Saskatchewan’s government says the Rush Lake 2 leak is not fully under control, even as Cenovus works to stop it.
The Ministry of Energy and Resources confirmed it gave Cenovus approval to bring in drilling equipment, “to attempt new underground mitigation efforts to stop the uncontrolled release.”
Read more: Cenovus brings in rig for cleanup of Rush Lake
Cenovus said in a statement on June 23 that “this is a common operation in these circumstances and is not for production.”
The province also stated that no drilling was happening at Rush Lake when the leak began in May. The site was injecting steam to heat oil underground and pump it to the surface.
While all equipment at the site belongs to Cenovus, the province is overseeing the response. That means checking data, approving cleanup plans and flying drones over the area to test the air.
Those drones test for hydrogen sulfide gas, also known as H2S. The ministry said while strong smells remain, tests show no threat to public health.
Rush Lake water safety
Cenovus has repeatedly assured the public and province that the water and river are safe. They repeated that claim in the June 23 statement.
“We continue to monitor nearby water bodies and there has been no impact,” said a Cenovus statement
Provincial officials also said there is no threat to drinking water. Cenovus has built berms to hold leaking fluids on site. Crews are collecting the muddy, silty water and sending it to waste facilities.
“Test results of water tributaries near the site show no fluid has made its way to the North Saskatchewan River,” assured ministry officials.
The province said it has not yet started a full investigation. That investigation will begin after the leak is stopped. They stated it’s too early to know what caused the leak or whether it could happen at other wells. Once the leak is fully stopped, the province will start its investigation and decide what cleanup work must be done.
For now, Cenovus continues managing the site with help from third-party experts. The province confirmed Cenovus is following reporting rules during the cleanup.
Read more: Cenovus reports Rush Lake “stabilized”
