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Elizabeth Trudel
Research topic
Canadian Plug & Abandonment Environment
Faculty
Research supervisor(s)
Home Town
Saint-Damien-de-Buckland
Country
Canada
Selected Award(s)
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I am a curious person and love learning new things. Participating in research projects as an undergraduate student was the highlight of my degree. Doing research is what motivates me.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
UBC offered me the perfect balance between a great place to live, a good research project and a good school. Working with a knowledgeable supervisor in a supportive lab atmosphere is very important to me.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
The research project led by my supervisor was my biggest reason to come study here.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
How big the campus is and how nice the trails in Pacific Spirit Regional Park are.
UBC offered me the perfect balance between a great place to live, a good research project and a good school.
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
I love data analysis. It's always great to discover what is hiding in the data.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
Stubbornness, a healthy dose of self-criticism and participating in a great number of research projects.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I have many hobbies including knitting, cooking, hiking, swimming and cross-country skiing.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Finding balance is important. Make time for things you enjoy outside of school.
Learn more about Elizabeth's research
By 2013, more than 550,000 wells had been drilled across the country with the majority located in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin with 5,000-20,000 new wells drilled each year. After a certain operating period, all wells will need to be plugged and abandoned (P&A). As of December 2016, there were 24,802 wells in British Columbia. Of these, 11% were abandoned and 27.4% were inactive. In Alberta, 151,000 wells have been abandoned which represents 35% of all wells in the province. The consequences of poor P&A are wellbore leakage which can contaminate groundwater, near-surface ecology and damage to marine ecosystems offshore. Wellbore leakage also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, may present explosive or health risks. P&A is a potential massive societal and environmental problem for Canada. My research project will give an independent assessment of the status of P&A operations, future needs in Canada, adequacy of current regulations and whether existing and legacy wells are constructed effectively.