Science Response 2013/006
Review of the White Rose Extension Project Environmental Assessment
Context
Husky Oil Operations Limited (Husky), on behalf of the White Rose Extension Project (WREP) proponents, Husky, Suncor Energy Inc. (Suncor) and Nalcor Energy – Oil and Gas Inc. (Nalcor), is proposing to develop the White Rose West pool as part of the continued development of the White Rose field. Initial development of the White Rose field was through excavated subsea drill centres, with flexible flowlines bringing production to a centralized floating production platform, the SeaRose floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The White Rose field was originally developed using subsea wells in two subsea drill centres; the Central Drill Centre (CDC) and the Southern Drill Centre (SDC). A third drill centre, the Northern Drill Centre (NDC), is used as an injection site for gas that is being stored for future use. First oil from the White Rose field was produced in November 2005. In May 2010, production commenced from the North Amethyst Drill Centre (NADC) and was tied back to the SeaRose FPSO for production, storage, and export to tanker.
The West White Rose pool was delineated in 2006. The proposed project is located on the Grand Banks offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately 350 km east of St. John’s in water depths between 115 and 120 m. Husky and its co-venturers are considering two development options for the WREP: a wellhead platform (WHP) development option or a subsea drill centre development option. Both development options will be tied back to the existing SeaRose FPSO vessel. Both options will also include the addition of three future subsea drill centres. Depending on the development option selected, the project can include onshore/nearshore graving dock site preparation and completion of Concrete Gravity Structure (CGS) in Argentia; tow-out of CGS platform to its offshore location through Placentia Bay; offshore site and clearance surveys (including geophysical, geological, geotechnical, and environmental surveys); installation of the CGS at its offshore location and connection to SeaRose FPSO; construction of flowlines; construction, installation, maintenance, and decommissioning of up to multiple subsea Drill Centres; drilling operations; and support activities and operation of support craft associated with the above activities.
The Proponent was advised by the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation (NLDEC) that the project activities associated with the Argentia Peninsula and Placentia Bay portion of the project were subject to an Environmental Preview Report (EPR) under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). The project is also subject to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). On July 6, 2012, the CEAA (S.C. 1992, c. 37) was repealed when the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) came into force. The Minister of the Environment has designated this project and the environmental assessment (EA) will continue under the former CEAA. In order to fulfill the requirements of both the CEAA and EPA, an agreement was reached between the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB), as the Federal Environmental Assessment Coordinator (FEAC) for the Screening Level EA, and the NLDEC that a single harmonized environmental assessment process could accommodate the Province’s information and review process requirements.
The purpose of the EA is to identify alternatives to the project, alternatives methods for carrying it out, the environment that will be affected, the important environmental effects associated with the project, measures that are required to mitigate against any adverse effects, and the significance of residual environmental effects. The EA shall contain a review and assessment of all available information pertinent to the conduct of this environmental assessment as well as such additional new information or data as provided by the Proponent or requested by Canada or Newfoundland and Labrador.
DFO’s Marine Habitat Protection Section (NL Region) sent a request to Science Branch on January 3rd, 2013 and a response was initially requested for February 6th, 2013. A Science Special Response Process (SSRP) was used due to the short deadline for the advice. The deadline was extended to February 22nd, 2013 when Science Branch was requested to review seven EA supporting documents that were sent to the Marine Habitat Protection Section by the Proponent on February 1st, 2013. This Science Response report is from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Regional Science Special Response Process of January 3rd – February 22nd, 2013 on the Science review of the Environmental Assessment report on the White Rose Extension Project. The report is a summarization of the comments provided by DFO Science Branch, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, to the Marine Habitat Protection Section.
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