CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An updated water use report shows that oil and gas companies are using less water and improving recycling to develop Alberta's oil sands. In fact, mineable and in situ oil sands each recycled about 80 per cent of the water used in their operations in 2016. But for the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), recycling is just one measure of water use performance.
"Albertans depend on us to make sure that energy companies are using water responsibly," said Jim Ellis, the AER's president and CEO. "We believe that publicly reporting on water use holds companies accountable for their actions, encourages them to compare themselves against their peers, and motivates them to use water more efficiently."
Ellis added that "sharing this information also helps us inform Albertans about the steps companies are taking to innovate and invest in technology to reduce the amount of water they need to support their operations."
Here are five things to know about the Alberta Energy Industry Water Use Report:
The AER ensures the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of hydrocarbon resources over their entire life cycle. This includes allocating and conserving water resources, managing public lands, and protecting the environment while providing economic benefits for all Albertans.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
A new water use report issued by the Alberta Energy Regulator shows that oil and gas companies are using less water and improving recycling to develop Alberta's oil sands. A full report is available on aer.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Jordan Fitzgerald, AER Public Affairs
Phone: 403-297-6266
Email: [email protected]
Media line: 1-855-474-6356
Backgrounder
Explaining water use performance
Water use performance is about more than looking at who uses the least or who recycles the most. It's about looking at each company, how they operate (e.g., mining or in situ), and the size and age of their projects. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking at performance.
Oil Sands Mining
Because every mineable oil sands operation is unique, we looked at nonsaline water use intensity (i.e., the amount of nonsaline water needed to produce one barrel of oil equivalent [BOE]) and recycling as measures of performance for the five years from 2012 through 2016.
Learn more in our water use report for oil sands mining.
In Situ
Every in situ project is different, and there is no single way to measure performance. However, older fully operational projects require less nonsaline water because larger amounts of it return to the surface and can be recycled by companies. To show the difference, here's how projects of different ages compared in terms of nonsaline water use intensity in 2016.
Learn more in our water use report for in situ.
Make-up Water
What is "make-up" water?
Water (nonsaline or saline groundwater) that is added to facilities to help process oil sands; typically accounts for water that is lost during processing.
How is make-up water used?
Oil sands mining: Added to facilities to produce bitumen. For example, make-up water can be added to recycled water from tailings ponds. Most make-up water for oil sands mining is nonsaline, and most mining projects use the Athabasca River as the source because it is close by.
In situ: Accounts for water that cannot be reused by in situ companies because it has not returned to the surface or is lost while being treated. Make-up water for in situ can be nonsaline or saline.