By Dan,
posted on Friday, April 01, 2011.
Congratulations to ANGA member companies Apache and Encana for their dedication to environmental
stewardship! Last week, both companies were awarded the Responsible Canadian Energy (RCE) Environmental
Performance Award for the Debolt Water Treatment Plant
Project. Check out the video for the project here.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
(CAAP) instituted the RCE awards to demonstrate leadership in
environmental stewardship, health and safety, and social
performance.
Apache and Encana teamed up in 2007 to develop infrastructure
that would reduce the industry's dependence on fresh surface water
sources in British Columbia's Horn River Basin by using the Debolt
water reservoir, which is a deep, subsurface, non-potable aquifer.
In June of 2010, the plant began operating and in less than two
years, has been able to fulfill the vast majority of Apache and
Encana's water needs for hydraulic fracturing in the Two Island
Lake area.
Kevin Screen, manager of Apache's Horn River business unit noted
that, "the first measure of success is the amount by which we
actually reduce our fresh water requirement; in the first two
months of 2011 we are in excess of 90 percent Debolt water. Our
target is to be above 95 percent Debolt water for our completion
operation."
Additionally, the Debolt Water Treatment Plant has an integrated
water treatment and distribution system, which aids in the full
recovery and re-use of hydraulic fracturing fluids. The plant
allows for the natural gas shale play to grow and develop while
mitigating environmental impact.
Water is an essential component in the development of the
natural gas production and ANGA member companies recognize that a
large part of the natural gas community's commitment to responsible
environmental stewardship revolves around our ability to be
conscious of community water needs and to continually advance our
ability to "reduce, reuse and recycle."
Apache and Encana's efforts illustrates one of the ways natural
gas companies are aggressively exploring and adopting water reuse
technologies. Water is a precious resource - and so is
natural gas. Kudos to Apache and Encana for demonstrating that ANGA
companies are committed to the sustainable and responsible
development of our natural gas resources while protecting and
preserving water.