The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, acting on behalf of the country's natural gas producers, Thursday announced guidelines for hydraulic fracturing of shale gas developments. The new principles emphasize water management and improved disclosure of water and fluid practices.
Salient new features include: safeguarding the quality and quantity of regional surface and groundwater resources through sound wellbore construction practices; sourcing fresh-water alternatives and recycling water for reuse as much as practical; measuring and disclosing water to reduce environmental impact; supporting the development of fracturing fluid additives with the least environmental risks; and supporting the disclosure of fracturing fluid additives.
"With the increase in natural gas production from unconventional sources such as shale, Canadians have told us they want more information as to how industry uses and protects water," CAPP President Dave Collyer said in a statement. "These principles articulate our water management objectives and water protection practices, as well as our focus on improving our water performance over time."
CAPPs guiding principles for hydraulic fracturing apply in all jurisdictions in which the upstream industry operates and have been issued with the understanding that some provinces are working on regulations. The expectation is for the new guidelines to complement future regulatory needs, the CAPP announcement said.
"The Canadian natural gas industry supports all regulations that govern hydraulic fracturing, water use and water protection, as we recognize water is a valuable resource," Michael McAllister, an executive vice-president at Encana, said in a statement. "Strong regulations exist in regions of active unconventional gas development. Similar regulations are being developed in regions with an emerging unconventional natural gas sector to ensure protection of water resources and provide the public confidence that these resources are being developed responsibly."
Randal Biedermann, sales manager with service company Weatherford, while welcoming the decision to disclose fracturing fluids, expressed concern about the environmental impact.
"The composition of fluids is vital as there are several chemical cocktails that are not environment friendly. Depending on the formations, there are various toxic fluids that could potentially affect a water-bearing area."
