The Kerr Investigation: Executive Summary

THE KERR INVESTIGATION: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Kerr Investigation: Final Report | 2 The Kerr Investigation: Final Report | 3 THE KERR INVESTIGATION: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIMATE CHANGE AND CO2 Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas. While carbon dioxide emissions naturally occur in the environment, there is a widespread belief that human activities are disturbing the natural exchange of carbon between the geosphere, the biosphere, the oceans and the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels for power production, heating, industry and transportation continue to raise the level of CO2 in the atmosphere. CO2 accumulates in the atmosphere resulting in climate change by trapping a portion of the sun’s heat and causing the earth’s surface to warm. In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), representing 2,500 scientists from more than 30 countries, concluded that there is 90 per cent likelihood that global warming has been caused by human industrial activity. The Panel identified Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as one of the most promising near term technologies for the rapid reduction of global CO2 emissions. This fall an in-depth study conducted by the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project verified these results. A scientific team led by physics professor Richard Muller of the University of California, Berkley and senior faculty scientists at the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory confirmed that the Earth’s temperature has risen by 1 degree Celsius since the 1950s. The research team compiled information available from 1800 to 2009. Today, scientists, governments and industry worldwide are working together to reduce the impact of CO2 on Earth’s environment, stopping potentially irreversible climate changes. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is the process of capturing CO2 from large industrial sources before it is released to the atmosphere, and then safely transporting and storing it in mature oil and gas reservoirs or other deep geological formations. Scientists estimate that carbon capture and storage can Scientists estimate that carbon account for 19 per cent or almost one in every five tons of capture and storage can greenhouse gas emissions that are targeted to be account for 19 per cent or eliminated by the year 2040. In other words, the amount almost one in every five tons of carbon dioxide eliminated during that time period of greenhouse gas emissions would be equal to the entire global natural industry of that are targeted to be today or some 100 trillion cubic feet of gas. eliminated by the year 2040. The Kerr Investigation: Final Report | 4 There are four key components of carbon capture and storage: • capture • transport • long term storage in the sub-surface • guidelines and standards that recognize the risks associated with subsurface storage IPAC CO2 The International Performance Assessment Centre for Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide (IPAC- CO2) is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Saskatchewan, Shell Canada Ltd. and the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification. The University of Regina, has more than 20 years of experience in CCS, and is also a founding partner that provides in kind services. Our team works to find solutions that support the safe capture and storage of CO2, contributing to the long-term sustainability of planet Earth and its inhabitants. We advance knowledge about geological storage by sharing, exchanging and cooperating with global industry stakeholders. Among our goals are to increase public, industry, government and regulator awareness, understanding and confidence in the safety of CCS by providing independent, objective information. Our work is guided by our commitment to four basic principles – transparency, honesty, independence, and cooperation. Al Bjornson (left), owner of Border City Drilling in Estevan, Saskatchewan, worked with IPAC CO2’s investigation to drill the monitoring and test wells on the Kerr property. The Kerr Investigation: Final Report | 5 In partnership with the Canadian Standards Association, IPAC-CO2 developed the world’s first performance standards for the geologic storage of carbon dioxide. Almost three dozen experts representing the scientific community, industry, NGOs and government regulators across Canada and the U.S. reviewed our work. The public review period of the standard is underway as we release this report. In addition to these performance standards, we developed an Incident Response Protocol (IRP) that would be implemented if there were allegations that a specific CCS project was not retaining injected CO2. The Incident Response Protocol (IRP) is available online at www.ipac-co2.com. These performance standards and the IRP provided the framework and foundation for our work in the Kerr investigation. HISTORY OF THE KERR INVESTIGATION The International Energy Agency GHG Weyburn-Midale Monitoring and Storage Project is a collaborative international study into the technical feasibility of CO2 injection and storage underground in depleted oil fields. The project has been operating since 2000. Cameron and Jane Kerr own a farm near Goodwater, Saskatchewan in the vicinity of the Weyburn- Midale Project. In 2004, they left their property citing concerns that it had become contaminated by CO2 injections. Between 2005 and 2011, a number of public and private sector organizations investigated the allegations, concluding that there was no evidence that the injection of CO2 had an adverse impact on the drinking water or the environment of the Kerr property. In 2010, the Kerrs hired Petro-Find GeoChem Ltd., a Saskatoon-based consulting company, to conduct soil gas studies on their property. Based on the findings contained in the Petro-Find report, they held a news conference in January 2011 demanding a full public investigation. Canadian and global news media reported that the Kerr family was forced to move from their property because of an alleged leakage of CO2 that had been injected into the oil field below to enhance oil recovery (EOR). The Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC), responsible for the environmental monitoring of the Weyburn CO2-EOR and storage operation, published a detailed, science-based response refuting the allegations. While the response addressed public perceptions and fears raised by the alleged CO2 leak, it was clear that more needed to be done to re-establish confidence in the safety and security of CO2 stored at Weyburn. This is imperative for both the project and the future of CO2 storage. The situation presented IPAC-CO2 with an opportunity to implement the IRP. A team of international experts was assembled to conduct an independent study of events at the Kerr farm. The Kerr Investigation: Final Report | 6 THE KERR INVESTIGATION TEAM • Dr. Janis Dale, Department of Geology, University of Regina, Canada • Dr. Stuart M.V. Gilfillan, Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland • Mr. Eric S. Ringler, Consultant, Research Triangle, North Carolina, U.S.A. • Dr. Katherine D. Romanak, Principle Investigator, Gulf Coast Carbon Center, Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, U.S.A. • Dr. George William (Jerry) Sherk, Project Director, IPAC-CO2 Chief Operating Officer, Regina, Canada • Dr. Brad D. Wolaver, Gulf Coast Carbon Center, Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, U.S.A. • Dr. Changbing Yang, Gulf Coast Carbon Center, Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, U.S.A. PROTECTING SPECIES OF CONCERN In August, the Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) was discovered on the Kerr property. This is a Species of Concern protected by both federal and provincial law. Following discovery of the Northern Leopard Frog, IPAC-CO2 prepared plans for soil gas sampling, which included mitigation measures that allowed for on-site activities and protection of the Northern Leopard frog. The mitigation measures were successfully implemented. The final report of the on-site environmental monitor (TERA Environmental Consultants) documented that the on- site activities resulted in zero Northern Leopard Frog mortalities. Jennifer Stroh, wildlife biologist, TERA Environmental Consultants looks for the Northern Leopard Frog. The Kerr Investigation: Final Report | 7 THE PROCESS The first step in the IRP is to determine whether there has been an unintentional release of CO2 at a specific site. An on-site investigation was required. To guide the investigation, a Field Test and Quality Assurance Plan was developed covering test design and data interpretation, sampling and analytical procedures, and quality management. The plan provided for three distinct on-site activities: The plan provided for three • soil gas analysis distinct on-site activities: • noble gas analysis • hydrogeological analysis • soil gas analysis While it was initially anticipated that on-site activities would • noble gas analysis • hydrogeological occur simultaneously in early June, extremely wet site analysis conditions and high groundwater levels required the soil gas and hydrogeological analyses to be postponed until the end of August. Quality assurance expert Eric Ringler (centre) from the Research Triangle in North Carolina, speaks with Dr. Janis Dale (right), the registered professional geologist for the Kerr investigation and Dr. Jerry Sherk (left), Chief Operating former head of the Department of Officer of IPAC-CO2, and Dr. Stuart Geology at the University of Regina, and Gilfillan, University of Edinburgh,

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