January 2025

Directive 040 Reminder 

All annual pressure tests taken by December 31, 2024 must be submitted by March 31, 2025 to avoid noncompliance and penalties.

The 2025 Well Testing Schedule has been issued to insure operators obtain pressures where required by December 31, 2025. 

The Well Testing Schedules can be accessed HERE.

AB: Directive Updates Related to Liability Management Framework

On February 7, 2025, the AER released new editions of Directive 001: Requirements for Site-Specific Liability Assessments, Directive 011: Estimated Liability, Directive 068: Security Deposits, and Directive 088: Licensee Life-Cycle Management.

Changes to directives were required to meet the Liability Management Framework policy direction to replace the liability management rating (LMR) and licensee liability rating (LLR) programs.

These updates resulted in the AER rescinding Directive 006: Licensee Liability Rating (LLR) Program, Directive 024: Large Facility Liability Management Program (LFP), and Directive 075: Oilfield Waste Liability (OWL) Program. The LMR is no longer calculated or used by the AER for any purpose and will not be available to licensees.

Additional information can be found in Bulletin 2025-04

AB: New Editions of Directive 056, Directive 089, Directive 090, and Manual 012

On February 7, 2025, the AER released new editions of Directive 056: Energy Development Applications and Schedules, Directive 089: Geothermal Resource Development, Directive 090: Brine-Hosted Mineral Resource Development and Manual 012: Energy Development Applications Procedures and Schedules.

The directives and manual were revised to include changes concerning geothermal and brine-hosted minerals and liability management.

Additional information can be found in Bulletin 2025-05

SK: IRIS Facility Licence 

On February 5, 2025, the ER notified about changes to the IRIS facility licence application with regard to Directive 036: Venting and Flaring Requirements.

Additional information can be found under Industry Tip HERE

SK: New Edition of Directive PN003

On February 07, 2025, a revised version of Directive PNG003: Well Survey Requirements came into effect. The updated Directive aims to support the drilling of multilateral wells through updates to terminology and to survey plan components to promote clarity and consistency with other directives regarding well survey plans.

Additional information can be found HERE

BC: Tracking and Submission of Venting Update

As per regulatory amendments that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2025, permit holders are required to track venting volumes from uncontrolled storage tanks, compressor seals, pneumatic devices, and pneumatic pumps. 

Submissions are due annually by March 31 of the year following the reporting year, using the updated Vent Data Collection Template.

Initial submissions:

• Uncontrolled storage tanks and compressor seals: due by March 31, 2025 (covering the 2024 calendar year).

• Pneumatic devices and pneumatic pumps fleet: due by March 31, 2026 (covering the 2025 calendar year). Note the BCER may audit permit holders’ fleet data prior to the initial submission deadline, and will continue to audit individual pneumatic devices and pneumatic pumps at facilities.

Completed templates should be emailed to methane@bc-er.ca

Additional information can be found: IU 2024-11

BC: Improvements to Disposal Well Dashboard

On January 27, 2025, the BCER announced updates to the Disposal Well Dashboard.

New features and improvements include:

• The addition of acid gas disposal wells,.

• Enhanced provincial-level analytics, summarizing disposal activity across geologic formations, companies, and fluid types.

• An interactive map displaying well locations and disposal volumes for the past 12 months.

The updated Disposal Well Dashboard, along with instructions and background documentation, is available in the Data Centre and on the Subsurface Disposal page in the Operations Documentation & Guidance section of the BCER website.



Additional information can be found: IU 2025-01

BC: Notice Regarding Quality Assurance of Pipeline Components

Pipeline permit holders are reminded:



• The pipe and components used in their systems must meet the requirements of Clause 5 of CSA Z662:23.

• They are required to develop and implement a quality assurance procedure for purchased materials, as detailed in Clause A.7.5 of CSA Z662:23.

CSA Z662:23 is currently available to Canadians on the CSA Group website free of charge.

Permit holders should refer to CER Safety Advisory 2024-01 – Pipeline Fitting Materials Quality Assurance for more information.

Additional information can be found: SA 2025-01

BC: Monitoring and Regulating Induced Seismicity

The BCER makes available all seismic data greater than local magnitude 1.5 that were recorded in the northeast region of British Columbia along with displaying active industry operations in their Northeast BC Seismicity Map. The map and user guide can be accessed HERE. 

The BCER is making enhancements to the Kiskatinaw Seismic Monitoring and Mitigation Area (KSMMA) Special Project Order and introducing a new Special Project Order for the North Montney aimed at addressing induced seismicity from hydraulic fracturing operations in those two seismically prone regions of Northeast BC.

The special project orders and corresponding area maps, operational manual, as well as seismic event reporting & actions decision trees are available on the BCER’s Induced Seismicity Data and Submission page.

Additional information can be found: TU 2025-02