An approach to managing cumulative effects to groundwater resources in
the Alberta Oil Sands
Aspects of cumulative
effects
• Potential effects to groundwater quantity & quality from current and future oil sands projects & understanding of natural setting
Issue
Solution
Proposed goal
• Development of a draft management framework (GMF) to
guide stewardship of groundwater in the mineable and in situ development
• To manage cumulative effects using a science‐based approach, and to manage groundwater resources in a sustainable manner
Challenges
•Landscape disturbance and effects to drainage patterns and recharge characteristics. •Drawdown effects from dewatering for safe mine development. •Potential seepage from established waste management facilities and related mine structures (overburden waste dumps, material stockpiles). •Effects from disposal of mine depressurization water and process waste water by subsurface injection. •Operational upsets (spills and leaks of chemicals and hydrocarbons at processing facilities and active mine areas).
Related Inputs
• Salts, organics including naphthenic acids (NAs), metals, trace elements, phenols, low molecular weight (LMW) hydrocarbons and soluble PAHs.
Mineable oil sands
In situ oil sands Challenges
•Physical and chemical effects from localized heating of subsurface by normal operation of thermally‐enhanced oil recovery wells.
•Drawdown effects from water use to generate steam for bitumen recovery.
•Pressure effects and constituent migration from waste injection activities.
•Operational upsets (spills, leaks, casing failures, and releases of chemicals and hydrocarbons at processing facilities an related well infrastructure).
Related Inputs
•Soluble salts and organics (including NAs), metals and trace elements; phenols and LMW hydrocarbons (including soluble PAHs)
Other (human & natural)
Challenges
•Potential discharge of municipal waste water, urban runoff and other upstream releases (e.g. pulp mills, agricultural runoff) to water bodies. •Natural discharge of salts, hydrocarbons and trace elements to local water bodies and groundwater from exposed bedrock formations and muskeg drainage. •Leaching of hydrocarbons, salts and trace elements to the groundwater from oil sand deposits in contact with aquifers. •Effects of natural disturbances (e.g. forest fires) and climate variability on basin hydrology and groundwater (level and quality effects).
Related Inputs
•Personal care products, fertilizers, pesticides, halogenated compounds, salts, hydrocarbons, metals, trace elements, PAHs, and dissolved organics.
Management frameworks
(Land Use Framework)
Guiding principles
• Cumulative effects management (& verification of EIA results)
• Pollution prevention / avoidance • Reversal of adverse trends
Time
Con
cent
ratio
n
MONITORING to assess the condition of groundwater quality and quantity within
key aquifers
MANAGEMENT actions tailored to
specified triggers and limits to ensure sustainability of regional groundwater
resources
ESTABLISHMENT of scientifically‐based trigger and limits values for identified
effects indicators
Main components of draft GMF:
5: Management actions
4: Evaluate indicators using triggers and
limits
3: Monitor indicators
2: Select indicators
1: Define outcomes
Framework process
Proposed goals of draft GMF
Goal #1 Water Quality Needs are Maintained for all Users
Goal #2
Water Quantity Needs are Maintained for all Users
Goal #3
Hydraulic Integrity of Regional Flow Systems is
Maintained
Water Quality Needs are Maintained for all Users
Water Quantity Needs are Maintained for all Users
Important groundwater and surface water connections are identified & protected
NAOS region SAOS & CLBR regions
Temporal water levels Available head in key aquifers Sustainable yield
Quality Sodium, Potassium, Chloride Silicon, Strontium, Arsenic Barium, Nitrate, Ammonia, Phenols, PHC F1, selected isotopes
Proposed indicators Quantity
Proposed triggers and limits
Groundwater Quality
Trigger Upper Control Limit (statistically-derived)
Limit Risk-based approach
Groundwater Quantity
Trigger Lower Control Limit (statistically-derived)
Limit Risk-based approach
Proposed data analysis
• Statistical control charting and trend analysis to be utilized for selected indicator parameters
• Follow‐up investigation process if trend identified or trigger exceeded
1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004
Con
cent
ratio
n (m
g/L)
0
10
20
30
40
Range of natural variability
UCL
LCL
Trigger
Limit (risk-based)
637
638
639
1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004
Range of natural variability UCL
LCL
Wat
er le
vel (
mas
l)
Limit (risk-based)
Trigger
• Exceedance of a trigger level will provoke an investigation into the source and cause
• Follow‐up investigation will help facilitate understanding of the event or need for corrective action.
Proposed investigation & management
process
Setting the context Inventory & Gap Analysis Inventory & Gap Analysis
System Dynamics System Dynamics
Risk Analysis Risk Analysis
Cumulative Impact Assessment Cumulative Impact Assessment
Management Strategies Management Strategies
Supply Supply Demand Demand Internal/External Forces Internal/External Forces
Adaptive learning
Adaptive learning
Performance Monitoring Performance Monitoring
Adaptive learning
Adaptive learning
Study areas Northern Athabasca Oil Sands region (mineable)
Southern Athabasca Oil Sands region (in situ)
Cold Lake Beaver River region (in situ)
Hydraulic conductivity
Overburden thickness
% Slope
Soil cover
Intrinsic vulnerability
Aquifer media
Recharge & discharge areas
Depth to water
Posted leases
Mine infrastructure
In‐situ development
Linear corridors Development hazard
Aggregate risk
Cumulative Impact Assessment
• Use of numerical modelling tools – quantify spatial & temporal effects from all regional developments
– support GMF development & implementation
21
Proposed
Existing
Secondary
High priority
Future
Proposed regional monitoring
Monitoring
Modelling
Management
Integration of decision support tools
WHOC11‐567
SYSTEM REFINEMENTS
through ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
PROCESS
• Considerable work to date establishing regional groundwater monitoring and management in the Alberta oil sands regions
• Active networks in place (NAOS, CLBR) with others under development (SAOS)
• Draft management frameworks developed for each oil sands area (summary document in prep.)
• Results will be crucial in determining: – current state of groundwater resources (including baseline and
range of natural variability) – indicator trends and future conditions – validity of modelled projections – sustainable development of groundwater resources
Summary
Thank you Questions?