Facets of Cumulative Effects Regarding Water Resources · 3 29/04/2010 Oil sands of Canada...
Transcript of Facets of Cumulative Effects Regarding Water Resources · 3 29/04/2010 Oil sands of Canada...
1 29/04/2010
Facets of Cumulative
Effects Regarding
Water Resources
2 29/04/2010
Introduction
Topics
• Overview of Water Use in Alberta
• Hydrogeologic Framework Assessment Strategies
• Terms of Reference – Baseline Conditions and EIA’s
3 29/04/2010
Oil sands of Canada
� World-class resource– (175 billion barrels proven)
– (315 billion barrels estimated)
� 10-15% mineable; balance from in-situ technologies (CSS, SAGD, THAI, Cold flow)
� Projected growth raises concerns re: sustainability and future effects
� Perceived need, at a Pubic Relations Level, for a balanced development plan
4 29/04/2010
Hydrogeology
� Water Attractions and Detractions:
– As a Resource
� Water Supply, Agricultural, Commercial, Municipal
� Water Supply, Mining/SAGD
5 29/04/2010
Water as a Single Resource
6 29/04/2010
Sectoral Allocations - Alberta
Water Allocation - Alberta
Total ~ 9.66 bil m3
Sector Allocation - Alberta
• Agriculture 45.1% or ~ 4.36 bil m3
• Commercial 30.5% or 2.95 bil m3
• Municipal 11.9% or ~ 1.15 bil m3
• Industry 7.15% or ~ 0.69 bil m3
• Other 5.33% or ~ 0.52 bil m3
7 29/04/2010
Sectoral Allocations – ARB
Water Allocation ARB
• Total ~ 0.87 bil m3
Sector Allocation – ARB
• Industry 55.5% or ~ 0.48 bil m3
• Commercial 27% or ~ 0.23 bil m3
• Municipal 13% or ~ 0.11 bil m3
• Other 5.33% or ~ 0.02 bil m3
• Limited Sectoral Users
8 29/04/2010
OIL SANDS
• ~ 480 MCM Allocated
• ~175 MCM Total Used
• < 1% of Ave River flow
• 90% of water used is recycled
9 29/04/2010
Least Used River Basin in Alberta
• Regulated ANEV and DFO
• 2.2% (low < 1.3%)
10 29/04/2010
Water Use in CanadaStrategic Use & Management
� Aquifer storage and recovery
� Off-stream storage
� Induced infiltration
� Conjunctive use
INDUCED INFILTRATION
SURFACE DIVERSION
OFF-STREAM STORAGE
AS&R
� Baseflow maintenance
� Mitigation of dewatering
effects
11 29/04/2010
Hydrogeology
� Groundwater Attractions and Detractions:
– As a Resource
� Water Supply, Residential/Municipal
� Water Supply, Mining/SAGD
– Quality
� Assessment Strategies
� Water Quality
– Term of Reference
� Baseline Conditions
� EIA’s
12 29/04/2010
5. QUATERNARY BLANKET
4. DEPOSITION OF
CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS
3. TILTING AND EROSION
2. DEVONIAN SEDIMENTS,
CARBONATE AND
EVAPORITE-DOMINATED
1. DEPOSITIONAL
ENVIRONMENT, DEVONIAN TIMES
13 29/04/2010
Basic Tool of Investigation
� LITHOLOGY
� GROUNDWATER MOVEMENT
� GROUNDWATER QUALITY
– MI, TE, PH, PAH, NA’s
14 29/04/2010
GROUNDWATER
INSTRUMENTATION
15 29/04/2010
Water Quality Athabasca River
NATURAL!!!
� Exposed oil sands along the river banks
� Groundwater natural contact under normal
geologic conditions
� Baseline concentrations indicate no increases
� Natural occurrence of various compounds and ion’s in contact with SW and GW
16 29/04/2010
Baseline and RAMP
RAMP - Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program
Compares monitoring data with EIA predictions.
� “Comparisons between U/S and D/S stations no effects due to local human activities.”
Numerous independent studies confirm OSO:
� “have not influenced water or sediment quality”
� “no increase in concentrations of contaminants”
� “concentrations in other rivers found to be higher than those adjacent to oil sands projects.
� “the contaminant sources in the area are natural.”
17 29/04/2010
Terms of Reference (Baseline)
Provide overview of Hydrogeologic setting,
A) Regional/project geology (maps/cross-sections)
B) Regional/project hydrogeology
i) Describe aquifers/aquitards/aquicludes
ii) Groundwater chemistry
iii) Discharge/recharge/GW-SW interaction
iv) Recharge to Quaternary Aquifers
v) Hydraulic connections
18 29/04/2010
Terms of Reference (EIA 1)
A) Potential effects to groundwater resources (quantity/quality)
B) a) groundwater-surface water
b) vegetation, wetlands, aquatics
c) groundwater quality
d) groundwater users
e) seasonal variations
f) groundwater withdrawal
g) water balance changes
19 29/04/2010
Terms of Reference (EIA 2)
B) Programs to manage and protect groundwater
a) early detection of potential contamination
b) groundwater remediation options
c) monitoring groundwater production
C) Residual effects to groundwater, and plans to manage these, Monitoring
- Groundwater quantity
- Groundwater quality
20 29/04/2010
Groundwater Modelling (EIA 1)
21 29/04/2010
Groundwater Modelling (EIA 2)
22 29/04/2010