Water Innovation Planning Committee (WIPC)

WIPC is an important AUPRF technical committee. Their work is dedicated to providing credible and relevant information that addresses knowledge gaps related to water issues in upstream oil and natural gas development. They focus on identifying key challenges for the energy sector in managing water across the spectrum, including sourcing, storage, transport, treatment, recycling/reuse, and disposal. By working towards the development of shared research, WIPC supports work to help manage high-priority environmental matters related to water.

 

WIPC Committee Members

Name Company Name
Alexandra Robertson Alberta Energy Regulator
Deanna Cottrell Shell Canada
Geoff Webb Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Guillaume Lafond Ovintiv
Jarred Anstett Murphy Oil Corp.
Michael Bevan Alberta Energy Regulator
Mike Fulsom The Explorers and Producers Association of Canada
Natasha Rowden MEG Energy
Sarah Belak Tourmaline Oil
Susan Satterthwaite Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
Tara Payment Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

 

Current Policy Issues and Knowledge Gaps

Policy Issue Knowledge Gaps
Safeguarding groundwater and surface water quantity and quality
  • Updated methodology for determining water availability for withdrawal in lakes in key operating areas.
Enabling the use of alternative water sources to high-quality non-saline water
  • Economic treatment of produced water to reduce risk of conveyance via temporary surface pipeline.
  • Review of produced water and flowback water recycling operations across jurisdictions to identify scenarios where it would be economic in Alberta (e.g., regulatory requirements, level of activity, water quality, distance to disposal).
  • Solutions to reduce mid-term storage/containment costs for produced water.
  • Research to support longer-term deployment of aboveground walled storage systems thus reducing regulatory burden.
  • Area-based wave studies to reduce freeboard.
  • Risk characterization of Groups 2 and 3 water (per Directive 077 and Pipeline Rules) to inform risk-aligned regulatory requirements for conveyance, storage, and releases.

 
Improving the operational business environment by generating efficiencies and cost savings in water management
  • Ongoing open access to the Alberta Water Tool.