Since 2018, InnoTech Alberta, Vertex Resource Group Ltd., Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and Enviro Q&A Services have been working on a PTAC-sponsored project to provide recommendations for an acceptable policy framework and decision support tool(s) for certification of boreal wellsites constructed using imported mineral soil pads in peatlands, and upland (forest) sites that have natural vegetation encroachment. The goal of the project is to assist industry and regulators in making decisions around appropriate management and certification of these sites to ensure (a) functioning ecosystems are developing, and (b) that there is a process that supports reclamation certification.
Two guidance documents and associated appendices have been prepared. The first assists practitioners with applying for variances for upland sites. The second is a decision support tool to improve consistency in decisions for leaving mineral soil pads in place in peatlands.
- Tokay, H., D. MacKenzie, C.B. Powter, B. Drozdowski and K. Renkema 2020. Guide to Variance Justifications for Reclamation Certification of Wellsites and Associated Facilities on Forested Land. Prepared for the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada, Calgary, Alberta. Report 18/19-RRRC-09_2. 82 pp. https://auprf.ptac.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Deliverable-2-_Uplands-Guide-to-Variance-Justifications-PTAC-Report-18_19-RRRC-02-DRAFT.pdf
- Drozdowski, B., C.B. Powter, H. Tokay, D. MacKenzie, K. Renkema, and B. Xu, 2020. Certification of Mineral Soil Pads in the Boreal Region – Decision Framework and Support Tools. Prepared for the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada, Calgary, Alberta. Report 19-RRRC-09_4. 23 pp. https://auprf.ptac.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Deliverable-4_PTAC-18_19-RRRC_09-Certification-of-Mineral-Pads-Policy-Framework-and-Decision-Support-Tools-09-05-2020-DRAFT.pdf
- Tokay, H., D. MacKenzie, C.B. Powter, B. Drozdowski and K. Renkema 2020. Guide to Variance Justifications for Reclamation Certification of Wellsites and Associated Facilities – Case Studies. Prepared for the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada, Calgary, Alberta. Report 19-RRRC-09_ 6. 106 pp. https://auprf.ptac.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Deliverable-6_PTAC18_19-RRRC_09_-Case-Studies_-12-23-2020-DRAFT.pdf
The Alberta Energy Regulator has indicated support for use of these guidance documents as support for wellsite certificate justifications in the 2021 field season.
This site provides a link to the video presentation on the two documents as well as copies of the slides used. Feedback is requested on the documents and case studies and links to forms developed for capturing feedback are provided.