Report
New Pembina Study Showing Potential Land Disturbance From Northern Gas Development Now Available
This new study presents the big picture of what Canada’s Northern regions could look like after 30 years of gas development. Previous studies have only looked at the impacts of individual projects. A Peak into the Future provides Northerners with an estimate of the extent and pace of development that could occur if known and potential gas reserves are developed.
Using the ALCES™ computer model (click here for more information), the study looked at the current estimated gas reserves in the Mackenzie Delta and the Colville Hills in the Northwest Territories and the Peel Plateau in the Yukon and modeled the number of wells, pipelines, roads and seismic lines that would be needed to extract all the recoverable gas in those fields. The model showed that the rate of development and the ultimate landscape footprint of development will be similar to the footprint left behind by now mature gas fields in western Canada, where disturbance impacts are clearly evident. The study also models a few “best practices” that have reduced the size of landscape footprints in other areas.
This information can be used to further assess how wildlife, vegetation, air quality, local economies and communities in the North could be impacted by gas development.
This report clearly shows that natural gas development in the North will have a very large footprint on the land and potential for far reaching and long-term negative ecological impacts.
To download the report and brochure, along with other supporting maps and materials, click on the links below:
Peak into the Future report
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~1.5 Mb)
Peak into the Future brochure
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~2.2 Mb)
Maps
Colville Hills Study Area
(200 dpi JPEG, ~370K)
Colville Hills Scenario 30 Years from Development
(200 dpi JPEG, ~415K)
Mackenzie Delta Study Area
(200 dpi JPEG, ~3.1 Mb)
Mackenzie Delta Scenario 30 Years from Development
(200 dpi JPEG, ~400K)
Peel Plateau Study Area
(200 dpi JPEG, ~2.1 Mb)
Peel Plateau Scenario 30 Years from Development
(200 dpi JPEG, ~2.5 Mb)
For more information, click here to go to the Pembina Institute Web site.
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