Waste Management

All energy and mineral resource development projects generate waste at one or more stages of their life cycles. 

Our commitment to ensuring that energy and mineral resource development in Alberta is sustainable includes holding companies accountable for managing their oilfield waste as defined in the Oil and Gas Conservation Rules (Part 1 definitions 12.1.).

Under the Oil and Gas Conservation Rules, companies must manage their oilfield waste safely and responsibly at every stage of development. We set out requirements for companies to handle, store, treat, and dispose of their oilfield waste to ensure public and environmental protection. 

Oilfield Waste

Oilfield waste is any unwanted substance or mixture of substances, including

• used filters,
• contaminated debris and soil,
• wash water,
• drilling mud and cuttings,
• hydraulic fracturing flowback fluid,
• contaminated hydrovac material, and
• sediment from storage tanks.

Oilfield waste is generated throughout the development life cycle (from construction to reclamation) of a well, facility, or pipeline. 

Waste Management

Companies must follow our requirements to handle, treat, and dispose of their oilfield waste safely and responsibly. Many of our requirements are set out in Directive 050: Drilling Waste Management and Directive 058: Oilfield Waste Management Requirements for the Upstream Petroleum Industry.

We encourage companies to find ways to reduce their oilfield waste through various reducing, reusing, and recycling initiatives. If a company suggests an alternative method to manage its oilfield waste – one not listed in our requirements – our technical experts will thoroughly review the alternative to ensure it meets the same level of environmental protection as our requirements. 

Managing Spills and Leaks

There is a chance that the substances a company uses or produces spill or leak. If a spill or leak occurs, companies must manage and clean up the contamination—a process known as “remediation” —as soon as possible. Learn more about remediation and how we expect companies to clean up spills and leaks.