Portal Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Absolute Emissions - Emissions expressed in terms of total mass of carbon dioxide equivalents.
Abundant Flow (Green) - Water flows are sufficient and the impacts to the aquatic ecosystem from withdrawals are negligible. All licensees operate normally and within the conditions of their licenses. Maximum cumulative withdrawal is 15 per cent of instantaneous flow.
Acid Deposition - Acid forming pollutants are deposited on the earth's surface (primarily sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen).
Acre - Imperial unit of area measurement 43,560 ft². There are 640 acres in a section. Imperial measurements are no longer used in Alberta legislation and 'area' is now measured in hectares.
Age of Reclamation - The age of reclamation is calculated based on the year that the area was considered permanently reclaimed. If previously reclaimed land is re-disturbed, the number of hectares is removed based on the year it was reclaimed so that the total amount of land at any given age is accurately reflected.
Agreement Holder - The holder of an oil sands permit or lease.
Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) - A scale designed to help you understand what the air quality means to your health. The AQHI is calculated based on the relative risks of a combination of common air pollutants which are known to harm human health. These pollutants include: Ozone (O₃) at ground level, Particulate Matter (PM2.5/PM10) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂). AQHI is measured on a scale of 1-10 (1-3 Low health risk; 4-6 Moderate health risk; 7-10 High health risk; 10 + Very high health risk). The Government of Alberta is working with Environment Canada to bring the AQHI to Alberta in the near future.
Air Quality Index (AQI) - The Air Quality Index is a numerical value describing the quality of outdoor air. Carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and sulphur dioxide are the five major air emission parameters monitored to formulate an AQI reading.
Allocation - The allotment of a resource, such as water, licensed by the Government of Alberta to a user for specifically approved uses.
API Gravity - The gravity of crude bitumen as measured by a hydrometer and expressed in degrees on the American Petroleum Institute scale. API gravity = (141.5/specific gravity) - 131.5. The lower the API gravity, the heavier and more viscous the bitumen. Athabasca bitumen has an API gravity number of less than 10°.
Approval - Granting a right or responsibility to carry out a project or activity under the authority of law. It is one form of "authorization" that the Alberta Government or the Alberta Energy Regulator issues or uses for regulating activities. It is site-specific, issued by a Director, and contains conditions that the Director decides are appropriate.
Approved In situ Facility - In situ facility that has received regulatory and environmental approvals and may or may not have commenced construction
Approved Mine - Mining facility that has received regulatory and environmental approvals and may or may not have commenced construction
Aquifer - An aquifer is an underground formation of permeable rock or loose material which can produce useful quantities of water when tapped by a well. The size and depth of aquifers vary widely.
Arsenic - Arsenic (As) is an element that exists in several oxidation states: -3, 0, +3, or +5. It occurs naturally in the earth's crust, associated with igneous and sedimentary rocks in the form of sulfide, arsenide, and sulfarsenide compounds, or in the form of oxides or arsenates. It is released naturally into the aquatic environment as a result of weathering of arsenic-containing rocks, from industrial and municipal discharges, and from combustion of fossil fuels.
Asphaltenes - Large hydrocarbon molecules found in crude oil and bitumen. Asphaltenes have a very high viscosity and low hydrogen to carbon ratio. They are a byproduct of the upgrading/refining process. Some companies are examining using Asphaltenes as a fuel source.
Assay - A test performed on a sample of ores, minerals or oil to determine the substance’s physical and chemical properties. For crude oil and bitumen, the assays typically identify the viscosity, density, acidity and amount of sulphur.

Barrel - A measure of volume equivalent to 0.159 m3 or 159 litres.
Base Flow – The fair-weather or sustained flow of streams; that part of stream discharge not attributable to direct runoff from precipitation, snowmelt, or a spring. Discharge entering streams channels as effluent from the groundwater reservoir.
Base of Groundwater Protection – The elevation above which groundwater is deemed to be non-saline or useable without treatment.
BATEA (Best Available Technology Economically Achievable) - Means technology that can achieve superior performance and that has been demonstrated to be economically feasible through successful commercial application across a range of regions and installations.
Benzene - Is part of the large group of chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). Also a component in BTEX – Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene.
Biodiversity - Biological diversity or the way that species can differ at the genetic, species and ecosystem level.
Biomonitoring (Biological Monitoring) - Systematic determination of the effects on organisms as a result of changes to an ecosystem. Often done to determine the effects of a pollutant release.
Bitumen - A thick, sticky form of crude oil that is so heavy and viscous that it will not flow unless it is heated or diluted with lighter hydrocarbons. At room temperature, bitumen looks much like cold molasses. It typically contains more sulphur, metals and heavy hydrocarbons than conventional crude oil.
Bitumen Cracking - The process of breaking the large, complex bitumen hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, lighter molecules that are more easily refined into more useful feedstocks or products.
Blended Bitumen - Bitumen that has been blended with diluents so that it can be transported by pipeline.See also Dilbit
Brackish Water - Water that has total dissolved solids exceeding 4000 milligrams per litre, also referred to as saline groundwater.
Bucketwheel Reclaimer - A mining machine, the size of a football field, which used toothed buckets on a revolving wheel to scoop up oil sand from the ground and deposit it on a conveyor belt system that moved it to an extraction plant. Oil sands mine operators replaced the bucketwheel and conveyor system with the truck and shovel method in the mid to late 1990s.

