Review: Evolving Processes in Regulating Shale Gas Development in Alberta

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2015-07
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Abstract
Prior to the Responsible Energy Development Act (REDA), environmental assessments and regulatory oversight responsibilities in Alberta’s upstream energy sector (exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas) were carried out by multiple government agencies. Regulatory compliance was undertaken by each organization with limited co-ordination that increased regulatory duplication. This led to the need and creation of a single regulator for upstream oil, gas, oil sands and coal development in Alberta, namely the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). The goal is to create a less complex and more streamlined regulatory processes for project approvals and monitoring. The advancements in technology such as the combination of multi-staged hydraulic fracturing (MHF) and horizontal drilling have made Unconventional Gas Development (UGD) possible in subsurface areas that were not economically viable or possible in the past. The UGD involves larger footprints, intense developments and last longer as compared to the conventional gas development. Risks such as potential groundwater contamination, significant use of fresh water and cumulative effects to the landscapes have been linked to UGD.
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Citation
Rai, Avaya. (2015). Review: Evolving Processes in Regulating Shale Gas Development in Alberta ( Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.