Water and Natural Gas Development in Northeast British Columbia
The purpose of this three-day residential workshop is to engage young Canadian leaders in resource management and related fields in dialogue about water and natural gas development. The workshop will explore issues specific to natural gas extraction and the use of water and protection of groundwater. Since shale formations are tight and compressed, hydraulic fracturing is used to provide pathways through which natural gas can flow. This is a controlled operation that pumps fluids through the wellbore to target formations at high pressure in multiple intervals, or stages.
Water is a key component used in energy production and the workshop participants will travel to Encana’s operations in Fort Nelson to learn about water use, storage, protection and hydraulic fracturing. From the perceived effects of water withdrawal and wastewater disposal on human health and the environment to industry innovation in water re-use and natural resource extraction, this workshop will incorporate a variety of perspectives to explore the impacts and benefits of natural gas development on local communities and ecosystems.
Throughout the workshop, resource guests working across a range of sectors will introduce participants to a number of themes - including water use in gas production, provincial and federal government policies, First Nations' perspectives and collaboration – in order to give a balanced overview of how diverse groups can work together to manage water, energy needs, and lands.
There is space for 20 individuals between the ages of 20-35 to participate in the workshop. There is a $100 participation fee. All participants are expected to attend the full length of the workshop in order to facilitate, discuss and encourage growth throughout the experience.
Please see the attached invite, above, for lots more info on this workshop.
Applications are now closed. Thank you for your interest!
Suggested Pre-workshop Readings
1. About Waterlution
- If you have not participated in a Waterlution workshop before, you can access videos on what to expect at: www.waterlution.org/multimedia
- Our preferred social media is Facebook or Twitter - consider joining the Waterlution community via these tools!
2. Industry/Industry Association Perspectives
- Encana Website
- Encana Video
- Animation on drilling and fracturing techniques
- Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Report on Responsible Water Management
- Hydraulic Fracturing Chemical Registry Website
3. Government/Regulator Perspective
- BC Oil and Gas Commission publication: Oil and Gas Water Use in BC
- National Energy Board publication: A Primer on Shale Gas
- BC Ministry of Environment: Water Stewardship Division Website
4. Community/NGO Perspectives
- CBC Radio: Shale Gas Experience in Fort Nelson, BC
- "Our Water Secretly Sucked Away By the Gas Industry" by Ben Parfitt. The Tyee March 15th, 2011.
- Munk School of Global Affairs: "Fracture Lines: Will Canada be Protected in the Rush to Develop Shale Gas?" (September 2010): pg 18-36
- Ecojustice Website
- Pembina Website
- Fort Nelson First Nation Website
5. Dialogue
These websites represent some of the dialogue processes that will incorporated into the workshop.
