INNOVATION May-June 2012

l et ter s

The second Geoscience BC project is a comprehensive examination of surface, shallow subsurface, and deep saline subsurface aquifers in the Montney fairway, undertaken in co- operation with several BC government ministries. Although more work remains to be done, significant advances in understanding water resources and identifying source and disposal zones have been achieved. Accurate characterization and mapping of subsurface rock units, as undertaken in the Geoscience BC studies, is a critical element in understanding the bigger picture. Geoscience BC communicates accurate available information about water resources and industry usage through active engagement with municipalities and First Nations communities. The Montney and Horn River projects provide the baseline information mentioned by Jackson and Kohut as the “necessary knowledge that leads to better-informed decision making.” Dr Brad J Hayes PGeo Calgary, AB v See page 16 for Dr Hayes’ article “Utilization and Protection of BC’s Water Resources in the Production of Oil and Gas from Unconventional Reservoirs” for more detailed discussion on this topic.

Letters to the editor containing your views on topics of interest are encouraged. Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily endorsed by APEGBC. Letters should be 300 words or less and can be e-mailed to mlau@apeg.bc.ca.

Understanding the Bigger Picture An interesting article by Jackson and Kohut on aquifers and shale gas extraction in the March/April issue. There are some important points to add, relevant to northeastern British Columbia. BC is a world leader in assessment of aquifers and water resources associated with unconventional gas plays. Geoscience BC, a government-funded, not-for-profit organization, has released two major reports on the issue. A study of deep saline subsurface aquifers in the Horn River Basin identified the Debolt Formation (buried at depths of several hundred metres) as an excellent saline water source and disposal zone. A water treatment facility now draws water from the Debolt, supplying almost all the water used for drilling and completions by Encana and Apache. It also facilitates disposal of spent frac fluids and produced waters too saline to recycle. Follow-up work in defining shallow subsurface aquifers and monitoring surface waters is underway.

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