Investigating the Environmental Impacts of Western Canadian Tight Oil Resources

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dc.contributor.advisorBergerson, Joule
dc.contributor.authorBradley, Alexander Christopher
dc.contributor.committeememberMcCoy, Sean
dc.contributor.committeememberChen, Shengnan
dc.date2020-06
dc.date.accessioned2020-03-31T16:54:45Z
dc.date.available2020-03-31T16:54:45Z
dc.date.issued2020-03-16
dc.description.abstractIn the past decade, Western Canada has seen the emergence of an unconventional resource known as tight oil. In 2017, oil production from this resource reached 430 thousand barrels per day, accounting for approximately 10% of all Canadian crude produced. Despite rapid development, the environmental impacts associated with the production and use of this resource are still being understood. Production is spread widely across multiple provinces, varying in production characteristics and facing unique environmental and operational challenges. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the environmental impacts associated with the production and use of Western Canadian tight oil. Three environmental impacts are considered in the comparison of thirteen different tight oil formations; life cycle ‘well to wheels’ (WTW) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity, freshwater use and induced seismicity. The impacts are assessed spatially and the trade-offs between the formations are considered. An attempt is made to address the drawbacks of previous crude oil life cycle assessments (LCAs), through the consideration of multiple impacts and a rigorous evaluation of resource variability. A tool is developed using public data, enabling the estimation of upstream emissions intensities for a broad range of Canadian resources down to the individual producing well. Annual emissions from tight oil production are forecast, and the influence of uncertain factors such as economics, regulations and sweet spot targeting (targeting different areas of the resource) are investigated. The results show the complex relationships between physical characteristics, operational characteristics and environmental performance, and demonstrate the need for more comprehensive modelling to facilitate better decision-making in the development of Canadian resources.en_US
dc.identifier.citationBradley, A. C. (2020). Investigating the Environmental Impacts of Western Canadian Tight Oil Resources (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/37653
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/111763
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultySchulich School of Engineeringen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectLife Cycle Assessmenten_US
dc.subjectLCAen_US
dc.subjectTight Oilen_US
dc.subjectEmissionsen_US
dc.subjectVentingen_US
dc.subjectFugitivesen_US
dc.subjectShaleen_US
dc.subjectWell to Wheelsen_US
dc.subjectEmissionsen_US
dc.subjectInduced Seismicityen_US
dc.subjectWater Useen_US
dc.subjectOil and Gasen_US
dc.subject.classificationEnergyen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineering--Chemicalen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineering--Environmentalen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineering--Petroleumen_US
dc.titleInvestigating the Environmental Impacts of Western Canadian Tight Oil Resourcesen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering – Chemical & Petroleumen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
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