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Proposed Research Objectives

Proposed Research Objectives. Presentation to the Energy Roundtable November 21, 2013. NB Energy Institute Mandate.

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Proposed Research Objectives

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  1. Proposed Research Objectives Presentation to the Energy Roundtable November 21, 2013

  2. NB Energy Institute Mandate As an advisory body to the Province of New Brunswick, the Institute will review and assess environmental, social, economic and health issues relating to energy extraction, development or production within New Brunswick.

  3. The NB Energy Institute will: • Focus on protection of the health of citizens and the natural environment • Seek verification of effects and benefits • Provide expertise and advice for monitoring and mitigation • Assess risks and recommend appropriate action when necessary • Providescientific information to the public • Foster trust

  4. How will NBEI achieve this?

  5. New Brunswick Energy InstituteStructure Chair Executive Director Scientific Advisory Council Research Fellows Energy Roundtable

  6. Energy Roundtable Provides forum for discussions and debate on issues associated with energy development in NB. Includes representatives from the following: • Aboriginal Representation • Business Community • Oil and Gas Industry • Municipal Government • Regional Government • Environmental Representation • Citizens at Large • Rural Community industries • Health Practitioners • Representative of Oil and Gas Trades • Technical/Community College Institutions • Work Safe NB

  7. MANDATE - Key Themes: Society Health Environment Economy

  8. MANDATE - Context: ENERGY Extraction Development Production

  9. Defining Research Objectives • Topics • Learn from what has or is being done elsewhere? • Focus on issues unique to NB? • Priorities? • Timing with Respect to Exploration, Development and Production • What can/should be done today, prior to development activity? • What can only be looked at during development activity?

  10. Suggested Focus Areas Air Quality Freshwater Resources Waste Water Treatment Well Integrity Socioeconomic Health

  11. Groundwater Quality • Groundwater quality baseline • Comprehensive survey of domestic wells • Document and interpret water-quality data (natural vs. anthropogenic influences) • Isotopic fingerprinting of natural gas with depth • Mud-gas logging data for C isotopic ratios with depth • Use of gas fingerprinting to identify gas sources in aquifers • Investigate methods for monitoring during/following operations • Close to source at well pad • monitoring down casing annulus? • challenges with monitoring wells in fractured bedrock aquifers • time-series monitoring of domestic wells proximal to operations (protocols need attention)

  12. Deep – Shallow Groundwater Interaction • Pilot study could be developed around an operation as it moves through Exploration toward Development and Production (collaboration with industry) • Define stratigraphy • Characterize the hydrogeology • connections between deep and shallow system? • groundwater/porewater pressure distribution versus depth • multi-level monitoring system • permeability of the stratigraphic sequence • packer testing • Characterize the hydrogeochemistry • freshwater – saltwater interface • methane, ethane, propane concentrations and isotopes • groundwater/porewaterresidence time

  13. Surface Water • Streams are natural “collectors” • Pathways to streams via: • faults/fractures • water wells • gas wells http://ut.water.usgs.gov/projects/methanestream/index.html • Surface water quality baseline • Appropriate methods for baseline data collections of chemistry and biology in streams • Baseline surveys of surface waters • Methods for surface water quality monitoring during/following gas development operations

  14. Waste Water • Learn from study underway by U.S. E.P.A. (late 2014) • Review of compounds used in hydraulic fracturing, and prioritization of chemicals based on risk • Treatment technologies and options for NB • Methods specific to saline aqueous solutions • Issues specific to marine discharge of effluent • Assessment of deep well disposal of clear waste liquids • Deep strata with high permeability? • Seismological implications of deep well injection in NB

  15. Well Integrity • Defining issues with well integrity • Quantifying well integrity issues • Gas migration and integrity issues in legacy wells • Quality control through measurements near recently abandoned wells • Surface casing vent flow (SCVF) measurements and requirements (limits) • Gas migration (outside of the surface casing) • Measurement or estimates of gas migration frequency and rates • Sources of gas, biogenic or deep formation gas • CH4 emissions to the atmosphere through gas migration • CH4 seepage from gas migration into potable aquifers • Examining technologies for preventing gas leakage along casing

  16. Socioeconomic • Take stock of research work completed and in progress • Identify gaps in understanding of likely socio-economic consequences for New Brunswick  • including risks such as the “boomtown” effects. • Develop methodology and plan for filling knowledge gaps • Make recommendations for addressing risks in a timely manner, maximizing benefits to New Brunswickers and minimizing adverse consequences if decision is made to proceed with exploitation.

  17. Other Topics… We need your input

  18. Discussion

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