Total direct emissions includes all emissions occurring on site at oil sands facilities. This includes emissions due to site clearing and construction activity, material transport and processing, and waste treatment. Emissions associated with personnel transport and accommodation are not included in these values. Facilities are also able to exclude very small sources that are negligible to the overall emissions intensity (aggregate maximum of 100 tonnes CO2e) such as refrigerants in the lunch room refrigerator. Emissions are expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents and include emissions of six specified gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, PFCs, HFCs and SF6) converted using the 100 year global warming potential of each gas as published in the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation.
Stationary Fuel Combustion
Stationary fuel combustion emissions are direct emissions resulting from non-vehicular combustion of fuel for the purpose of energy production (e.g. to generate electricity, heat or steam). These emissions are a common source of greenhouse gas emissions and are produced in most industrial sectors. The stationary fuel combustion source category includes on-site waste incineration if the waste is combusted for the purpose of energy production. Emissions from waste incineration when used as a disposal method are included in the Waste and Wastewater source category.
CO2 emissions from combustion of biomass are reported in a separate source category (CO2 Emissions from the Combustion of Biomass) and are included in the calculation of the emissions threshold, but are not included in the calculation of compliance obligation. N2O and CH4 emissions from biomass combustion are reported in the Stationary Fuel Combustion source category (if the main purpose is energy production) or under the Waste and Wastewater category (if the main purpose is waste disposal) and are included in the compliance obligation calculation.
Industrial Process
Industrial process emissions are direct emissions from an industrial process involving a chemical reaction, other than combustion, and where the primary purpose of the industrial process is not energy production. This source category is not found in all industrial sectors.
Industrial Process emissions are included in the threshold emissions calculation, but are excluded from the compliance obligation calculation.
An example of Industrial Process emissions that have been approved by Alberta Environment is CO2 from steam methane reforming for various uses including ammonia production or oil refining
CH4 + 2H2O -> 4H2 + CO2
Venting
Venting emissions are direct emissions from intentional releases to the atmosphere of a waste gas or liquid stream including, but not limited to: emissions of casing gas, treater, stabilizer, dehydrator off-gas, blanket gas and emissions from pneumatic devices, which use natural gas as a driver, compressor start-up, pipeline and other blow downs and metering and regulation station control loops. Formation CO2 venting is not included in this source category.
Flaring
Flaring emissions are direct emissions from the controlled combustion of a gas or liquid stream, but not for the purpose of energy production and including without limitation emissions arising from waste petroleum incineration, hazardous emissions prevention systems (whether in pilot or active mode), well testing, natural gas gathering systems, processing plant operations, crude oil production, pipeline operations, petroleum refining and chemical fertilizer and steel production.
Other/Fugitive
Other/fugitive emissions are direct emissions that do not fall under any other source category and include, without limitation, intentional or unintentional releases of gases arising from the production, processing, transmission, storage and use of solid, liquid or gaseous fuels.
In general, emissions from other/fugitive sources are a result of the handling or processing of various types of fuel in the fossil fuel industry. Other/fugitive sources could include leaks from natural gas transmission lines and processing plants, accidental releases from oil and gas wells and releases from the mining and handling of coal or oil sands.
Formation CO2
Formation CO2 emissions are direct emissions of carbon dioxide originating in a geological formation and includes, but is not limited to, CO2 emissions vented from gas sweetening and formation gas.
Waste and Wastewater
Waste and wastewater emissions are direct emissions from on-site waste disposal and waste or wastewater treatment. Emissions resulting from waste to energy operations where waste materials are used directly as a fuel or converted to fuel are included in the Stationary Fuel Combustion source category.
On-site Transportation
On-site transportation emissions are direct emissions resulting from fuel combustion in machinery used for the on-site transportation of products and materials integral to the production process. Examples of on-site transportation include the transportation of raw or intermediate products and materials within the production process such as equipment used at an oil sands operation to mine and/or move materials to subsequent on-site processing; equipment used at above or below ground mining operations to mine and/or move mined materials; equipment used to transport intermediate products or materials to different on-site production processes; equipment used to handle or load final product for transport; and transportation of production bi-products such as mining overburden or tailings.
On-site vehicle emissions associated with emergency vehicles, or staff transportation can be excluded.
CO2 Emissions from Biomass Combustion
Carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of biomass are direct emissions from the combustion of plant materials, animal waste or any product made of either of these and includes without limitation, wood and wood products; charcoal; agricultural residues and wastes including organic material above and below ground, both living and dead such as trees, crops, grasses, tree litter, roots, municipal and industrial wastes where the organic material is biological in origin; landfill gas; bio-alcohols; black liquor; sludge gas; and animal or plant-derived oils. Carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of biomass including waste incineration are included in the calculation of the emissions threshold (total direct emissions), but not included in the calculation of the compliance obligation for the facility. Methane and N2O emissions from the combustion of biomass are reported in the Stationary Fuel Combustion or waste and wastewater source category and included in both the calculation of the emissions threshold and the compliance obligation for the facility.
CO2 Emissions from Decomposition of Biomass
Carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the decomposition of biomass materials in waste are reported and are included in the emissions threshold calculation, but not included in the compliance obligation calculation for the facility. Methane and N2O emissions from waste decomposition are reported in the Waste and Wastewater source category and included in the emissions threshold and the compliance obligation calculation calculations for the facility.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), Perfluorocarbons (PFC) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs), perfluorocarbon (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions occur in small volumes relative to the principle specified gases—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O)—but have high global warming potentials. As such, Alberta Environment requires all sources of HFCs, PFCs, and SF6 associated with facility production to be calculated and reported in the facility’s threshold calculation and baseline emissions calculations.