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Facets of Cumulative

Effects Regarding

Water Resources

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Introduction

Topics

• Overview of Water Use in Alberta

• Hydrogeologic Framework Assessment Strategies

• Terms of Reference – Baseline Conditions and EIA’s

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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

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Hydrogeology

� Water Attractions and Detractions:

– As a Resource

� Water Supply, Agricultural, Commercial, Municipal

� Water Supply, Mining/SAGD

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Water as a Single Resource

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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

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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

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OIL SANDS

• ~ 480 MCM Allocated

• ~175 MCM Total Used

• < 1% of Ave River flow

• 90% of water used is recycled

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Least Used River Basin in Alberta

• Regulated ANEV and DFO

• 2.2% (low < 1.3%)

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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

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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

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5. QUATERNARY BLANKET

4. DEPOSITION OF

CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS

3. TILTING AND EROSION

2. DEVONIAN SEDIMENTS,

CARBONATE AND

EVAPORITE-DOMINATED

1. DEPOSITIONAL

ENVIRONMENT, DEVONIAN TIMES

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Basic Tool of Investigation

� LITHOLOGY

� GROUNDWATER MOVEMENT

� GROUNDWATER QUALITY

– MI, TE, PH, PAH, NA’s

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GROUNDWATER

INSTRUMENTATION

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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

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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.”

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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

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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

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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

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Groundwater Modelling (EIA 1)

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Groundwater Modelling (EIA 2)

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