Methodology for Characterizing Deep Groundwater Resources Using Studies from the Alberta and Williston Basins

Palombi, Dan

Methodology for Characterizing Deep Groundwater Resources Using Studies from the Alberta and Williston Basins

Thursday, May 8, 2014: 10:20 a.m.

Dan Palombi , Alberta Energy Regulator - Alberta Geological Survey, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Regional hydrogeology studies that have mapped and characterized deep groundwater resources in the Alberta and Williston basins have been undertaken for decades. Understanding regional groundwater flow in these basins has been recognized as essential, given the diverse range of natural resources (oil, gas, and fresh and saline water) and in evaluating the various uses of deep groundwater. There is an increasing demand for both fresh and saline groundwater in Alberta to supply domestic, municipal, and agricultural use in addition to natural resource development. Hence, the characterization of deep aquifers, and inherently the advancement of existing methodologies where needed, are currently a focus of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). The assessment of deep aquifers for their potential use as water sources in shale oil and gas, geothermal energy, and for geological storage must involve an inventory and characterization of the available and potential competing uses of groundwater resources.

The AER’s Alberta Geological Survey has a history of conducting hydrogeological mapping and continues to undertake regional scale projects in assessing both shallow and deep groundwater resources. This presentation will provide an overview of the methodologies that are currently being used to characterize deep aquifers. Moreover, an outline of the approach being taken to inventory our groundwater resources, construct regional groundwater flow models, and provide scientific results to regulators making decisions on water authorizations will be provided. Studies from the Alberta and Williston basins will be used to show methods and results in geological and hydrogeological modelling, mapping distributions of groundwater flow and chemistry, correcting for density-dependent flow, and also techniques to identify the effects of production/injection on data and pressure regimes.

Dan Palombi, Alberta Energy Regulator - Alberta Geological Survey, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Dan is Manager of Groundwater Inventory and Basin Analysis unit at the Alberta Energy Regulator – Alberta Geological Survey. He is leading a provincial-scale program on the study, mapping, quantification, and reporting of Alberta’s groundwater resources. Dan’s background resides in regional and petroleum hydrogeology having spent 10 years conducting regional-scale studies and mapping groundwater flow systems across the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. Dan received his B.Sc. in Geology and M.Sc. in Hydrogeology from the University of Alberta. He is currently focused on regional hydrology, numerical modelling, groundwater management, and researching the capacity required to achieve groundwater sustainability.