has significantly reduced lost-time injury frequency and recordable injury frequency – the two industry measures of safety on the job. In 2006, Suncor completed an injury-free year among its 1,300 oilsands mining division employees, including 350 new hires. EnviroLine