Featured Projects

Basal Aquifer Depressurization at an Oil Sands Mine

The basal McMurray Formation watersand underlies a large portion of the oil sands deposits in the Fort McMurray area.  This basal aquifer is an important risk management issue, as high pore pressures can diminish the stability of the pit wall and lead to seepage onto the pit floor. Safe and effective oil sands development at mine sites is dependent upon detailed characterization and depressurization of the complex aquifer.

Waterline provided direction for the design and construction of efficient basal aquifer vertical pressure relief wells in order to maximize groundwater production while mitigating the break-out of dissolved gas from the McMurray Formation basal groundwater. Waterline also supervised aquifer testing of the depressurization wells to understand the hydraulic connectivity within and around the open pit mine.

Waterline is working with the basal dewatering team to develop an expanding system of dewatering wells for the mine site.  Mine geologists then utilize this information for continuous mapping and monitoring of hydraulic head during advancement of the pit wall. This system will ensure sufficient pressure head reduction within the mine and will be expanded in advance of the planned mine expansion.

Groundwater Evaluation of the Elbow River Watershed

The Elbow River provides approximately 50% of the water supply to the City of Calgary which services a population of over one million people. Calgary currently uses approximately three quarters of its total approved surface water allocation from the Elbow River. Surface water resources are fully allocated within the Elbow River sub-basin. Future water demand is anticipated to increase as the population of the City of Calgary and surrounding areas continue to grow and groundwater will likely become a more important alternative water source in the future.

Alberta Environment retained Waterline Resources to evaluate groundwater data and develop a monitoring plan for the Elbow River watershed. Waterline characterized the hydrologic, geologic, hydrogeological, and hydrogeochemical setting and identified key aquifers based on publically available information. Using these data Waterline developed a conceptual hydrogeologic model across the watershed and create a preliminary water budget. Waterline identified data gaps in the publicly available information, recommended potential improvements to the collection of public information, and proposed a regional groundwater monitoring network.

Previously Featured Projects