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Régions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

étiquettes: physical sciences, environmental assessment, petroleum industry, land reclamation, soil, sump monitoring

Objectif(s): The objectives of the sump monitoring activities are to gain further knowledge of long-term sump integrity and sump monitoring techniques while addressing both the commitments of the Mallik Gas Hydrate Project and the recommendations from site surveys.

Description du projet: The objectives of the sump monitoring activities are to gain further knowledge of long-term sump integrity and sump monitoring techniques while addressing both the commitments of the Mallik Gas Hydrate Project and the recommendations from site surveys. Active layer depth will be measured to determine differences between sumps and undisturbed areas. Ground temperature will be recorded. Ground conductivity/resistivity surveys will be conducted using both shallow and deep ground penetrating equipment. Conductivity data will be used to determine lateral migration of saline fluids. Soil samples will be collected from an undisturbed area through shovel testing, and analyzed. Hydrocarbon analysis of samples will be conducted if contamination is suspected. If surveys indicate elevated conductivity levels outside the sump areas, soil samples from the anomalous area(s) will be obtained and analyzed. Water samples will be collected from ponded water on or near the sumps and in adjacent undisturbed terrain. Observed depressions in sumps will be filled. Offsite fill material (as close as possible to the soils of the area) will be hauled in via ice road during the winter and recontouring using hand tools will be completed during summer. Depressions will be filled to ground-level. Native seeds (5-10g/species/site) will be collected by hand from the site (targeting common, abundant, early colonizing species), and evaluated for seed viability and use for reclamation. Seed collections will be stored frozen at ARI. Storm surges will be monitored using 3 - 5 devices consisting of a conductivity probe inserted into a PVC pipe and driven into the streambed of a shallow, inactive cutbank. The instruments are deployed by boat in June and retrieved before freeze-up. Baseline snow data will be collected prior to recontouring by extracting cores of snow. Visual inspection of the core will note thickness and snowpack properties. Transportation will be by helicopter to site and small boat on site. Wildlife monitors, students and contractors will be hired for short periods. Local supplies and services will be purchased. Local knowledge of conditions impacting the study will be sought. Any published results will be sent to communities, governing organizations, and local libraries. Fieldwork will be conducted from April 22 to December 31, 2008 at the existing Mallik L-38 site on the western side of Richards Island in the Mackenzie Delta, NWT (69°27'38''N, 134°39'42''W), based from a camp at the Mallik site in August, and out of Inuvik by helicopter at other times.