Wildfires burning in the Canadian province of Alberta have prompted the evacuation of nearly 30,000 residents and the shutdown of oil and natural gas wells and pipeline systems.
A total of 109 fires were burning as of Sunday afternoon, 30 of which were classified as out of control, and a provincial state of emergency has been declared. Evacuation orders have been issued for communities, including some less than 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the provincial capital, Edmonton.
The fires are affecting energy production in the region, which accounts for most of Canada’s hydrocarbon exports. One community under evacuation orders as of Sunday was Fox Creek, a major hub for oil and light gas drillers. Energy facilities were also being evacuated in Grande Prairie along with local residents, provincial officials said.
Unlike the massive wildfires of 2016, which were concentrated in northeastern Alberta and forced the shutdown of more than 1 million barrels per day of oil sands production, the hardest hit areas this year are in the west of the province. There, explorers were rock formations such as Clearwater, Montney, and Duvernay. The area includes gas processing plants and is crossed by gas pipelines.
Paramount Resources Ltd. has shut down about 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of production starting May 5 as a precaution and for disruptions to third-party infrastructure, the company said on Sunday. Its operations in the Grande Prairie and Kaybob regions are affected.
Pipeline operator TC Energy Corp. shut down two compressor stations on its Nova Gas system closest to the active wildfires, the company said in an email Sunday. Other sections of the system and other networks continue to function safely. The company keeps workers away from facilities near active fires unless necessary.
Tidewater Midstream & Infrastructure Ltd. shut down its Brazeau River Complex, a gas processing facility, west of Edmonton and evacuated all staff, the company said in an email. Cenovus Energy Inc. has shut down some production and halted plants in some areas, a company spokesman said.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline, the only link carrying Canadian crude to the Pacific Coast, is still operating, but the company has deployed mitigation measures, including a perimeter sprinkler system at its Edson pump station , and is ready to deploy additional protective measures. if necessary, the company said.
Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd. had to shut down less than 300 barrels a day of production after gas processing plants operated by Tidewater and another by Keyera Corp. were out of business because of the fires, CEO Brian Schmidt said by phone. Pembina Pipeline Corp. also said it evacuated some workers west of Edmonton.
