Human Health Impact and Environmental Footprint of Transport Network Generated by Oil Sands In-Situ Thermal Facilities in West-Central Saskatchewan

Greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions are major contributors to global warming and environmental disruption. In Canada, the transportation sector is the leading source of air pollutants and the second largest source of GHGs; a similar pattern is observed in Saskatchewan. In west-central Saskatchewan, the oil and gas industry is a key economic driver, and in-situ thermal oil production facilities (ISTFs) in Division No. 12, 16, and 17 (Battleford, North Battleford, and Lloydminster, respectively) rely on extensive vehicle networks to maintain operations. These vehicular emissions pose significant risks to both the environment and human health, creating a need to quantify their impact accurately. This research addressed this gap through a quantitative multilinear approach with three objectives: (a) quantify the emissions of air pollutants (NOx, PM2.5, and CO2) and GHGs from vehicles associated with each ISTF, (b) estimate the economic costs of these emissions on human health and the environment, and (c) express these costs relative to oil production to enable objective comparisons between facilities. The analysis found that the monetary impact of emissions in the study area is less than CAD $0.223 per barrel in the worst-case scenario, with truck-based transport contributing substantially more to the cost per barrel than pipeline transport. Facilities with lower production exhibited higher costs per barrel, highlighting the influence of production efficiency on environmental and health impacts. The calculated coefficients provide a practical tool for evaluating the effects of maintenance, transportation strategies, and mitigation measures, offering a baseline to support decision-making by policymakers and industry stakeholders.Keywords: in-situ thermal facilities, vehicle emissions, greenhouse gases, GHG, air pollutants, health and environmental costs, oil production

Author dc:creator

• Leon Mantilla, Juan Guillermo

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kerr, Gillian

• School of environment and sustainability

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-20552

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10613/28990