Calibration -Comparison of a measurement standard or instrument with another standard or instrument in order to report or eliminate by adjustment any variation (deviation) in the accuracy of the item being compared.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) - The removal of CO₂ from effluent streams in industrial processes and the subsequent injection of the CO₂ into underground storage chambers.
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) - The most common greenhouse gas is produced both naturally and as a result of human activity.
Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (CO₂e) - The common unit of expression for greenhouse gas emissions and represents the 100-year global warming potential average of a unit of greenhouse gas (e.g. methane) compared to an equivalent unit of carbon dioxide.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) - A colourless, odourless gas created primarily from incomplete combustion of as gasoline, oil and wood.
Carbon Sinks - Forests and other vegetation that help absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Natural examples include oceans, forests, and peatlands. A human-made example is carbon capture and storage projects.
Catchments - The geographical area where related streams, rivers, wetlands, lakes and/or aquifers are found.
Cation - An ion carrying a positive charge of electricity.
Certified Reclaimed - Areas that have received a reclamation certificate under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act from the Government of Alberta. These areas are not counted in the Total Active Footprint calculation because they are no longer active. (They are returned to the Crown.)
Cleared - Areas where vegetation has been removed for the purposes of preparing the land for drainage, soil removal, overburden removal, mining, etc. but where soil has been left mostly intact and relatively undisturbed.
Climate Change - Climate change is a wide-scale change in average weather over a time period of at least 30 years.
Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund Payment - A company’s payment of $15 per tonne for emissions over its emissions target. The payment is deposited into the climate change and emissions management fund which is then reinvested in Alberta climate change mitigation technology development and deployment or adaptation projects.
Cogeneration - Concurrent production of usable forms of energy from a single fuel source. Most often deployed as the production of steam for use in both electricity generation and thermal and/or mechanical energy.
Coke - Solid, black hydrocarbon which is left as a residue after the more valuable hydrocarbons have been removed from bitumen by heating the bitumen to high temperatures.
Combustion Overhead Gravity Drainage (COGD) - An experimental bitumen production method that uses an array of vertical air injection wells above a horizontal production well. Bitumen is partially combusted underground, with air fed from the array of vertical injection wells. Gravity then causes the hot bitumen to flow down to the horizontal well, where it is pumped to the surface.
Compliance - Conforming to legislative requirements, such as those found in an Act, regulation, Code of Practice or authorization.
Compliance Assessment - Determination of whether a regulated party's activity/operation complies with an Act, regulation, authorization or Code of Practice. Compliance assessments educate the regulated party on legislative requirements and also identify current or potential non-compliance. Compliance assessments include inspections, reviews, and audits.
Compliance Assurance - Actions taken to ensure that regulated parties comply with legislation.
Composite Sample - A sample comprised of two or more subsamples.
Composite Tailings (CT) - Fine tailings combined with gypsum and sand. Composite tailings settle more rapidly than Mature Fine Tailings, resulting in faster reclamation times.
Concentration - A measure of the amount of a substance present per unit volume or per unit weight of material. For the most common chemical substances, the concentration is expressed as milligrams per litre (mg/L: parts per million) or micrograms per litre (µg/L: parts per billion).
Consolidated Tailings (CT) - Also known as composite tailings, or non-segregating tailings (NST). An engineered mixture of sand and fine tailings to which a coagulant has been added. Upon deposition, the sand and fine tailing do not separate and water is released.
Contaminant - A general term referring to any chemical compound added to a receiving environment in excess of natural conditions. The term includes chemicals or effects not generally regarded as “toxic”, such as nutrients, salts and colour.
Continuation - Refers to the system in place for allowing those holding a lease to retain the productive rights in their agreements past the initial term's expiry date.
Continued Lease - An oil sands lease that is granted for an indefinite term once the holder of a primary lease (or equivalent) has met the required minimum level of evaluation. Continued leases are classified as producing or non-producing. Non-producing continued leases are subject to escalating rent.
Control Samples - An environmental sample or simulated samples designed to help control the analytical process by checking the acceptability of some quality characteristic. These are often used synonymously with Quality Control check samples.
Conventional Crude Oil - Petroleum in liquid form that can be pumped without processing or dilution.
Criteria - A basis for judging adequacy. Environmental criteria are usually compilations or digests of scientific data that are used for establishing environmental quality guidelines and objectives. Generic numerical limits or narrative statements intended as a general guidance for the protection, maintenance, and improvement of specific uses of soil, water or land.
Criteria Air Contaminants (CAC) - A group of seven common air pollutants released into the air. CAC emissions are produced by various processes, including industrial production and fuel combustion. The seven contaminants are carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds, total particulate matter, particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns, and particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 microns
Crown - The Government of Alberta.
Crown Rights - Surface rights or mineral rights that are owned by the government of Alberta.
Crude Bitumen - A naturally occurring viscous mixture, mainly of hydrocarbons heavier than pentane, that may contain sulphur compounds and that, in its naturally occurring viscous state, will not flow to a well.
Crude Oil - Crude oil is a naturally occurring mixture of hundreds of different hydrocarbon compounds trapped in underground rock. These hydrocarbons were created millions of years ago when ancient marine life or vegetation died and settled on the bottoms of streams, lakes, seas and oceans, forming a thick layer of organic material.
Cumulative Impacts - The impacts (positive or negative, direct and indirect, long-term and short-term impacts) arising from a range of activities throughout an area or region, where each individual effect may not be significant if taken in isolation.
Curtain Wall - A low-permeability, subsurface barrier that can be installed up to 15 metres deep. Also known as grout curtains or slurry walls.
Cut Blocks - An area of land cleared of trees by a commercial forest operation
Cutlines - A narrow (relative to a cut block) line cut in the trees to facilitate exploration and testing.
Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) - An in situ method of bitumen recovery that uses steam injection to reduce the viscosity of bitumen deposits, making it possible to pump bitumen to the surface. The process occurs in cycles, with steam injection followed by a resting period, followed by a production phase, then another steam injection and so on.

