Responsible water use and continual improvement in water management is a high priority for the upstream oil and gas industry.
The Issue: Industry’s Operating Practices Affecting Water Quality
The public is concerned about industry’s operating practices affecting water quality, such as produced water management and disposal, potential effects of coalbed methane (CBM) development on groundwater and drinking water wells, drilling fluids contaminating groundwater during fracturing operations (especially fracture-intensive shale gas developments), and the impacts of tailings ponds on surface water.
What We're Doing: Taking Strict Measures to Protect Both Surface Water and Groundwater Quality.
Produced water (water, typically saline, brought up to the surface when oil and gas is extracted) is managed by reinjection into deep disposal wells located in saline aquifers. Produced water is also injected for pressure maintenance of the reservoir. Regulations prohibit both surface disposal of produced water and disposal above the base of groundwater protection. The oil and gas industry is looking at options for treating produced water for other beneficial uses.
As of August 2009, industry has performed 9500 water well tests in the vicinity of CBM development. An independent review of CBM-related water well complaints conducted by the Alberta Research Council (now called Alberta Innovates) and commissioned by Alberta Environment found no correlation between water well complaints and CBM development (Blyth, 2008). The coals in areas of active CBM development in Alberta are dry and do not facilitate migration of methane or other contaminants to groundwater.
CAPP continues to work with government, other water-using sectors, non-government organizations and the public to ensure that water is managed in a responsible way that allows the many users that rely on this shared resource to thrive, while protecting the resource now and in the future.
Fracturing or "Fracing"
The oil and gas industry is highly regulated and takes strict measures to protect both surface water and groundwater quality. When an oil and gas well is drilled, cement and steel casing is placed around the production casing to prevent hydrocarbons from moving into fresh water zones. Cement also prevents the vertical flow of groundwater between zones, particularly between fresh and saline intervals. During fracturing operations (sometimes called "fracking"), groundwater is protected in accordance with regulations that permit the use of only non-toxic fracture fluids above the base of groundwater protection.
Learn more about shale gas and fracturing
How Did We Do?
Responsible Canadian Energy™ is a call to action – a collective commitment to new solutions to reduce our environmental footprints, to ensure every worker returns home safely at the end of each day, and to continue to benefit the communities where we operate.
Responsible Canadian Energy™ is an association-wide performance reporting program to demonstrate progress in environmental, health, safety, and social performance.
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What Do You Think?
We're Listening.
The oil and gas industry wants to hear Canadians' thoughts and opinions about what we do. Tell us what you think
It is important to have a balanced conversation about the oil sands and its impacts. You can participate: www.canadasoilsands.ca