1. Oil and Gas Exploration on
Public Lands
LICA, Oct 16, 2012

2.  Seismic Line
 Conventional 2D
 Conventional 3D
 Oil Sands Exploration Well

3. The boring stuff….
In Alberta, oil and gas exploration is
regulated by a number of Acts,
Regulations, Code of Practice and
government directives.

4. Seismic
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) has
the mandate to approve all seismic exploration programs within
the province of Alberta under the following legislations:
Mines and Minerals Act (Part 8)
Part 8 of the Act outlines regulations for exploration.
Exploration Regulation (AR 284/2006)
Alberta Regulation 284/2006 regulates companies engaging in
exploration of petroleum and natural gas projects governed by the
Mines and Minerals Act.

5. Seismic
Legislation Compliance
ESRD receives applications for proposed seismic exploration programs
and approves the applications under the legislation for all petroluem and
natural gas seismic exploration within the province of Alberta. SRD
oversees day-to-day operations and ensures legislation compliance with
the legislations which includes:
Exploration Directives
Schedule 1 of Alberta's Exploration Regulation includes a list of 26
exploration directives. While the Regulation describes the "must do"
about exploration operations, the directives explain "how to do". The
directives use plain language to make exploration requirements easy to
understand.
Each exploration directive is enforced through the specific section of the
Mines and Minerals Act and Exploration Regulation that the directive
references.
Exploration Restricted Areas
Certain lands in Alberta have seismic operational restrictions.

6. Oil Sands Exploration
ESRD has the mandate to approve and regulate the use of public
land for oil sands exploration within the province of Alberta under
the following legislations:
Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
The “Code of Practice for Exploration Operation” is made
pursuant to this act. Reclamation and Reclamation Certificates
are regulated through this.
Public Lands Act
Section 20 of the Act authorizes the use of public land.

7. The more interesting stuff…
How does ESRD manage exploration
on Public Land?
Public land Belongs to all of us!!!

8. Seismic

9. Then…

10. A typical 2D application map.

11. A typical 3D application map.

12. 2D low impact seismic line

13. 3D low impact seismic lines

15. 2D seismic line
Lines are required
to have 200m max
line of site.
- Tree avoidance
- Wildlife protection
- Limited impact

16. Black spruce

19. Typical mulcher cut line

20. Mulch must not
be greater than
5cm in depth on
average.

23. Watercourse Crossings (river, creeks, etc)

24. Water Body Crossings (lakes, ponds, etc)

27. White spruce

28. Pine to black spruce

29. Upland to lowland

30. Damaged tree

31. Seismic in a cutblock

34. Hand cut line

35. Another hand cut line.

36. Reclamation inspections (Letter of Clearance)
2002 line with minor ATV use.

37. Built in 2002 and inspected in 2008.

38. Built in 2002 and inspected in 2008.

39. Built in 2002 and inspected in 2008.

40. Built in 2002 and inspected in 2010.

41. Oil Sands Exploration (OSE)

42. A typical application map

43. Promote low impact site construction

46. Site is small and compact

48. Built in 2009 and picture taken in 2009.

49. Built in 2006 and picture taken in 2008.

50. Typical access road (6-8m)

51. Reclamation inspections (Reclamation Certificate)

52. End land use – grazing, habitat, forestry, etc.

53. Trembling aspen site

54. White spruce and aspen regeneration.

55. Jack pine and aspen site

56. Black spruce site

57. Thanks!!
Questions??