Dedicated Dry Tailings - Identifies the area where drying of fine tailings (MFT, TFT) occurs. May be on overburden, external tailings, inpit tailings or recently cleared and/or salvaged lands which have been disturbed for the purposes of tailings treatment.
Dedicated Drying Area (DDAs) - DDAs are areas where oil sands operators dry fine tailings, including both mature and thin fine tailings (MFT and TFT). These areas may be located on overburden, external tailings, input tailings or recently cleared and/ or salvaged lands which have been disturbed for the purposes of tailings treatment.
Designated Representative - In relation to an Oil Sands Agreement, it is the person who holds or who represents the holder of the lease agreement.
Detection Limit - The lowest concentration at which individual measurement results for a specific analyte are statistically different from a blank (that may be zero) with a specified confidence level for a given method and representative matrix.
Development Area - The lands and subsurface strata included as part of an oil sands royalty project.
Dilbit - Bitumen diluted with a diluents.
Diluents - A hydrocarbon substance used to dilute crude bitumen so that it can be transported by pipeline.
Direct Emissions - Means the release of greenhouse gases expressed as tonnes CO₂e from all sources located at a facility.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - Oxygen that is present (dissolved) in water and is therefore available for fish and other aquatic organisms. Normally measured in mg/L (equivalent to ppm) and widely used as a criterion of water quality.
Distillation - Separating the various components of crude oil or bitumen by adding heat.
Disturbed Land - Land used for Mine or Plant Purposes where at a minimum, soil has been removed or covered by other materials and soil would be required for reclamation purposes. This category includes all areas where soil removal, overburden removal, active mining, discard placement, material storage, etc. has occurred. It also includes End Pit Lakes.
Drainage Basin - Total area of land that contributes water and materials to a lake or river, either through streams or by localized overland runoff along shorelines.
Dry Tailings - Tailings that have released enough water that their behavior is dominated by physical properties of solids. Dry tailings consist of tailings pond dykes, berms, beaches, and other dewatered tailings.

Effluents - Wastewaters (from industry or municipalities) produced and then treated to acceptable standards so they can be returned to the environment.
Effluent Plume - When a discharge into the river has different water chemistry than that of the river, the discharge maintains its integrity for some distance downstream before it mixes completely with the river water.
Emissions Intensity - A facility’s total annual emissions divided by production, most often displayed as tonnes/barrel.
Emission Performance Credits (EPCs) - Generated when a facility reduces its Net Emissions Intensity below its Net Emissions Intensity Limit. EPCs are awarded on a tonne CO₂e reduction basis. EPCs can be ‘banked’ in one calendar year to be used against future emissions.
Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) - A provincial act, which came into force on September 1, 1993. Requires industries to apply for approvals for activities that will affect Alberta’s environment, and to report on the environmental impacts of those activities.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - An EIA report is a description of the Proponent’s understanding of their project and its anticipated impacts on the environment and social and economic conditions in the region. The report assesses the significance of those impacts and identifies how those impacts will be mitigated.
Environmental Protection Order (EPO) - Issued to prevent or stop contraventions of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and to ensure action is taken to fix environmental problems.
Environmental Protection Security Fund - The fund holds security deposits to assure satisfactory land reclamation will be carried out pursuant to approvals or Codes of Practice under the Act (EPEA).
Environmentally-sensitive: Caution required (Yellow) - Natural low flows are occurring and the aquatic ecosystem may experience stress from normal withdrawals. The permitted total cumulative diversion rate drops to 10 per cent of the average of the Q95 (i.e. a measure of the flow in m3/s that is historically exceeded 95% of the time by actual flows during this week of the year) and HDA80 (i.e. a measure of flow relative to habitat area that is historically exceeded 80% of the time during this week of the year
Environmentally–sensitive: Restrictions in effect (Red) - Natural low flows may limit habitat availability. Increased duration and frequency of habitat loss due to water withdrawals should be minimized. Mandatory reductions and use of storage. Total cumulative diversion rate is 5.2 per cent of historical median flow in each week.
EPEA Approved Footprint - The total project area approved under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act approval issued to the company by Alberta Environment.
Established Reserves - Hydrocarbon reserves considered to be recoverable using currently available technology and at present economic conditions.
Evaluation - The process of gathering descriptive technical data—including geological, geophysical, engineering and production information—about the oil sands zone or zones included in oil sands agreements. Evaluation data provides valuable information about the nature and characteristics of the oil sands resource.
Extraction - The process of separating sand from bitumen.

Facility - The entire mine and plant site used for industrial development, not just the physical infrastructure.
Fine Tailings - Water with very small particles of suspended clay produced by the mining extraction process.
Flood Frequency - A statistical expression of the average time period between floods equaling or exceeding a given magnitude.
Fresh Surface Water - Stream, river, lake and wetland water that is non-saline.
Fugitive Emissions - Emissions from an industrial process not caught by a capture system. Fugitive emissions are often due to equipment leaks, evaporative processes and windblown disturbances.

