New Hydrologic Modelling to Assist with Water Allocation Decisions
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July 14, 2011 - VICTORIA --- The BC Oil and Gas Commission (Commission) and Geoscience BC are partnering on a hydrologic modelling project that will provide water allocation decision support for oil and gas activities in B.C. The project will provide accurate hydrology data and information to reference during the review of applications for oil and gas water use.
"To enhance knowledge of the water supply in northeast B.C., the Commission has developed a hydrology modelling approach that uses gridded climate, topography and land cover information to produce estimates of monthly, seasonal and annual stream flow for rivers and lakes in the province," says Commission hydrologist Allan Chapman. "We think it will be an excellent tool to help Commission staff and other natural resource agencies manage water allocation in B.C. As well, it will provide a foundation to communicate and discuss water allocation decisions with the public, First Nations, and other stakeholders."
The Commission completed a pilot study using this type of hydrology modelling in the Horn River Basin in March 2011. Following the release of the pilot study results at the Unconventional Gas Technical Forum in April, the hydrology modelling is now being completed for all of northeast B.C. Geoscience BC is providing $50,000 in funding for the project.
"Geoscience BC is very pleased to be supporting this hydrologic modelling project," says Dr. 'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC. "This work is an excellent complement to the industry-partnered water research projects that we have underway in the Horn River Basin and the Montney Play, and will help us to develop a better understanding of the overall water resource in northeast B.C."
Work on the hydrologic modelling is starting immediately and is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2011. The final product will be a geographical information system (GIS) decision-support tool that will be a detailed resource for government, industry and stakeholders when looking at water use for oil and gas activities in northeast B.C.
For more information, please contact:
July 14, 2011 - VICTORIA --- The BC Oil and Gas Commission (Commission) and Geoscience BC are partnering on a hydrologic modelling project that will provide water allocation decision support for oil and gas activities in B.C. The project will provide accurate hydrology data and information to reference during the review of applications for oil and gas water use.
"To enhance knowledge of the water supply in northeast B.C., the Commission has developed a hydrology modelling approach that uses gridded climate, topography and land cover information to produce estimates of monthly, seasonal and annual stream flow for rivers and lakes in the province," says Commission hydrologist Allan Chapman. "We think it will be an excellent tool to help Commission staff and other natural resource agencies manage water allocation in B.C. As well, it will provide a foundation to communicate and discuss water allocation decisions with the public, First Nations, and other stakeholders."
The Commission completed a pilot study using this type of hydrology modelling in the Horn River Basin in March 2011. Following the release of the pilot study results at the Unconventional Gas Technical Forum in April, the hydrology modelling is now being completed for all of northeast B.C. Geoscience BC is providing $50,000 in funding for the project.
"Geoscience BC is very pleased to be supporting this hydrologic modelling project," says Dr. 'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC. "This work is an excellent complement to the industry-partnered water research projects that we have underway in the Horn River Basin and the Montney Play, and will help us to develop a better understanding of the overall water resource in northeast B.C."
Work on the hydrologic modelling is starting immediately and is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2011. The final product will be a geographical information system (GIS) decision-support tool that will be a detailed resource for government, industry and stakeholders when looking at water use for oil and gas activities in northeast B.C.
For more information, please contact: