Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area
Tags: physical sciences, waste sump, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, drilling, oil extraction
| Principal Investigator: | Brar, Harjot (1) |
| Licence Number: | 17267 |
| Organization: | Imperial Oil Resources Limited c/o Canacre |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2023
|
| Issued: | May 25, 2023 |
| Project Team: | Lorian Glatiotis, Stacy Gibb, Unknown Unknown, |
Objective(s): To assess the integrity of drilling waste sumps and investigate any other identified areas of potential environmental concern (APECs) that might exist at a site. The data will be used to develop a long-term management strategy for environmental liabilities associated with former drilling sites throughout the region.
Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5580. The program is intended to assess the integrity of drilling waste sumps and investigate any other identified areas of potential environmental concern (APECs) that might exist at a site. The data will be used to develop a long-term management strategy for environmental liabilities associated with former drilling sites throughout the region. Surface Conditions Assessment: Visual assessments will be completed at each site to assess · surface ground conditions; · nearby receptors such as water bodies; · topography · presence or absence of surface debris or infrastructure; · evidence of human or animal activity at site; and · vegetation cover and health Soil Sampling: Soil samples will be collected using a hand auger to maximum depth achievable (anticipated to be to depth of permafrost). Soil samples will be collected for laboratory analysis of potential site related contaminants. All soil samples will be shipped to Bureau Veritas Laboratories (BVL) in Calgary, Alberta for analysis. Surface Water Sampling: Samples will be collected from any identified surface water bodies that may exist on site (if present) · Ponded water on collapsed sumps; · Nearby ponds or lakes; · Nearby channels of the Mackenzie River system; and/or · Surface water drainage channels connecting site features to natural water bodies Water samples will be collected by hand and shipped to BVL for analysis. Electromagnetic Survey: An EM38 survey of sumps and any other identified features will be conducted to look for evidence of leaching sump contents or buried debris. Active Layer Measurements: The depth to permafrost will be measured using a narrow steel rod at various locations near the sumps and around the site to determine the thickness of the active layer. Imperial completed inhouse public consultations in Aklavik, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk in June 2022 and plans to do the same in June 2023. The sumps sites visits were discussed in 2022 and will be further discussed in 2023. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: August 14 - August 31, 2023