GIO - Geographic Information Office
Greenhouse Effect - The trapping of heat in the atmosphere by Greenhouse Gases impacting global temperatures.
Greenhouse Gases (GHG) - Gases in the atmosphere, both natural and human-made, that absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, the atmosphere and clouds. This absorbtion/radiation causes the greenhouse effect. Water vapour (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), methane (CH₄) and ozone (O₃) are the primary greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere.
GHG Es - Greenhouse Gas Equivalents
GHG Emissions - The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere over a specified period of time.
GHG Emissions Intensity - A facility’s total annual Greenhouse Gas emissions divided by facility production. Most often displayed as tonnes/barrel.
GHG Offsets - A reduction in GHGs occurring off-site of the reporting emitter’s facility.
Groundwater - Water found under the surface of the ground within the pore spaces in rock, unconsolidated deposits and soil.

Heavy Crude Oil - Crude oil that is very dense, highly viscous, and has a high boiling point, with an API gravity of less than 25 degrees.
Hectare - A metric unit of area measurement approximately equal to 2.5 acres. There are 256 hectares in a section.
Hydrocarbon - Liquid, solid or gaseous organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbons are the basis of almost all petroleum products.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) - Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a class of synthetic chemical compounds that contain only fluorine, carbon and hydrogen. HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer; however they are powerful greenhouse gases.
Hydrogen Sulphide - Hydrogen sulphide is the chemical compound with the formula H₂S. It is a colourless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs. H₂S can come from industrial fugitive emissions at petroleum refineries, tank farms for unrefined petroleum products, natural gas plants, petrochemical plants, oil sands plants and sewage treatment facilities. Natural sources include sulphur hot springs, sloughs, swamps and lakes.

Inactive In Situ Facilities - Inactive in situ facilities are not operating. For example:
a. An inactive project may be shut in for the winter and so may have temporarily suspended operations.
b. An application may have been submitted for a project and been subsequently withdrawn by the operator for a variety of reasons.
c. An application may have been submitted for a project and been denied after reviews by any of the following: the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, the Alberta Energy Regulator or Alberta Environment and Parks.
d. A project may have withdrawn all of the bitumen resources in the area and closed.
In situ projects use a variety of methods, such as steam to extract bitumen from the ground in areas where the deposit is too deep to mine.
Inactive Oil Sands Mines - Inactive oil sands mines are not operating. For example:
a. An inactive project may be shut in for the winter and so may have temporarily suspended operations.
b. An application may have been submitted for a project and been subsequently withdrawn by the operator for a variety of reasons.
c. An application may have been submitted for a project and been denied after reviews by any of the following: the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, the Alberta Energy Regulator or Alberta Environment and Parks.
d. A project may have withdrawn all of the bitumen resources in the area and closed.
Inactive Stand Alone Upgraders - Inactive stand alone upgrader are not currently operating. For example:
a. An inactive project may be shut in for the winter and so may have temporarily suspended operations.
b. An application may have been submitted for a project and been subsequently withdrawn by the operator for a variety of reasons.
c. An application may have been submitted for a project and been denied after reviews by any of the following: the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, the Alberta Energy Regulator or Alberta Environment and Parks.
d. A project may have withdrawn all of the bitumen resources in the area and closed.
Injection Well - A well drilled for the purpose of injecting solvents, air or steam underground to facilitate recovery of crude oil or bitumen.
In situ - All non-surfacing mining methods used to collect bitumen deposits are considered in situ.
In situ Facility - An oil sands project that is using an in situ extraction technique and is currently in operation and production.

Key Wildlife and Biodiversity Zones - These zones combine major river corridors, valley topography, valley slope breaks and ungulate winter densities to identify key wildlife habitat. The purpose of these zones is to prevent loss and fragmentation of habitat, prevent short and long-term all-weather public vehicle access, prevent sensory disturbance during periods of thermal or nutritional stress on wildlife, and prevent the development of barriers to wildlife corridors.
Kilotonne - One thousand tonnes

Lake Level - The depth of water in a given body of water, measured at the same location to record variability in the amount of water in that body.
Lease - In the case of oil sands operations, a lease is an agreement that grants rights to develop and use oil sands resources. Two types of leases exist under the Oil Sands Tenure Regulation: primary and continued.
Lease Continuation - The process of continuing the term of a lease to a company or individual who holds a primary lease (or equivalent).
Lease Selection - The process of converting an oil sands permit to a primary lease.
Leased Area - Area which has been leased by the Department of Energy within the Alberta Energy Regulator's oil sands administrative boundaries and may or may not undergo oil sands extraction.
Location - A breakdown of project areas applicable to each mine site/facility as defined by the operator. At a minimum, the Plant Site must be reported separately from the Mine Site.

Mature Fine Tailings - Fine tailings that have separated into a sediment layer of clay and silt and an upper layer of clarified water.
Megatonne - One million tonnes.
Mercury (Hg) - Mercury is of particular concern because of its toxicity to aquatic organisms and its adverse effects on human health. Human sources of mercury to the environment include industrial and municipal discharges, atmospheric deposition or industrial emissions and leaching from landfill sites.
Methane (CH₄) - Methane is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas that is the simplest hydrocarbon and is the major constituent of natural gas. Methane is released from industrial processes, fossil fuel extraction, coal mines, incomplete fossil fuel combustion, and garbage decomposition in landfills. Methane is also produced naturally during the decomposition of plant or organic matter in the absence of oxygen, as well as released from wetlands (including rice paddies), through the digestive processes of certain insects and ruminant animals such as termites, sheep and cattle.
Methanogenesis - The generation of methane gas through microbial action; can occur in anaerobic lake sediments and tailings ponds.
Mine - An oil sands project that is using surface mining as the extraction technique and is currently in operation and production.
Mineable Area - A 4,800 km² area north of Fort McMurray where the top of the oil sands deposit lies less than 75 metres below the ground. This is the only area where surface mining has been deemed an appropriate extraction method.
Mine Site/Facility - This term represents the entire approved facility or lists the names of the overall mine sites/facilities.
Mine Site Footprint - All areas cleared, disturbed or reclaimed that do not fall within the definition of the Plant Site Footprint. Mine Site Footprint includes tailings ponds and tailings related structures as well as associated facilities.
Muskeg - An acidic soil type common in boreal areas, consisting of dead plant material, peat, moss and water.

