April 11, 2024
The AER responded to a reported seismic event that occurred late afternoon March 22, 35 km SW of Fox Creek. Cygnet Energy reported a seismic event of 4.1 magnitude near their wellsite to the EDGE call centre. There were no reports of injuries or damage to property.
In response to the incident, the AER oversaw Cygnet’s work in executing the company’s mitigation protocols which included an immediate shut down of operations at the site, per Subsurface Order No. 2.
The AER has now authorized the resumption of Cygnet’s operations following the company’s submission of a revised response plan to limit the impact and potential of induced earthquakes. This plan was reviewed by the Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) and induced seismicity experts.
The AER’s team of experts within the AGS branch collect data and leverage peer-reviewed scientific work to study and characterize areas of the province with increased induced seismic hazard. These studies are used to inform the development of regulatory instruments (such as Subsurface Order No. 2) that provide outcomes and requirements to operators to ensure they adequately reduce the frequency and magnitude of induced seismic events.
March 22, 2024
The AER is responding to a reported seismic event that occurred late afternoon March 22, 35 km SW of Fox Creek.
Cygnet Energy reported a seismic event of 4.1 magnitude near their wellsite to the EDGE call centre. At this time, there are no reports of injuries or damage to property.
Cygnet has confirmed to the AER they engaged their mitigation protocols for such events, per Subsurface Order No. 2, and have safely ceased all operations on that well pad. The AER is reviewing the incident.
Scientists at the AGS use more than 50 monitoring systems to measure and research seismic activity across Alberta. The AGS utilizes this information to form an accurate picture of earthquake locations, magnitudes and discern the nature of these events.
