Petroleum producers set new standards for hydraulic fracking in Canada

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) today announced new operating practices for shale gas fracking in Canada. The operating practices announced today complement existing guidelines established in September, 2011. Those guidelines have to do with construction of wellbores and the use of water and chemicals in the fracking process.

The practices, developed by natural gas producers and mainly concerned with water use, apply to all CAPP member exploring for and producing natural gas in Canada. Capp president Dave Collyer said that applying the new practices would contribute to improved environmental performance and transparency on the part of the industry. The measure is also intended to improve the relationships “with the public, stakeholders and government.”

Fracking is under fire in many jurisdictions for its perceived threat to ground water and for other environmental concerns.

The new CAPP operating practices make it mandatory for CAPP members to

• Disclose and make publicly available, on a well-by-well basis, the chemical ingredients used in fracturing fluid additives.
• Assess and manage the environmental risk associated with fracturing fluid additives.
• Develop domestic water well-sampling programs and participate in regional groundwater monitoring programs; establish a process for addressing stakeholder concerns regarding water well performance.
• Ensure that wellbores are safely designed and installed before hydraulic fracturing begins, including creating a continuous cement barrier to protect groundwater and developing remedial plans in case a wellbore is compromised.
• Safeguard surface water and groundwater quantity, ensuring no withdrawal limits are exceeded.
• Identify, evaluate and mitigate potential risks related to the transport, handling, storage and disposal of fluids (i.e. fracturing fluids, produced water, flowback water and fracturing fluid wastes) and ensure a quick response to accidental spills. 

"The establishment of Canada-wide hydraulic fracturing principles and practices is part of the natural gas industry's ongoing efforts to ensure safe development of Canada's shale gas resources," Collyer said. "Shale gas can and is produced responsibly every day across Canada and the United States with almost 200,000 wells fractured in Western Canada over the last 60 years. With increased focus on fracturing from coast-to-coast, the Canadian industry wants to be at the forefront of transparency and to establish clear and consistent practices across the country."