Naphtha - The portion of a crude barrel with a boiling point between 145°F and 400°F. Naphtha can be used as a diluent.
Napthenic Acid(s) - Natural carboxylic acids with surfactant properties associated with petroleum. They are a complex mixture of alkyl-substituted acyclic and cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids, with the general chemical formula CnH₂n+zO₂, where n indicates the carbon number and z specifies a homologous family. Oil sands process-affected water is toxic to aquatic organisms, and NAs are the primary group of compounds responsible for the toxicity.
Non-Point Source Pollution - Pollutants that enter the ecosystem from diffuse or undefined sources, and usually carried by runoff. These sources include cleared or agricultural land, coal mines, construction sites, roads and urban areas. Air-borne non-point source pollutants can be deposited directly into a water body. Because non-point sources are diffuse, they are often difficult to identify or locate precisely, and thus pollutants from them cannot be controlled easily.
Non-Producing - A bitumen lease classification that indicates a lease has not met the required minimum level of production. Non-producing continued leases are subject to escalating rent.
Non-Renewable Energy - Energy from a resource that is not naturally replaced, or is only replaced over millions of years (e.g. coal/oil/natural gas).
Non-Reporting Facility - Any industrial facility that emits less than 50,000 tonnes of CO₂e is not required to report emissions amounts under the Specified Gas Reporting Regulation.
Non-Saline Water - Water with less than 4,000 mg/L of total dissolved solids. Often referred to as fresh water.

Objective - A purpose toward which an environmental control effort is directed. An environmental quality objective usually takes the form of a numerical value to support and maintain a specified use at a particular location, taking into account site-specific conditions.
Oil Sands - Sand, clay or other minerals saturated with bitumen. Defined in the Mines and Minerals Act as "(i) sands and other rock materials containing crude bitumen, (ii) the crude bitumen contained in those sands and other rock materials, and (iii) any other mineral substance (except natural gas) associated with the above-mentioned crude bitumen, sands or rock materials and includes a hydrocarbon substance declared to be oil sands under section 7(2) of the Oil Sands Conservation Act."
Oil Sands Agreement - A permit or lease to develop Oil Sands resources.
Oil Sands Deposit Area - Oil Sands are naturally occurring mixtures of bitumen, water, sand and clay that are found within three geological deposits within Alberta, these deposits are the Athabasca, Peace River and Cold Lake.
Oil Sands Product - Any product (directly or indirectly) recovered from oil sands or obtained by processing oil sands, not including solution gas.
Oil Sands Well - A well that is drilled to penetrate an oil sands deposit for the purpose of evaluating the deposit or bringing it into production.
Once-through Steam Generator (OTSG) - A unit in which water is pushed through tubes that are in contact with a heat source such as natural gas fired burners for the purpose of creating steam. This system does not incorporate any feedback loops such as an economizer that Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG’s) use for generating steam.
Operator - The person or corporation responsible for the management and operation of an oil sands royalty project. Project operators have the legal authority to represent the project and its owners.
Organic Carbon - The most abundant element found in all organisms. In aquatic environments, organic carbon is produced by plant photosynthesis and bacterial growth. Leaching of humic substances and decomposition of plants and animals are also natural sources of organic carbon to surface waters. Human-related sources include agricultural runoff and municipal and industrial effluents.
Overburden - The layer of soil, rocks and organic material on top of a deposit of oil sand.
Oxides of Nitrogen (NO_x) - The sum of nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide. In burning natural gas, coal, oil and gasoline, atmospheric nitrogen may combine with molecular oxygen to form nitric oxide, an ingredient in the brown haze observed near large cities.
Ozone (O₃) - At normal outdoor concentrations, ozone is colourless and odourless gas, but can have a sharp odour at very high concentrations during lightning storms. Unlike other pollutants, it is not emitted directly by human activities, but is produced by a complex set of lower atmosphere chemical reactions.

