Permit holders will now have to differentiate fresh and non-fresh water amounts used in hydraulic fracturing operations.
DATE ISSUED: July 22, 2024
EFFECTIVE DATE: Aug. 1, 2024
With continued drought conditions and concerns regarding fresh water availability in various areas of the province, the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) is implementing changes to hydraulic fracturing water use reporting. These changes will help the BCER to better understand and recognize efforts to re-use water and utilize sources other than fresh water.
Starting Aug. 1, 2024, hydraulic fracture data file submissions require, for each stage, values of:
- Saline Fluid Pumped (m3); values of 0 to 99999.9 acceptable. Saline fluid is re-used flowback water, produced formation water, waste water, or deep groundwater.
- Nonsaline Fluid Pumped (m3); values of 0 to 99999.9 acceptable. Non-saline water is fresh surface water or usable groundwater.
The prior value “Total Fluid Pumped (m3)” will no longer be collected. No changes are being made to the Fracture Fluid (Fracfocus) chemical disclosure reporting at this time.
The new Hydraulic Fracturing Electronic Submission Template (.csv file) is available here.
Initial reporting may use estimates where allocation methods are not yet in place. Permit holders must maintain records that verify reported volumes by fracturing water type starting Jan. 1, 2025.
If you have any questions regarding this Technical Update, please contact:
Michelle Gaucher, P.Eng.
Sr. Reservoir Engineer
BC Energy Regulator
Michelle.Gaucher@bc-er.ca
250-419-4482
Karen Diamond
Well Analyst
BC Energy Regulator
Karen.Diamond@bc-er.ca
250-419-4353