Industry sets fracking guidelines for shale gas extraction

Members of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers who practise hydraulic fracturing will have to disclose how much water is being used and what it's being used for, according to new operating guidelines released Monday by the organization.

CAPP president Dave Collyer said the aim of the recommendations is to protect water resources and be more open with the public.

Collyer told a Calgary audience Monday that there will be six guidelines, including baseline testing of groundwater before drilling starts as well as ongoing monitoring.

Those results will be made public.

There will also be public disclosure of the types of chemicals being used, though Collyer admits companies may not be legally required to provide details about how they combine those chemicals.

Fracking is a process used to get natural gas out of shale deposits.

Companies inject a mixture of water, sand and chemicals through a well to crack the rock below.

Critics have raised concerns about the amount of water used and the possible contamination of ground water.

Collyer said CAPP has learned a few things from the oilsands debate — members want to be as open as possible, and respond to public concerns as they come up.