Pad - The location on the surface of a well head or multiple well heads.
Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) - PM10 refers to particles less than 10 micrometres across, that can be breathed into the nose and throat. PM2.5 particles are less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, small enough to penetrate the lungs.
Permanent Reclamation Activities - Activities that support permanent reclamation such as landform construction and contouring, clean material placement (where necessary), reclamation material placement and re-vegetation.
- Clean Cap Placed - Areas where a clean cap of tailings sand, overburden, or subsoil is placed as per EPEA approval conditions where necessary
- Reclamation Material Placed - Areas where reclamation material has been placed as per approved Reclamation and Soil Placement Plans
- Direct Placed LFH - Areas where LFH (upland surface soil) has been directly placed (not placed from stockpile) to act as a propagule source for re-vegetation as well as a (soil) reclamation material
- Direct Placed Organics - Areas where organic soil has been directly placed (not placed from stockpile) in a wetlands reclamation location, to act as a propagule source for re-vegetation as well as a (soil) reclamation material
- Trees Planted - Areas where tree planting has occurred which is reflective of the approved Reclamation and Re-vegetation Plans
- Shrubs Planted - Areas where shrub planting has occurred which is reflective of the approved Reclamation and Re-vegetation Plans
Permanently Reclaimed(Terrestrial; Wetlands and Aquatics) - Land is considered permanently reclaimed when landform construction and contouring, clean material placement (as required), reclamation material placement and re-vegetation has taken place. Land cannot be listed under permanent reclamation until re-vegetation has occurred which is reflective of the approved Reclamation and Re-vegetation Plans.
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) - Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are a group of synthetic chemicals composed of carbon and fluorine only. PFCs are powerful greenhouse gases that were introduced as alternatives to ozone depleting substances. PFCs replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in manufacturing semiconductors and are also emitted as a by-product of industrial processes and manufacturing.
Period - Each calendar year that occurs between a project’s effective date and the date when project approval is revoked.
Permanent Reclamation(Terrestrial; Wetlands and Aquatics) - land is considered permanently reclaimed when landform construction and contouring, clean material placement (as required), reclamation material placement and re-vegetation has taken place. Land cannot be listed under permanent reclamation until re-vegetation has occurred which is reflective of the approved Reclamation and Re-vegetation Plans.
Permit - An oil sands agreement, which is granted for a five-year term.
Permitee - The holder of a permit according to the records of the Department.
pH - The negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion activity of a substance. The degree of acidity (or alkalinity) of a substance.
Pipeline - A conduit of pipe, usually underground, used for the transportation of materials (liquid or gas) over long distances.
Plant Site Footprint - The plant site is defined as the industrial plant site footprint (i.e. the plant site proper). It includes associated facilities. It does not include tailings ponds and tailings related structures.
Point-Source Pollution - Pollutants entering the ecosystem from one, easily recognizable location such as a pipe or smokestack associated with an industrial or municipal facility.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) - Chemicals formed during incomplete combustion of gasoline, diesel, oil, coal, wood, garbage or other organic substances.
Potential Acid Input (PAI) - A composite measure of acidification determined from the relative quantities of deposition from background and industrial emissions of sulphur, nitrogen and base cations.
Primary Lease - An oil sands lease that is granted for a 15-year term.
Primary Separation Vessel - The first tank in a mining operation that begins the separation of the liquids (water and bitumen) and the solids (clay and sand). It is usually a large diameter cylindrical tank with a conical bottom. The top portion of the vessel is where the bitumen rich stream (bitumen froth) leaves for further processing. At the bottom of the vessel a large portion of the solids and some water exit and make up the main tailings stream.
Processing Plant - A facility for the extraction, cleaning or upgrading of crude bitumen.
Project Owner - The lessee of oil sands rights and the person who, according to Land Titles Office records, has the right to recover oil sands from the development area of an oil sands royalty project.
Proposed In Situ Facilities - Proposed in situ facilities have either only been announced, have had applications submitted for them or are operating in a very limited, exploratory mode. The boundaries and other specifics may not yet be known for proposed projects. In situ projects use a variety of methods, such as steam to extract bitumen from the ground in areas where the deposit is too deep to mine.
Proposed Oil Sands Mines - Proposed oil sands mines have either only been announced, have had applications submitted for them or are operating in a very limited, exploratory mode. The boundaries and other specifics may not yet be known for proposed projects.
Proposed Stand Alone Upgraders - Proposed projects have either only been announced, have had applications submitted for them or are operating in a very limited, exploratory mode. The boundaries and other specifics may not yet be known for proposed projects. Upgraders are facilities used to change bitumen (which is very thick) to various grades of synthetic crude oil.

Quaternary Sediments - Various regional unconfined aquifers that flow into regional tributaries.

Ready for Reclamation: No Longer Used for Mine or Plant Purposes - Areas that are no longer required for mine or plant purposes and are available for reclamation but where reclamation activities have not yet commenced.
Recovery Factor - The volumetric percentage of oil or bitumen that can be recovered.
Reclamation - The process of converting disturbed land to a state where it is capable of supporting similar kinds of land uses as before the disturbance.
Reclaimed Land - Land that is no longer being used for mine or plant purposes and has been, or is in the process of being, reclaimed. In the past there was only one category of reclaimed land. Alberta now has three categories of reclaimed land: Temporary Reclaimed (Some areas are reclaimed and revegetated to grasses for the purposes of stabilization and erosion control - not considered permanent until revegetation targets boreal forest ecosystems); Permanent Reclaimed (activities include landform design, soil placement, and revegetation. Companies must use local plant species to target the return of local boreal forest ecosystems) and Certified Reclaimed (an area meets stringent requirements for reclamation, regulators have issued final certification and the land is returned to the Crown as public land).
Regulatory Approvals - Approvals are required from Alberta Environment and Parks and/or the Alberta Energy Regulator to ensure proposed projects that could cause an adverse impact on the environment are reviewed. After a detailed review by the department(s), a decision is made as to whether an approval should be issued or renewed.
Remediation - The process of removing, reducing or neutralizing contaminants in soil, sediments or water to prevent or minimize any adverse effects on the environment currently or in the future.
Remote Sensing - Measurement of some property of an object or surface by means other than direct contact. Usually refers to the gathering of scientific information about the earth’s surface from great heights and over broad areas, using instruments mounted on aircraft or satellites.
Renewable Energy - An energy resource that can be replaced rapidly by natural processes such as sunlight, hydro power (water through a dam), wind power and burning wood or agricultural waste.
Reporting Facility - All industrial facilities that emit 50,000 tonnes of CO₂e or more annually are required to report their emissions to Alberta Environment and Parks and Environment Canada.
River Flow - River flow is the volume of water which passes through a given cross-section of the river channel per unit time. It is typically measured in cubic metres per second or cubic feet per second. River flow is affected by natural changes in climate and seasonal weather patterns and by human use of water, including dams and other infrastructure such as weirs and canals.
River Flow Index - The River Flow Index indicator illustrates the difference between the average natural flow and the actual flows that were recorded in the rivers during the year. Flows are examined on a two-season basis with summer open water considered as one season and the remaining seven months - late fall to early spring - considered the other season. The annual assessment is reported along with a ten-year average, which is an indication of potential long-term or cumulative stresses.
River Level - Height of river's water level, measured in metres.
River Water Quality Index - The Alberta River Water Quality Index is a way to summarize physical, chemical and biological data into a simple descriptor of water quality. The Index provides a simple snapshot of annual water quality conditions in major rivers of the province.
River Water Quality Monitoring - Water quality is dependent on the characteristics of the surrounding landscape and climate, in-stream processes, and natural and human inputs, and is a key component of aquatic habitat. Water quality is monitored to better understand the natural water chemistry of the oil sands region and to identify potential impacts on water quality that may result from development.
Runoff - Water that moves over or through soils on the land during snowmelt or rainstorms.

