Pierre River Mine Project

WATER ERCB SIRS 46 – 79
assigned based on the parameterization described in previous hydrogeology
baseline, EIA, and other selected investigations in the region.
Section 7.1
Recharge values were initially assigned based on professional judgment by
referencing calibrated model values from other EIAs conducted in the region and
other studies in similar hydrogeologic settings in Alberta.
Request 75b Are the hydraulic values for each formation uniform?
Response 75b Table 1 indicates that:
• hydraulic conductivity values were generally uniform for each given
geological material
• there are regional variations within a formation. For example, four hydraulic
conductivity values are assigned to McMurray Formation oil sands and two
hydraulic conductivity values are assigned to the basal aquifer, for a total of
six different hydraulic conductivity zones for the McMurray Formation
The EIA, Appendix 4-1, Section 1.2.2.3, page 26, indicates that a uniform
specific storage value was applied to all model layers.
Request 75c Were the hydraulic conductivity values for the basal aquifer compared with other
sources? If yes, then provide a summary of those sources and their reported
values.
Response 75c Table E on page 16 of the Hydrogeology Environmental Setting Report
(WorleyParsons Komex 2007) lists reviewed sources and values of basal aquifer
hydraulic conductivity in the region.
Reference
WorleyParsons Komex. 2007. Hydrogeology Environmental Setting Report for
the Jackpine Mine Expansion and Pierre River Mine Project. Prepared
for Shell Canada Limited, Calgary, AB. Submitted December 2007.
Request 75d Provide a chart illustrating the change in groundwater elevation and quality for
the monitoring wells used in calibration from the pre-development groundwater
levels to the present levels.
Response 75d Figure 21 in EIA, Volume 4B, Appendix 4-1, Section 1.2.2.5, illustrates the
changes in groundwater elevation from pre-development to the end of the
calibration period (the end of December 2005) for select transient calibration
points for the regional groundwater model.
Since the model was calibrated to historical depressurization activities at Albian
Sands Energy Inc.’s Muskeg River Mine and Syncrude Canada Ltd.’s Aurora
North Mine and the effects of depressurization at these facilities is bounded to
7-28 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
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