The Technology
of Energy
See the machines and systems behind energy: drilling rigs and oil sands operations, tailings and land reclamation, pipelines and their safety systems, the electricity grid and batteries, and technologies for capturing carbon and measuring methane.
- 00First Principlesp.2
- 01Drilling & wellsp.4
- 02Oil sands operationsp.5
- 03Pipelinesp.6
- 04The grid & storagep.7
- 05Capture & measurep.8
- ✦Self-check · Make it · 5 Questions · Side Questp.9
You'll need: a notebook, a map (paper or online), and an adult for any outings.
Principles
A first principle is a basic truth you can build on. Energy technology rests on four: every technology solves one problem and creates others, monitoring catches problems early, supply and demand must balance every second and what gets measured can be managed.
What do I already know?
What is necessary?
Everything in this module is built from four bricks. Rate yourself on each one, then check the example to see if your rating holds up.
What is the objective?
By the end, you’ll be able to describe how wells are drilled and closed, explain oil sands operations and tailings, explain how pipelines are monitored, describe how the grid balances supply and demand, and explain carbon capture and methane measurement.
- 01Describe horizontal drilling.
- 02Explain tailings and reclamation.
- 03Name 3 pipeline safety tools.
- 04Explain interties and batteries.
- 05Explain CCUS.
- 06Describe how methane is measured.
The list on the left is ours. Now make it yours. What do you want out of this?
How much do you know about the technology of energy right now? Shade the boxes in pencil. You'll come back at the end (p.9) and shade it again in pen.
Why start this way? When you know what you already have (1), what you need (2) and where you're going (3), you learn faster and you notice the gaps. Every module on the Energy Path starts with these same three questions.
Drilling & wells
Wells are engineered from the first metre to the final seal.
Down and sideways
- A rig drills down through rock, lining the hole with steel casing and cement to protect groundwater.
- Modern wells can turn and run horizontally for kilometres through a thin layer of rock.
- Drilling fluid (“mud”) cools the bit and carries rock chips to the surface.
Closing and cleaning up
When a well stops producing, it must be sealed (abandoned) and the land reclaimed. Alberta has many inactive wells.
When an owner goes bankrupt, the industry-funded Orphan Well Association cleans up. People debate how much companies should pay up front to cover future cleanup.
Alberta Energy Regulator
The AER approves, inspects and enforces rules for oil, gas, oil sands, coal and deep geothermal projects in Alberta. Pipelines that cross provincial or national borders are regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER).
- Why do you think wells are lined with steel and cement?
- Who should pay to clean up old wells?
Well diagram
Draw a cross-section of a well: surface, groundwater, casing, cement, the horizontal section and the target rock layer.Why is casing cemented in place?
Oil sands operations
The oil sands use some of the world’s largest machines, and leave big challenges.
Mines and in situ sites
- Mines use giant shovels and trucks; bitumen is separated from sand with hot water.
- In situ sites use steam, wells and pipelines, with a smaller surface footprint but more natural gas for steam.
- Many sites generate their own steam and electricity (cogeneration).
Leftover water, clay and sand
Mining leaves tailings: water, clay, sand and leftover bitumen, stored in ponds. Fluid tailings in the Athabasca region reached about 1.5 billion m³ in 2024 (AER).
Companies must treat and reclaim them; the speed and methods are debated.
AER, State of Fluid Tailings Management for Mineable Oil Sands, 2024.
Kearl, 2022–2023
In 2022, Imperial found discoloured water seeping from a tailings area at its Kearl mine; in early 2023 a wastewater overflow followed. The AER issued an environmental protection order. Nearby First Nations, including the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, said they weren’t told soon enough. The event led to reviews of how communities are notified.
- What surprised you most about oil sands operations?
- How should companies tell nearby communities about problems?
Footprint compare
Make a table comparing mining and in situ: land disturbed, water use, natural gas use and reclamation.Why does in situ production use a lot of natural gas?
Pipelines
Pipelines carry most of Alberta’s oil and gas, watched day and night.
Safety systems
- Control rooms watch pressure and flow 24/7 (SCADA systems).
- Inline inspection tools (“pigs”) travel inside pipes to find dents, cracks and corrosion.
- Valves can isolate sections if a leak is detected.
- Patrols, aerial surveys and leak-detection software add more checks.
Several viewpoints
Industry groups and regulators point out that most oil moves safely by pipeline, often compared with rail or trucks. Environmental groups and some Indigenous Nations point to past spills and the harm when one happens near water.
