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Oil and Gas Development in Alberta

Alberta is a western province of Canada. With a population of 3,645,257 in 2011 and an estimated population of 4,145,992 as of October 1, 2014,[1] it is Canada's fourth-most populous province and most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces. Alberta and its neighbour, Saskatchewan, were established as provinces on September 1, 1905.[2] The current premier of the province is Rachel Notley. Alberta is bounded by the provinces of British Columbia to the west and Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north, and the U.S. state of Montana to the south. Alberta is one of three Canadian provinces and territories to border only a single U.S. state and is also one of only two provinces that are landlocked.


Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta, is located near the geographic centre of the province and is the primary supply and service hub for Canada's crude oil, oil sands (Athabasca oil sands)[5] and other northern resource industries. Approximately 290 km (180 mi) south of the capital is Calgary, Alberta's largest city. Calgary and Edmonton centre Alberta's two census metropolitan areas, both of which have populations exceeding one million


History

Alberta Energy Regulator

Main Article: Alberta Energy Regulator


The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is the regulatory organization established under the 2012 Responsible Energy Development Act. Under the Act the AER is charged with “the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of hydrocarbon resources over their entire life cycle”[3] within the province of Alberta. The AER was created to centralize and simplify the regulatory structure around oil and gas development, consolidating enforcement of the energy development aspects of the Water Act, the Public Lands Act, The Mines and Minerals Act and the Environmental Protection Enhancement Act.[4] The current Chair of the Board of Directors is Gerry Protti, and the AER's CEO is Jim Ellis.


The AER is responsible for regulating some of the world’s largest reserves of hydrocarbons as well as the infrastructure associated with these resources, including pipelines, wells and processing facilities. In order to ensure the development of these resources is carried out safely and in accordance with existing regulations, the AER is empowered to review proposed energy developments; inspect and oversee energy projects at all stages of their life cycle; correct and penalize non-compliance; and hold public hearings on proposed oil and gas projects. [5]

Geography and Geology

References

  1. "Estimates of population, Canada, provinces and territories". Statistics Canada. March 19, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014. 
  2. "Alberta becomes a Province". Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  3. Alberta Energy Regulator. 2015 "Who we Are". Retrieved 11 May, 2015
  4. Alberta Energy Regulator. March 2014"The Alberta Energy Regulator".Retrieved 11 May, 2015
  5. Alberta Energy Regulator.June 2014"What Is the Alberta Energy Regulator".Retrieved 11 May, 2015