Facets of Cumulative Effects Regarding Water Resources

Transcription

1 Facets of Cumulative Effects Regarding Water Resources 1 29/04/2010

2 Introduction Topics Overview of Water Use in Alberta Hydrogeologic Framework Assessment Strategies Terms of Reference Baseline Conditions and EIA s 2 29/04/2010

3 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 3 29/04/2010

4 Hydrogeology Water Attractions and Detractions: As a Resource Water Supply, Agricultural, Commercial, Municipal Water Supply, Mining/SAGD 4 29/04/2010

5 5 29/04/2010 Water as a Single Resource

6 Sectoral Allocations - Alberta Water Allocation - Alberta Total ~ 9.66 bil m 3 Sector Allocation - Alberta Agriculture 45.1% or ~ 4.36 bil m 3 Commercial 30.5% or 2.95 bil m 3 Municipal 11.9% or ~ 1.15 bil m 3 Industry 7.15% or ~ 0.69 bil m 3 Other 5.33% or ~ 0.52 bil m /04/2010

7 Sectoral Allocations ARB Water Allocation ARB Total ~ 0.87 bil m 3 Sector Allocation ARB Industry 55.5% or ~ 0.48 bil m 3 Commercial 27% or ~ 0.23 bil m 3 Municipal 13% or ~ 0.11 bil m 3 Other 5.33% or ~ 0.02 bil m 3 Limited Sectoral Users 7 29/04/2010

8 OIL SANDS ~ 480 MCM Allocated ~175 MCM Total Used < 1% of Ave River flow 90% of water used is recycled 8 29/04/2010

9 Least Used River Basin in Alberta Regulated ANEV and DFO 2.2% (low < 1.3%) 9 29/04/2010

10 Strategic UseWater & Management Use in Canada SURFACE DIVERSION OFF-STREAM STORAGE INDUCED INFILTRATION AS&R 10 Baseflow maintenance Mitigation of dewatering effects 29/04/2010 Aquifer storage and recovery Off-stream storage Induced infiltration Conjunctive use

11 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 11 29/04/2010

12 5. QUATERNARY BLANKET 4. DEPOSITION OF CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS 3. TILTING AND EROSION 2. DEVONIAN SEDIMENTS, CARBONATE AND EVAPORITE-DOMINATED 1. DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT, DEVONIAN TIMES 12 29/04/2010

13 Basic Tool of Investigation LITHOLOGY GROUNDWATER MOVEMENT GROUNDWATER QUALITY MI, TE, PH, PAH, NA s 13 29/04/2010

14 14 29/04/2010 GROUNDWATER INSTRUMENTATION

15 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 15 29/04/2010

16 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 /04/2010

17 Terms of Reference (Baseline) Provide overview of Hydrogeologic setting, A) Regional/project geology (maps/crosssections) B) Regional/project hydrogeology i) Describe aquifers/aquitards/aquicludes ii) iii) Groundwater chemistry Discharge/recharge/GW-SW interaction iv) Recharge to Quaternary Aquifers v) Hydraulic connections 17 29/04/2010

18 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 18 29/04/2010

19 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 19 29/04/2010

20 20 29/04/2010 Groundwater Modelling (EIA 1)

21 21 29/04/2010 Groundwater Modelling (EIA 2)

22 22 29/04/2010