[The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), generally regarded more as part of
the Alberta oil and gas sector than an effective regulator, has a
two-part mandate. The AER describes itself as:
"The Alberta Energy Regulator is a regulatory body with a mandate to
provide for the efficient, safe, orderly, and environmentally
responsible development of Alberta’s energy resources."
(http://aer.ca/about-aer)
Critics have long contended the focus is on development, while safe
comes second and being environmentally responsible was long since
relegated to the dustbin - or should that be tailings pond?
The current Board Chair comes directly from the oil and gas industry.
(http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/04/02/new_top_energy_regulator/)
The regulator essentially lost its independence from the (pro-oil)
government of the day in 2013.
(http://susanonthesoapbox.com/2013/06/23/the-alberta-energy-board-what-the-pc-government-learned-and-failed-to-learn-from-machiavelli/)
Links between the industry and its captive regulator are underlined by
the perception that there is a 2-way revolving door between regulator
and industry.
(http://desmog.ca/2013/05/22/revolving-door-sees-alberta-environment-and-water-staffer-hired-canada-s-largest-oil-lobby-group)
With that as background, how bad does the real situation have to be when
the AER has to publicly smack down a major Alberta oil and gas player,
not once, but twice, in a matter of hours?]
=======================================================================
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/CNRL+loses+resume+steam+operations+near+spill+site/9593991/story.html
CNRL loses bid to resume steam operations near spill site
Environmentalists applaud regulator’s decision
By Sheila Pratt, Edmonton Journal March 7, 2014
EDMONTON - The Alberta Energy Regulator turned down an application by
Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd (CNRL) to resume oil production next to
a leaking site where bitumen has been oozing to the surface for more
than 10 months near Cold Lake.
The Journal learned of the decision late Friday from Bob Curran, AER
regulator spokesperson, who added details will be on the website later.
The decision, announced late Friday, was welcomed by environmentalists
who said it was premature to allow the company to start sending steam
into the ground again given there’s not yet a way to stop the four leaks
on their Primrose field.
“This is encouraging and a good signal from the new regulator,” said
Erin Flanagan, an analyst with the Pembina Institute.
Mike Hudema of Greenpeace he was “glad” to hear the decision and
stressed there should be no resumption of steaming “until we get some
answers about what caused these leaks.”
Thousands of barrels of bitumen have come to the surface on the Primrose
site, though the seepage has slowed during the winter.
The company has spent millions on cleanup, removing contaminated soil
and isolating the fissures where the bitumen comes to the surface,
including emptying a small lake to contain a bitumen leak at the bottom.
CNRL applied on Feb. 4 to resume its high-pressure cyclical steaming
process on wells just outside the one-kilometre zone where operations
were shut down last spring after bitumen was discovered leaking into the
small lake in Primrose South.
In the application, the company proposed to make some adjustments to its
high-pressure cyclical steam operation. It remains confident the leaking
is caused when bitumen seeps into racks in faulty old well bores.
But after a similar 2009 incident of bitumen leaks, CNRL was allowed to
resume steaming at Primrose “and we got more leaking,” said Hudema.
The regulator’s report on the 2009 leak raised questions about whether
the high-pressure steam pushed into the ground is causing the caprock to
crack and letting the bitumen move up, he noted.
The AER’s denial of the application “is just a first step,” said Hudema.
“We need a safety audit of in situ technology.”
Flanagan also called for a public review of this method of in situ
bitumen production that would involve stakeholders in the discussion.
“It is premature to debate additional production until this report is
complete and has been subject to public review,” said Flanagan.
=====================================================================
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonton/Alberta+government+lays+charges+against+CNRL+oilsands/9593847/story.html
Alberta government lays 11 charges against CNRL oilsands company
By Cailynn Klingbeil, Edmonton Journal March 7, 2014
A major oilsands company facing 11 charges in connection to the release
of hydrogen sulphide gas from a project near Fort McMurray was charged
in May 2012 for a similar incident.
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. faces 11 charges under the Environmental
Protection and Enhancement Act, including providing misleading
information to the Fort McKay First Nation and failing to properly
report the contravention and release to the First Nation.
In a news release Friday, the provincial government said the charges
stem from an incident Aug. 2, 2012, when hydrogen sulphide gas was
released from CNRL’s Horizon upgrader facility.
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development started an
investigation after receiving reports of high ambient air monitoring and
complaints from residents of Fort MacKay.
The 11 charges include release of a substance causing a significant
adverse effect, failure to ensure complete combustion at the flare
stack, release of an unapproved substance, and failure to report
approval contraventions, providing misleading information to the
director and the Fort McKay First Nation, and failing to properly report
the contravention and release to the director and the Fort McKay First
Nation. Each charge carries the possibility of a fine of up to $500,000,
the government said.
In May 2012, the government laid three charges against Canadian Natural
Resources for allegedly releasing hydrogen sulphide gas in May 2010 at
the Horizons Oil Sands facility and failing to report the incident. The
company is scheduled to appear in Sherwood Park provincial court June 18
on those charges.
The company is scheduled to appear in Fort McMurray provincial court
April 24 on the new charges.
More to come ...
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