Safety & Enforcement
Eye in the Sky
How the AER is using drones to inspect oil and gas sites
It’s a bird, it’s a plane. Nope, it’s a drone. Aerial monitoring technology has changed the way the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) monitors oil and gas facilities for the better. It saves thousands… Read more
Paying Up
Guilty plea lands Nexen $460 000 penalty for Long Lake pipeline spill
Nexen has been ordered to pay $460 000 as a result of a July 2015 spill from a pipeline associated with the company’s Long Lake oil sands facility.
Appealing to the Highest Power
Keely Cameron explains why taking the Redwater Energy case to the supr…
In May 2016, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta decided against the AER and the Orphan Well Association (OWA) in a case that has had widespread implications on our energy industry.
Fighting Fire with Firepower
Mutual aid helps companies respond to emergencies
When emergencies like floods, wildfires, or tornados happen, Albertans are always quick to lend a helping hand. And like any good neighbour, many companies in the energy industry are also ready to… Read more
Painting a Picture of Pipeline Performance
Report shows Alberta pipelines safer, but still room for improvement
Pipelines are in the headlines a lot these days as Canadians question whether they’re safe . New data released by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) demonstrates that pipeline operators are doing a… Read more
Be Smart, Be Prepared
Emergency Preparedness Week an opportunity for Canadians to be ready
Scouts around the world live by the motto “Be Prepared.” This week, Canadians are being encouraged to tear a page from the Scout handbook and be prepared to protect themselves in case of an emergency.
Snow Melt Puts Industry on High Alert
As snow melts and water levels rise, Alberta’s oil and gas operators t…
The Alberta Emergency Alert home page is currently lit up by numerous high-water-level and flood alerts issued for areas in southern and central Alberta. Some alerts include mandatory evacuation… Read more
When a Setback is a Good Thing
In oil and gas development, setbacks help to keep the public safe
When we think of setbacks, the first thing that comes to mind is a failure or reversal of fortune (e.g., “We suffered a serious setback that will delay the project for months.”). But in the energy… Read more
Detecting Earthquakes, Ice Quakes, and Everything…
AER’s extensive seismic monitoring system confirms “ice quake” west of…
In the late evening on January 1, residents of the village of Alberta Beach, about 70 kilometres west of Edmonton, may have felt some shaking that wasn’t the result of a New Year’s Eve party gone… Read more
Delving Into the Details
How one AER inspector gets to the nitty gritty of pipeline constructio…
Ask any field inspector what they like about their job and you’ll likely get a similar response: working with industry folks who just “get it.” This past fall, Phil Didow, an Alberta Energy Regulator… Read more
