The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has filed charges against Nexen related to a pipeline spill in July 2015.
The five charges were made under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and the Public Lands Act after the company reported a spill at its Long Lake oil sands facility.
AER’s vice president of environment and operational performance Martin Foy said: “AER staff responded immediately to the pipeline spill.
“Since then we’ve been gathering and reviewing the evidence to determine the cause of this incident and whether the company complied with AER requirements.”
The spill released about 5000 cubic metres of emulsion (a mixture of crude bitumen and produced water).
The spill was estimated to have affected an area of about 235,729 square feet.
The first court appearance is scheduled for 16 August this year.