Technology

Walking the Walk, Talking the Talk

For the uninitiated, visiting a drilling rig is a learning experience

I’m from corporate. I work in the shiny head office in the shiny city of Calgary. But for three days, I traded in the business attire for the grey coveralls worn by the Alberta Energy Regulator’s (… Read more

Anatomy of a Blowout

A glance at the heart of an operation, and how AER keeps its finger on the pulse

Dissecting an oil and gas operation is no small undertaking. Wells reach deep into the earth to pull out oil and natural gas. Drilling and servicing operations have many moving parts and unique… Read more

Drilling Deeper

Five things to know about in situ oil sands development

Oil sands development conjures images of giant trucks and shovels toiling in massive, open-pit mines. The fact is, over half of the production from Alberta’s oil sands occurs through in situ… Read more

Let’s Talk Fracking

AER video explains how it’s done and how we ensure it’s safe

Hydraulic fracturing—commonly known as “fracking”—is in the news a lot. But you may be surprised to learn that it’s not that new. Hydraulic fracturing—a technique to break up the rocks deep inside… Read more

Seeing Infrared

FLIR cameras make invisible gas leaks visible

FLIR GasFindIR infrared cameras, which use thermal technology to trace and visualize volatile gases, have been used by the AER since 2007 to help detect oil and gas field fugitive emissions. FLIR… Read more

Elevating Geological Monitoring to New Heights

Elevating Geological Monitoring to New Heights

Living in Canada’s Rocky Mountains can be idyllic; on occasion, it can also prove perilous. The coal-mining town of Frank, in Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass, can attest to this. On April 29, 1903, it took… Read more

Mapping the Danger Zone

Sometimes the solution to a problem is right in front of you — it just takes a spark to see it.

Like most Albertans, Eileen Rubiera was concerned when she heard about the wildfires near Fort McMurray. Rubiera, a geographic information system (GIS) manager with the AER, knew how difficult it was… Read more

Sniffing Out Sour Gas

Air monitoring units detect and measure harmful gases

Regulating energy operations isn’t limited to what’s going on above and below ground – it also applies to the air we breathe. The AER’s two air-monitoring units (AMUs), which measure gas… Read more

Incident Command On Wheels

When a large pipeline has a spill or major well blowout strikes, Alberta needs on-the-go response tools. The AER’s mobile incident command (MIC) trailer is one of the tools we use to ensure energy… Read more