2018 Environmental Seminar

Transcription

1 2018 Environmental Seminar

2 1 The Seminar At Exova s 2018 Environmental Seminar, experts from around the country presented on changes, challenges, and issues occurring in the environmental industry. They provided critical regulatory updates and tackled hot-button topics ranging from pipelines, wells and blowouts, stakeholder engagement, emerging contaminants, and site specific environmental risk assessments. You can find more information on our capabilities, seminars, and more at or contact our call center at I N N O V A T I O N. T E A M W O R K. P E R F O R M A N C E. I N T E G R I T Y.

3 Pipelines, Wells and Blowouts Oh My! Challenges assessing a 70 year old oil and gas field for highway upgrading Michael Halliwell, M.Eng., CESA, EP, P.Eng. Thurber Engineering Ltd. Edmonton Office

4 Who am I? Environmental Engineer with 18 years experience Phase I ESAs through to remediation Hazardous Building Material Surveys Radon sampling Clients ranging from corner gas stations and local developers to governments and large international firms

5 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning Topics to cover: - Oil and Gas History - Highway 19 - The Challenges - The Assessment - Lessons Learned

6 Some Alberta Oil and Gas History

7 Oil Country: What We Usually Think Of

8 Typical Well Site Flare Stack or Pit Derrick / Rig Fuel Tanks Mud Tanks or Pits Sump Image: Wikimedia Commons

9 Alberta Oil and Gas a brief history 1883 CPR crew drilling near Medicine Hat strikes natural gas at the Langevin Siding Old Glory finds natural gas in the Bow Island gas field 1914 A well drilled in Turner Valley discovers natural gas

10 Alberta Oil and Gas a brief history 1924 Royalite No. 4 identifies Turner Valley as an oil and gas field 1947 Imperial Oil strikes oil with Leduc No. 1, west of Leduc, Alberta

11 Alberta Oil and Gas a brief history

12 Alberta Oil and Gas a brief history 1924 Royalite No. 4 identifies Turner Valley as an oil and gas field 1947 Imperial Oil strikes oil with Leduc No. 1, west of Leduc, Alberta 1948 Atlantic No. 3 blows out (March-Nov 1948), one of Canada s worst ever oil well blow-outs. World s attention turned to Alberta and area near Devon, Alberta

13 Atlantic No. 3 Image: Leduc No. 1 Historical Society Image: Calgary Herald Fire September 6, 1948

14 The Highway 19 (The Site)

15 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning

16 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning

17 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning Future Interchange Future Twinned Highway 19 Highway 60

18 The Challenges

19 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning Future Interchange Future Twinned Highway 19 Highway 60

20 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning For the proposed twinning itself, there are: 16 well sites in the proposed road right-ofway or within 150 m Mud pits Flare pits Sumps

21 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning Atlantic No. 3 Image: Abacus Datagraphics Ltd.

22 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning For the proposed twinning itself, there are: 100 pipelines or pipeline crossings Active / Abandoned / Unusual pipes Found one cut and not capped Water Co-op pipeline (where is it?!) Facilities, spills and complaints

23 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning Atlantic No. 3 Image: Abacus Datagraphics Ltd.

24 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning For the proposed twinning itself, there are: Atlantic No. 3 impact zone and plume Approximately million barrels of overland flow collected Est M bbl of oil from the well Pits (collection and incidental) and Fire Current status?

25 Atlantic No. 3 Blowout March 8, 1948

26 Atlantic No. 3

27 Atlantic No. 3 Image: Leduc No. 1 Historical Society

28 Atlantic No. 3 Future Highway 19 Image: Leduc No. 1 Historical Society

29 Highway 19 (West Portion) Twinning Atlantic No. 3 Image: Abacus Datagraphics Ltd.

30 The Assessment

31 Highway 19 Assessment For highway and ditch design, we needed to know depths to the pipelines.so out came the hydrovac.

32 Highway 19 Assessment Along with the hydrovac work, a Phase I ESA was completed. Image: AEP Air Photo Distribution

33 Highway 19 Assessment The Phase I ESA identified wells, but other than the well heads, we needed to identify areas to drill. (EM Survey) Image: Cascade Imaging Solutions

34 Highway 19 Assessment Then, we drilled (50+ environmental holes + geo) Crops and farming (clubroot) No access to one quarter-section Cooperative effort with oil/gas companies

35 Highway 19 Assessment To date, there have been approximately 300 holes by our team and the oil and gas companies Multiple remediations have been carried out with additional set for this year Both AEP and AER are involved in the process

36 Highway 19 Assessment So, what s left? Remediation / Reclamation Certificates for multiple well sites. Access to one quarter-section and additional work in the area of Atlantic No. 3 (on-going) Getting the water co-op line moved and locatable. Working with oil and gas companies to eliminate abandoned pipelines.

37 Lessons Learned

38 Highway 19 Assessment Lessons Learned? Highway projects have a lot of clout, but it s far better to go in with a cooperative approach Less duplication Better results (outcomes and $) A good Phase I ESA can be invaluable Local knowledge is a huge asset Communication is critical Thankful that big transportation projects in old, heavily developed oilfield areas are not common.