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On Friday, a tank at ConocoPhillips’ Surmont Phase 2 oilsands project holding up to 85,000 litres of hydrochloric acid began to leak. It was an acid used at an in-situ site south of Fort McMurray during the water treatment process for regenerating the water-softening resin. The central processing facility shut down leaving thousands of workers stranded waiting for their jobs to resume. The rain complicated matters as water was being added to hydrochloric acid which could release heat causing the solution to boil or splash. Emergency crews were immediately rushed to contain the leak after a stop-work order. The task was completed successfully as the leak was slow. ConocoPhillips’ spokeswomen notifies the public that the leak
