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Bulletin 2009-06

February 18, 2009

Invitation for Feedback—Draft Directive on Requirements for Water Measurement, Reporting, and Use for Thermal In Situ Oil Sands Schemes

The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) and Alberta Environment (AENV) are requesting input on the joint draft directive Requirements for Water Measurement, Reporting, and Use for Thermal In Situ Oil Sands Schemes. The draft directive presents ERCB and AENV requirements for

• water measurement and accuracy, proration of wellhead steam injection, reporting to the Petroleum Registry of Alberta and to AENV’s water use reporting system, and injection facility water balance, and
• calculating a thermal scheme’s fresh water make-up, brackish water make-up, and produced water use, with limits set for each.

This draft directive is being issued as a joint directive of the ERCB and AENV because of the interdependence of their regulatory responsibilities regarding water management practices at thermal in situ oil sands operations. The draft directive aligns and builds upon the Water for Life strategy target of improving water conservation, efficiency, and productivity by 30 per cent by 2015 (from 2005 levels) and the 2006 Water Conservation and Allocation Guideline for Oilfield Injection policy, which requires a shift from fresh water to saline water or alternative sources in conventional and in situ schemes whenever possible.

This new directive will replace Informational Letter (IL) 89-05: Water Recycle Guidelines and Water Use Information—Reporting for In Situ Oil Sands Facilities in Alberta, which was cosigned by the ERCB and AENV in 1989.
For more information on the draft directive, view the Frequently Asked Questions on the ERCB or AENV Web sites.

Request for Comments
The ERCB and AENV invite your feedback on this draft directive by April 1, 2009. All comments received by that date will be considered in finalizing the directive. If necessary, the ERCB and AENV are also prepared to meet jointly with those stakeholders requiring further clarification or discussion.

The draft directive is available on the ERCB Web site www.ercb.ca under Projects & Issues and on the AENV Web site www.environment.alberta.ca. Comments and questions may be forwarded to the ERCB and AENV via e-mail at thermalinsitu@ercb.ca, to the attention of Tom Keelan, ERCB, and Sarah Moody, AENV.

The ERCB and AENV may post additional Frequently Asked Questions on their respective Web sites throughout this consultative process.
 

<original signed by>

E. A. Shirley, P.Geol.
Executive Manager, Applications Branch
Energy Resources Conservation Board
 
<original signed by>

Ernie Hui
Assistant Deputy Minister
Alberta Environment