All Resources

Potential for gas migration due to coalbed methane development

Description

Coalbed gas (CBG) effectively consists of methane with minor amounts of ethane and propane, but no hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Recognition of CBG as an increasingly important energy resource has led... More ≫

Description

Coalbed gas (CBG) effectively consists of methane with minor amounts of ethane and propane, but no hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Recognition of CBG as an increasingly important energy resource has led to rapid expansion of exploration activity. Rapid development started in the 1980s in the western United States of America (USA), and has spread over the last six years to the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). Increased production activities have brought increased awareness of environmental issues surrounding CBG development. In particular, reports of negative experiences associated with early CBG development in the USA have raised stakeholder concerns in Canada. Alberta CBG development has largely avoided the water resources issues experienced in the USA from CBG exploitation for two reasons. The major CBG resource plays in Canada to date have been in ‘dry’ coals, while ‘wet’ CBG coals developed in the USA required dewatering in order to recover the gas. Secondly, the rapid...

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Big Knife Provincial Park biophysical inventory

Description

Big Knife Provincial Park project area covers roughly 297.54 hectares* (735.21 acres) of terrain in and along the Battle River valley southwest of Forestburg in east central Alberta. The Park... More ≫

Description

Big Knife Provincial Park project area covers roughly 297.54 hectares* (735.21 acres) of terrain in and along the Battle River valley southwest of Forestburg in east central Alberta. The Park represents a variety of landscapes and includes the valley bottom and slopes associated with the Battle River and the lower reach of Big Knife Creek to the north, and the northern edge of of a broad upland to the south. The Park also exhibits a variety of plant communities. Better drained sites are vegetated with a mosaic of plant communities consisting of open grasslands, shrublands and dense wooded areas while poorly to very poorly drained sites mostly in the valley bottom are suited to sedge meadows, willow dominant wetlands and cattail marshes. Extensive erosion into the valley slopes has exposed the soft Upper Cretaceous sedimentary bedrock resulting in badland features in the southern portion of the Park. This report elaborates further on the biophysical resources of Big Knife Provincial...

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Assessment and remediation of earthen pits associated with oil and gas production in Alberta

Description

This document provides a framework for contaminant assessment and its use in identification of remedial options. Particular attention is paid to potential roles for land treatment and backfilling.... More ≫

Description

This document provides a framework for contaminant assessment and its use in identification of remedial options. Particular attention is paid to potential roles for land treatment and backfilling. These operations are likely to be considered early in the decommissioning process because of their perceived economy and frequent historical use. Whereas land treatment is expected to play a role in future decommissioning, it is appropriate only in certain instances and is but one of the many tools available to their land manager. Because inappropriate spreading of wastes on land damages soil that currently is not degraded it is paramount that circumstances leading to this result be avoided. Proposals following are designed to minimize the occurrence of unnecessary environmental damage.

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Flood frequency analysis : North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton

Description

This study determines flood magnitudes for the North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton. Both natural and regulated annual maximum flood flows are examined in the assessment of the frequency of... More ≫

Description

This study determines flood magnitudes for the North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton. Both natural and regulated annual maximum flood flows are examined in the assessment of the frequency of occurrence of future flood peak flow rates. Recorded flows and water levels within the North Saskatchewan River basin above Edmonton form the basis of the analyses. Several frequency distributions were applied to the annual flood discharge data and the most applicable distribution was selected. The results of the analyses reflect the most current information and methodologies available to determine flood frequency estimates.

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Chlorates : a literature review of aspects relevant to the aquatic environment

Description

The purpose of this document is to summarize the aquatic information available on chlorates, and to provide a list of pertinent literature.

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Preliminary report on Cardinal Creek improvement plan

Description

This report discusses channel improvement alternatives along Cardinal Creek, with the objective of providing flood relief so that the floodplain lands can be used for agricultural purposes.... More ≫

Description

This report discusses channel improvement alternatives along Cardinal Creek, with the objective of providing flood relief so that the floodplain lands can be used for agricultural purposes. Several alternatives are examined, with the 1:10 year return flood as the design discharge. It was found that the work required to increase the channel capacity to the 1:10 year flood discharge would cost in excess of $1 million. It is, therefore, recommended that all beaverdams and abandoned bridges be removed completely from the creek, and that the channel be cleared of brush. With these works, the extend and frequency of overbank flooding would be reduced significantly. Clearing and brushing would be required annually.

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