Petroleum Contaminants Community Research Project

The increase in oil and gas activity in the Del Rio area near Moberly Lake in British Columbia has raised concerns among West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations that wildlife such as moose and deer may be ingesting fluids and solids out of sumps and flare pits. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine whether animals do, in fact, ingest oil and gas drilling waste, and assess the potential health effects that may be associated with this ingestion.

Well sites were surveyed to determine the status and toxicity of sumps, flare pits, and flare stacks. Samples of sump fluids and solids, flare pit fluids and solids, vegetation, and animal tissue (lung, liver and kidney from moose and deer) were collected and analysed for contaminants such as heavy metals, extractable priority pollutants (EPPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), salinity, nitrates, chlorides, nitrogen and salts. In addition, track surveys were conducted, and remote cameras were placed at well sites to determine the level and nature of animal activity at each site and to document whether animals were ingesting the water and soil from sumps and flare pits.

The results of the study confirmed that animals do visit well sites, that they do ingest the fluids out of sumps and flare pits and that they do ingest the soil around sumps and in and around flare pits. It was also confirmed that ungulates use well sites as man-made licks. Other predatory animals such as bears, wolves and coyotes also visit well sites to find prey and drink fluids from sumps and flare pits. The results of the animal tissue analysis were inconclusive. Metals and hydrocarbons were detected in vegetation samples, however no standard reference guidelines are available to define what the maximum allowable levels should be in vegetation.

Based on these results, it was recommended that: 1) old and abandoned sumps and flare pits should be tagged for immediate disposal and clean-up; 2) existing operations should make certain that all sumps, flare stacks and other potentially toxic substances are fenced with chain link fencing; 3) the number of sumps and flare pits, old and new, need to be inventoried, GPS’d and monitored throughout the entire Treaty 8 territory of northeastern BC; 4) further research is required to determine the long term effects on all wildlife species as a result of ingesting drilling waste and flare pit chemicals; 5) enhanced corporate responsibility is also required to ensure minimal impact to wildlife and their habitat; 6) and lastly, band offices need to establish a contaminants monitoring and reporting department.