Primary Research Organization: WaterSMART Solutions Ltd.
Start Date: July 2023
Anticipated End Date: November 2023
Project Summary and Scope of Work
Alberta’s Water Conservation Policy for Upstream Oil and Gas Operations (December 2020) articulates a preference for using alternative water sources over high-quality non-saline water sources, including the recycling of produced and flowback water in hydraulic fracturing. However, Producers in Alberta face barriers to recycling water, limiting the rate of water recycle by the industry, particularly compared to B.C., where recycle rates are higher. This project’s purpose is to close this knowledge gap by identifying the specific barriers limiting the rate of water recycling in Alberta’s hydraulic fracturing industry, particularly compared to B.C., and providing recommendations for addressing these barriers.