The Water Initiative research team is preparing an extensive comparative, multidisciplinary review of hydraulic fracturing wastewater handling, treatment, reuse and disposal by comparing the operating practices, regulatory policies and stakeholder concerns that have emerged in various jurisdictions regulating unconventional shale formations in North America. The research will identify key knowledge gaps and enable private and public sector decision-makers to develop specific research approaches to directly address these identified knowledge gaps.

1. HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
Hydraulic fracturing is a technology that has long been
employed in the oil and gas industry. However, the recent
combination with new horizontal drilling techniques has
unlocked vast potential shale gas and tight oil reserves
across North American and changed
the industry almost overnight.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Water Initiative research team is preparing an
extensive comparative, multidisciplinary review of
hydraulic fracturing wastewater handling, treatment,
reuse and disposal by comparing the operating
practices, regulatory policies and stakeholder concerns
that have emerged in various jurisdictions regulating
unconventional shale formations in North America. The
research will identify key knowledge gaps and enable
private and public sector decision-makers to develop
specific research approaches to directly address these
identified knowledge gaps.
SPONSOR – THE CANADIAN
WATER NETWORK
The CWN is laying the groundwork to move research
on hydraulic fracturing and water forward to directly
address the needs of government and industry decision-makers
in this complex area. The CWN is funding national
multidisciplinary academic teams to evaluate research
approaches that could be applied to strengthen decision-making.
The knowledge integration projects adresses information
gaps in the following issue areas:
1. Water use and demand management;
2. Wastewater handling, treatment and disposal;
3. Groundwater and subsurface impact issues;
4. Landscape impacts of development/operations on
surface water/watersheds; and
5. Watershed governance and management approaches
for resource development, including aboriginal issues.
PROJECT TEAM
• Principle Investigator: Dr. Greg Goss, University of
Alberta
• Project Manager: Jason Brisbois, University of Alberta
Water Initiative
• Student Assistant to Greg Goss: Stefanie Kletke,
University of Alberta
• Lead Investigator for Operating Practices: Dr. Daniel
Alessi, University of Alberta
• Student Assistant: Ashkan Zolfaghari
Sharak, University of Alberta
• Lead Investigator for Stakeholder Concerns: Dr. Joel
Gehman, University of Alberta
• Student Assistant: Yvette Thompson,
University of Alberta
• Student Assistant: Kailun Hong,
Technische Universitat, Munchen, Germany (located at
the University of Alberta for this project)
• Lead Investigator for Regulatory Policies: Dr. Diana
Allen, Simon Fraser University
• Student Assistant: Chelsea Notte,
Simon Fraser University
Unconventional Wastewater Management
A comparative review and analysis of hydraulic fracturing wastewater management practices across four North American basins

2. Hydraulic Fracturing
Unconventional Wastewater Management
ADVISORY GROUP
• New Brunswick Energy Institute
Annie Daigle: Executive Director
• BCOil and Gas Commission
James O’Hanley: Deputy Commissioner Resource
Development
• WaterSmart
Dave Guichon
• Alberta Energy Regulator
Kevin Parks: Vice President Science and Evaluation
• Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource
Development
Edith Vanderpuye: Section Head, Water Resource
Coordination, Water Policy Branch
• Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada
Tannis Such: Director, Environmental Research
Initiatives
• Canadian Society for Unconventional Resources
Kevin Heffernan: President
• University of Alberta PhD Uof A Engineering
Dr. Rick Chalaturnyk: Professor of Geotechnical
Engineering
• Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Zoe Thomas: Water Manager
• Encana
Lindsay Stephens: P.Eng. (Gov Relations)
• Duke University
Avner Vengosh: Professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences
FOR MORE INFORMATION
University of Alberta Water Initiative
G-222 Biological Sciences
Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9
(780) 492-5526
water@ualberta.ca
water.ualberta.ca
@Ualbertawater