Both use real data; they weigh it differently.
Buried pipelines run under farms, yards and roads. In Alberta, contact Utility Safety Partners (Click Before You Dig, 1-800-242-3447) at least 3 full working days before digging. If you smell gas or a rotten-egg odour, leave the area and call 911 from a safe distance.
- Why do you think pipelines are watched 24 hours a day?
- Why is it easy to forget about buried lines?
Map it
With an adult, find the pipeline warning signs nearest your home or school. What company and phone number do they show?Why do pipelines have valves along their length?
The grid & storage
The grid is a giant machine that must balance every moment.
From plant to plug
- Transmission lines carry high-voltage power long distances.
- Distribution lines bring lower voltages to homes.
- Interties connect Alberta’s grid to B.C., Saskatchewan and Montana for imports and exports.
- The AESO dispatches plants every minute to match demand.
Filling the gaps
Alberta had about 190 MW of battery storage at the end of 2025 (AESO), small next to the record peak of 12,785 MW.
Gas plants that can ramp quickly, imports, demand response (big users cutting back) and forecasting also help balance variable wind and solar.
Several viewpoints
Some argue more wind and solar lower costs and emissions; others argue they need more backup and transmission, raising costs. Many experts say a reliable grid needs a mix. The AESO publishes reliability reports and proposes market changes.
- What would happen if supply and demand didn’t match?
- Which tool would you use to keep the grid balanced on a still, cold night?
Live grid
With an adult, look at the AESO’s current supply and demand page. What share comes from gas, wind and solar right now?Why does a grid need reserves?
Capture & measure
New tools try to capture carbon and find leaks, with debate about how well they work.
CCUS
Carbon capture, utilization and storage catches CO₂ from industrial sites and stores it deep underground or uses it. Shell’s Quest project near Fort Saskatchewan has operated since 2015 and injected about 1 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024.
Supporters see a way to cut emissions from heavy industry; critics question the cost, public funding and how much can be captured.
Quest annual status report 2024 (Government of Alberta).
What gets measured
Methane, a strong greenhouse gas, can leak from wells and pipes. Companies use infrared cameras, drones, aircraft and satellites to find leaks.
Alberta reported reaching its 45% methane-reduction target in 2022, ahead of 2025. Independent measurement studies have found actual emissions higher than official estimates.
Electrify, swap, improve
Heat pumps, electric vehicles, efficient motors, small nuclear reactors and hydrogen are all being tested or used in Alberta. Each has costs and limits, especially in deep cold.
- Is carbon capture worth the cost? What would you need to know?
- Why might measurements and estimates differ?
Tech pros and cons
Pick one technology on this page. List two benefits, two concerns and one question you’d ask an engineer.Why do measurements sometimes differ from official estimates?
Quick self-check
Six questions, covering every stop. Show your thinking. Answers are upside down at the bottom; no peeking till you're done.
1 · Why is a well lined with casing and cement?
2 · What are tailings?
3 · What is a pipeline “pig”?
4 · What are interties?
5 · What does CCUS stand for?
6 · Why do methane measurements matter?
Re-shade your knowledge meter
How much do you know about the technology of energy now? Flip back to p.3 and shade the meter again in pen (or shade this one). Did any of the four bricks on p.2 move from "Not yet" to "Got it"?
Energy tech map
Map the energy technology around your community.
1 · Plan
Make a map of energy technology in your community: power lines, substations, pipeline signs, wells, solar panels, wind turbines, gas stations.
- Area chosen
- Adult along
- Observed from public places
- Map key made
2 · What I found
| Tech | Where / how many |
|---|---|
| Power lines | |
| Substation | |
| Pipeline signs | |
| Solar or wind | |
| Other |
3 · Must-haves
- Stayed on public land
- Never touched equipment
- Map labelled
- One question for an expert
4 · Sketch map
Observe only from public places with an adult. Never enter fenced sites, climb poles or touch equipment, and stay well back from power lines and wellheads.
5 Questions
I Still Have
This module didn't answer everything. Good. Write 5 new questions it didn't answer, one of each type below. There are no wrong questions, only ones nobody's asked yet.
★ Star the one question you'd most like answered. You'll need it on the next page.
1What I'll find out
Break your big question into 2 or 3 smaller ones you could actually answer.
2Where I'll look
3How I'll share it
Who I'll share it with:
Done by: