Using Water 

The Issue: Using Water to Produce Oil and Gas 

Water is an important part of oil and gas production. As Canada’s oil and gas industry grows, so does the demand on Canada's water resources.

In oil and gas production, water is used in the following ways:

• In oil sands mining, we use heated water to separate the sticky bitumen from sand. Mining operations also create tailings ponds.

  Find out more about tailings ponds

• In oil sands in situ operations, we generate steam to heat the bitumen underground allowing it to flow to the surface.
• In older, conventional oil fields we pump water down the well to force the oil out of the cracks and holes so it can be pumped to the surface.
• In certain types of natural gas deposits we use water to push the gas out of tight or sandy areas.

Even though the industry is licensed to use eight per cent of all the water allocated in Alberta and less than that in other provinces, oil and gas production has an impact on Canada's water resources.

What We’re Doing: Reducing Our Use of Fresh Water by Finding Alternatives 

Water monitoring, courtesy Suncor

The oil and gas industry has made significant progress in reducing our use of fresh water through alternatives and innovative practices.

Reusing and Recycling

The industry is a leader in developing recycling techniques and reusing water. Almost all of the water used in conventional oil recovery is recycled, which reduces the demand on water supplies. Oil sands projects in northern Alberta continually recycle about 90 per cent of the water they use. It takes an average of two to three barrels of water to produce one barrel of bitumen from a mine, and almost all the water involved in that process is reused/recycled.

Using Undrinkable Water

Across the entire industry, we also focus on using brackish water (deep groundwater that is not suitable for drinking or agriculture) as an alternative to fresh water.

Devon Canada Corporation's Jackfish project is one oil sands project that uses only brackish water to create the steam needed to separate oil from sand.

Find out more about the Jackfish project

Finding Other Alternatives

In several places in Western Canada, companies are using carbon dioxide (CO₂) instead of water to enhance recovery of oil from older wells. EnCana Corporation is using this technology in its Weyburn project.

Find out more about capturing and using carbon

In the oil sands, Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. is using a process that uses combustion instead of steam to liquefy the sticky bitumen deep underground, allowing it to be pumped to the surface.

Find out more about underground combustion

How Did We Do: CAPP's Stewardship Report

As Canada’s oil and gas industry grows, so does the demand on water resources.

Industry often uses water to flood reservoirs to enhance oil recovery and in oil and gas plant processes. Use of other miscible agents, such as carbon dioxide, polymers and saline groundwater, to enhance recovery helps reduce dependency on fresh water resources. In fact, saline groundwater accounts for about one quarter of the water used for in situ oil sands and enhanced oil recovery techniques.

Water recycling is also key. For oil sands mines, about 80 per cent of the water a mature oil sands mine uses is recycled from its tailings ponds. In situ oil sands projects, which use water to make steam, recycle more than 90 per cent of water produced. Research on both water alternatives and ways to improve recycling continues and will further reduce fresh water use.

The oil and gas industry is highly regulated and takes strict measures to protect both surface water and groundwater quality.

2009 Stewardship Report
(PDF | 2.7MB | Jan 2010)

What Do You Thnk?

We're Listening.

The oil and gas industry wants to hear Canadians' thoughts and opinions about what we do. Tell us what you think

Join the Conversation on Canada's Oil Sands

It is important to have a balanced conversation about the oil sands and its impacts. You can participate: www.canadasoilsands.ca