Saline Groundwater - Water found underground that has total dissolved solids exceeding 4,000 milligrams per litre. Also referred to as brackish water.
Saturated Zone - The entire region below the water table. Water in the saturated zone is called groundwater.
Schemes - A development approval granted by the Alberta Energy Regulator.
SCO - Synthetic Crude Oil
Section - An area of land comprised of approximately 256 hectares. In the Imperial system it is one square mile or 640 acres.
Soils Placed (Terrestrial & Wetlands & Aquatics) - Areas where reclamation material has been placed, reporting for both terrestrial and wetlands & aquatics permanent reclamation combined. Land moves from the Disturbed category to the Soils Placed category once reclamation material is placed as per the approved Reclamation and Soil Placement Plans.
Solids Content (Tailings) - Ratio of the mass of dry solids to total mass of tailings, expressed as a percentage.
Specified Gas Reporting Regulation (SGRR) Reporters - Facilities that have emitted more than 50 kilotonnes of CO₂e in a calendar year and as a result are subject to Alberta’s Specified Gas Reporters regulation.
Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER) Regulated Facilities - Are facilities that have been in operation for more than three years, and have emitted more than 100 kilotonnes of CO₂e in any year since 2003. These facilities are subject to regulated emissions intensity reductions and true up requirements.
Standard - A definite rule established by authority. Environmental standards often take the form of prescribed numerical values that must be met.
Steam Assisted Gas Push (SAGP) - A variance on the SAGD process in which a non-condensable gas is added to the injected steam. The gas rises to the top of the bitumen reservoir and acts as a buffer or insulator between the bitumen deposit and the overburden, which reduces the amount of heat loss from the reservoir and therefore reduces the amount of steam required to produce the same amount of oil as compared to normal SAGD.
Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) - An in situ method of bitumen recovery using horizontal wells and steam stimulation.
Stewardship - Managing ones life, and property, and environment with regard for the rights of others. Can be applied to an individual or corporation.
Sulphur Dioxide(SO₂) - A colourless gas with a pungent odour. In Alberta, natural gas processing plants are responsible for close to half of the emissions of this gas. Oil sands facilities and power plants are also major sources. Others include oil refineries, pulp and paper mills and fertilizer plants.
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF₆) - Sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) is a synthetic gas that is colourless, odorless, non-toxic (except when exposed to extreme temperatures) and non-flammable. SF₆ acts as a greenhouse gas due to its very high heat trapping capacity. SF₆ is primarily used in the electricity industry as insulating gas for high voltage equipment and as cover gas in the magnesium industry to prevent oxidation (combustion) of molten magnesium.
Surface Water - Surface waters include lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands.
Suspended Solids - Particles suspended in the water, primarily soil particles eroded from the land. Suspended solids concentrations normally increase with increases in river flow, as a result of scouring of the river bed and banks. High suspended solids loads can cause siltation of the river bed and smother plants and animals, decrease light penetration, cause stress to aquatic organisms and reduce photosynthesis. In addition, suspended solids may adsorb organic compounds, heavy metals and nutrients.
Synbit - A blend of cleaned crude bitumen mixed with SCO (synthetic crude oil) for diluents in order to meet pipeline viscosity and density specifications.
Synthetic Crude Oil - Created by processing Bitumen from an Oil Sands project through an upgrader. Similar to crude oil.

