Reducing the Oil and Gas Footprint Through the Use of Best Practices -- a Joint Venture by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and the MacLeod Institute

Peter Zimmerman
Canada Parks and Wilderness Society, Calgary, AB

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and the MacLeod Institute (MINC) at the University of Calgary, are joint venturing to develop a web-based compendium of best practices for the oil and gas industry. The pilot project for the Best Practices Initiative (BPI) will be in British Columbia (BC) and will be an inclusive management model with participation by the BC Oil and Gas Commission, several major oil and gas companies operating in BC, and Treaty Eight First Nations. Best practices submitted will be screened through a pre-determined criteria and have to articulate the what, why, where, and how the practice reduces the “footprint” or provides other demonstrable improvements over existing practices or standards. Environmental, financial, and social performance metrics will be part of the criteria so relative performance of a practice is measurable and transparent. This approach is consistent with the results or performance based approach regulators in many jurisdictions are moving toward. The compendium will be available to industry, government, First Nation communities, environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOS), and other interested stakeholders.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005