A Review of the Co-op Refinery Complex’s Wastewater Improvement Project

Federated Co-operatives Limited’s Co-op Refinery Complex is one of the single largest fresh water consumers in the city of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Embracing conservation, the oil refinery committed to a 200 million environmental project — referred to as their Wastewater Improvement Project — focusing on sustainability and environmental stewardship. The project is the culmination of the facility’s production expansion from 100,000 to 130,000 barrels per day, all while using less fresh water and discharging less wastewater. The WIP allows the CRC to treat and recycle 100% (more than 2 million gallons per day) of the refinery’s wastewater back into refinery operation as boiler feedwater for steam generation. This paper will review the performance of the upgraded wastewater treatment plant, show how it has exceeded the intended design performance, and review three specific case studies.