Tailings - Waste from oil sands extraction processes, generally composed of water sand, clay, silt, small amounts of bitumen, and chemicals. Materials remaining suspended in water after bitumen is separated from oil sand. See also Wet Tailings and Dry Tailings
Tailings Oil Recovery Unit - Recovers residual oil from tailings following the extraction process.
Tailings Pond (Active) - Settling and containment area for tailings.
Tailings Sand - A byproduct of oil sands extraction comprised of sands, process water, and minor amounts of fine particles and residual bitumen; oil sands with the bitumen removed.
Temporal Resolution - The frequency of sampling in the monitoring program or study. It is the size of the individual time steps represented by each observation.
Temporary Reclamation (Terrestrial) - Areas being managed where vegetation has been seeded, planted, or ingressed, where there is an expectation that future disturbance may occur at that location.
Tenure - The system through which Crown-owned mineral rights, including oil sands rights, are leased and administered.
Term Year - The term year for an oil sands agreement is defined by the anniversary date of the agreement. For example, in the case of a lease signed on October 18, 2002, the anniversary date is October 18 of each subsequent year, and each term year spans from October 18 to October 17 of the following year.
Terrestrial Reclamation vs. Wetland & Aquatics Reclamation - Wetlands are defined as per the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act approval definition of wetland ecosystem. Aquatics include watercourses. All other reclamation falls within the terrestrial category.
Threshold - A theoretical concept defining the point where the total load of accumulated stress on the ecosystem exceeds the system’s ability to accommodate change and a fundamental shift occurs in the system.
Toe-to-Heel Air Injection (THAI) - A method of in situ bitumen recovery in which air is continuously injected into a bitumen deposit to propagate a wave of combustion, which is intended to push recoverable and partially upgraded oil towards a production well or production portion of a well. The name is derived from the initial design of the process: air is injected at the end or “toe” of a horizontal well and the wave travels along the horizontal well length to the “heel.”
Total Active Footprint - The total active footprint includes the (cumulative) total area of land cleared, plus land disturbed plus temporarily and permanently reclaimed land, including land where reclamation material has been placed but where the land does not yet meet the definition of permanent reclamation (e.g. is not yet re-vegetated).
Total Direct Emissions - The release of all specified gases expressed in tonnes CO₂e from all sources located at a facility.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) - A measure of the concentration of dissolved matter in water. It is measured by evaporating water that has passed through a very fine textured filter to remove suspended solids. The residue is then weighed. TDS is often used as an estimate of water's salinity, which may affect the distribution of aquatic organisms.
Total Reduced Sulphur (TRS) - Total reduced sulphur compounds (TRS) produce offensive odours similar to rotten eggs or cabbage. TRS is a gaseous mixture of compounds consisting mainly of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), methyl mercaptan (CH₃S-H), dimethyl sulphide (CH₃-S-CH₃) and dimethyl disulphide (CH₃-S-S-CH₃).
Total Suspended Solids - Solids in water that can be trapped by a filter. Total Suspended Solids can include a wide variety of organic and inorganic material, such as silt, decaying plant and animal matter, industrial wastes, and sewage. High concentrations can lower water quality by absorbing light, making the water warmer and reducing its ability to hold oxygen necessary for aquatic life. Because aquatic plants also receive less light, photosynthesis decreases and less oxygen is produced.
Toxic - A substance, dose or concentration that is harmful to a living organism.
Transect - A sampling system that involves the measurement or recording of data along a line.
Trigger - A condition which, if exceeded, results in some action being taken.
Turbidity - Cloudiness of water. It is determined by the presence of suspended particles such as clay, silt, organic matter and living organisms. High turbidity may reduce light transmission, and therefore reduce photosynthesis of aquatic plants.

Unconsolidated Deposits - Sediments that are not cemented together, such as sand and gravel.
Undisposed - Refers to Crown-owned mineral rights that have not been assigned. Undisposed rights can be acquired through oil sands agreements.
Unsaturated Zone - The level above the water table. Spaces between rocks and soil contain both water and air. Water in the unsaturated zone is called soil moisture.
Upgrader - A facility used to upgrade bitumen to crude oil.
Upgrading - The process by which heavy oil and bitumen are converted into lighter crude by increasing the ratio of hydrogen to carbon, normally using either coking or hydroprocessing.

Value-added - The upgrading or refining of resources into products of a higher value (e.g. synthetic crude, petrochemicals, plastics).
VAPEX - A gravity drainage process in which solvent vapours are dissolved into bitumen to reduce its viscosity and allow it to be pumped to the surface via a traditional well.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - A large group of chemicals with carbon and hydrogen atoms that can react quickly to form other chemicals in the atmosphere.

Watershed - All lands enclosed by a continuous water drainage divide and lies upslope from a specified point on a stream or water body. The term is often used interchangeably with the word "drainage basin", but in the strictest sense it refers to the outer boundary of the drainage basin itself, as defined by topographic features.
Water Table - Level below which all spaces are filled with water.
Water Quality - A generic term for the physical and chemical characteristics of water. Factors considered include such things as temperature, dissolved oxygen and the concentration of toxic substances or nutrients. Aesthetic characteristics such as taste, odour and turbidity are also considered.
Water Quality Index - The River Water Quality Index is a way to measure and compare the relative quality of river water. The index is calculated annually as an average of sub-indices for four groups of variables: metals, nutrients, bacteria, and pesticides. The River Water Quality Index formula incorporates three factors representing key aspects of water quality: Scope: the number of variables not meeting water quality objectives; Frequency: the number of times objectives are not met; Amplitude: the amount by which objectives are not met.
Wetland - Wetlands are natural areas where water and land meet. They provide food, habitat and shelter for nearly 300 species of wildlife in Alberta. Wetlands are a critical part of much larger systems known as watersheds that move water across the land.
Wet Tailings - Wet tailings consist of all areas with process-affected water, which may or may not include mature fine tailings.
Whole Tailings - Unaltered tailings that come directly from an extraction plant. Whole tailings is sometimes referred to as coarse tailings.

Disclaimer
The definitions on this website are provided for general, informal informational purposes only and are not to be relied on or referred to as actual government policy or law. In all instances, the applicable legislation or government policy should be consulted in order to obtain the most current and accurate information.

Last Updated: 11/25/2019 11:14:14 AM