This regulation defines several terms and says the Regulator must not grant a licence or licence amendment for a well to be completed above the base of groundwater protection.
(Consolidated up to 20/2024) alberta regulation 264/2022 Mineral Resource Development Act MINERAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT REGULATION Table of Contents 1 Definitions for purposes of Act 3 Prohibition — wells completed above the base of groundwater protection 4 Expiry 5 Coming into force Definitions for purposes of Act 1 For the purposes of the Act, (a) “enhanced recovery” means the increased recovery of a mineral resource achieved by artificial means or by the application of energy extrinsic to the fluids within an underground formation, which artificial means or application includes pressuring, cycling, pressure maintenance or injection to the underground formation of a substance or form of energy, but does not include the injection in a well of a substance or form of energy for the sole purpose of (i) aiding in the lifting of fluids in the well, or (ii) stimulation of the underground formation at or near the well by mechanical, chemical, thermal or explosive means; (b) “mineral resources” includes solid substances or elements extracted or recovered from soluble components naturally dissolved in groundwater as defined in the Water Act ; (c) “wasteful operations” means (i) carrying out the following in a manner that causes or tends to cause a reduction in the quantity or quality of mineral resources ultimately recoverable relative to what would otherwise be recovered or obtained under sound engineering and economic principles: (A) the locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, completing, operating or producing of a well; (B) the mining or disposition of mineral resources; (C) the establishment, construction, operation, suspension or abandonment of a well, facility, well site, facility site, mine, mine site, external mine discard dump or processing plant, (ii) the production of mineral resources, mineral products and by-products of mineral resources in excess of (A) proper storage facilities, (B) transportation and marketing facilities, or (C) market demand, and (iii) the inefficient storage of mineral resources on the surface or underground. 2 Repealed AR 20/2024 s2. Prohibition — wells completed above the base of groundwater protection 3 The Regulator shall not grant a licence or an amendment of a licence for a well that the Regulator determines is to be completed above the base of groundwater protection. Expiry 4 For the purpose of ensuring that this Regulation is reviewed for ongoing relevancy and necessity, with the option that it may be repassed in its present or an amended form following a review, this Regulation expires on January 31, 2028. Coming into force 5 This Regulation comes into force on the coming into force of section 55(a) of the Mineral Resource Development Act .