March 2025

AB: Validating Facility Operational Life-Cycle Statuses – Phase II

On March 19, 2025, the AER reminded operators of the previously released Bulletin 2023-34, which requests that licensees provide information to validate the operational life-cycle status of certain facilities. After January 2024, any facilities where the operational life-cycle status could not be verified were considered inactive and included in the licensee’s assessed inactive liability.

The AER uses inactive liability to determine a licensee’s mandatory closure spend. The annual mandatory closure spend will not be adjusted once set, so licensees are encouraged to review and update their information as necessary for the upcoming year. All adjustments are advised to be completed before year-end.

The AER has since identified additional multiwell batteries that may not have the necessary well-to-battery linkages in Petrinex to provide accurate life-cycle statuses. Because of this, some active multiwell batteries may be incorrectly deemed to be inactive. This could impact a licensee’s annual mandatory closure spend and licence transfer applications.

If a company has active multiwell batteries where the AER has identified the life-cycle status of inactive, they can complete the facility linking template (found on the Directive 011 webpage) and submit it to FacilityLifeCycle@aer.ca. After review and validation, the AER will confirm the updated life-cycle status and correct the information in their system.

Additional information can be found: Bulletin 2025-09

AB: OneStop Update – Land Module

On April 10, 2025, the AER released a new replacement function in OneStop’s lands module, enabling disposition holders to replace expired public land dispositions. This is done through a new drop-down menu item called Authorization Lifecyle, which includes amendments, renewals, and replacements functionality. 



Manual 018 Public Lands Application will be updated to include disposition replacements, minor enhancements, and recent policy changes. The manual will be published on the AER website in May 2025. 

Additional information can be found: Bulletin 2025-11

AB: 2025/26 AER Administration Fees (Industry Levy)

Invoices to operators detailing the fee calculations were emailed on April 1, 2025, with payment due by May 1, 2025. If you have not already signed up for electronic delivery, please forward your preferred corporate email address to AdminFeeCoordinator@aer.ca.

A late-payment penalty of 20 per cent is applied on any portion of the fee that remains unpaid after the due date.

Additional information can be found here: Bulletin 2025-12

AB: 2025/25 Orphan Fund Levy

Orphan fund levy invoices were emailed to the address the AER has on file by April 1, 2025. All orphan fund levy invoices must be paid in full by the licensee or approval holder and received by the AER by May 1, 2025. Failure to pay the full invoiced amount by May 1, 2025, will result in a penalty of 20 per cent of the original invoiced amount being assessed to the licensee. 

If the licensee or approval holder does not receive their orphan fund levy invoice they must contact OrphanLevy@aer.ca to request a copy. Be sure to update your corporate email or mailing addresses by contacting Directive067@aer.ca to avoid late payment fees.

Additional information can be found here: Bulletin 2025-13

AB: New Edition of Directive 060

On April 3, 2025, the AER released a new edition of Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting. This directive sets out requirements for flaring, incinerating, and venting in Alberta at all upstream petroleum industry wells and facilities.

Additional information can be found here: Bulletin 2025-15

AB: Increased Risk of Wildfire

The AER reminds that the 2025 wildfire season has begun. Proactive fire control measures should be in place that include wildfire mitigation, prevention, preparedness, and response as well as acquiring and maintaining fire suppression equipment as required under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and associated regulations, including Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting and Directive 071: Emergency Preparedness and Response. 

Additional information can be found here: Bulletin 2025-10

BC: Updates to Streamline Facility Changes

On March 31, 2025, the BCER announced the new operational guidance for facility changes as summarized below:

• Permit amendments are required for facility expansions and the addition of processing equipment (see Appendix F of the Manual).

• A Notice of Intent submission is required for operational changes such as reductions to inlet capacity or H₂S content, as well as emission reduction projects that do not involve new processing equipment (see Chapter 12.4.1 of the Manual).

• Minor facility changes that do not require an amendment application or Notice of Intent are outlined in Appendix G of the Manual.

Additional information can be found: TU 2025-05

BC: Reporting of Produced Well Fluids

The BCER reminds well permit holders that all fluids from a well, including initial flowback fluids following hydraulic fracturing, must be reported in monthly Petrinex submissions, regardless of hydrocarbon content.



A BCER well clean-up report submission is also required when initial well flow occurs through testers, providing detailed data on operations, flowing pressures, and rates. For more information on well flow testing, see Chapter 2 of the Well Testing and Reporting Requirements Guide.

Additional information can be found: Bulletin 2025-06

BC: 2025 Wildfire Preparedness

The BCER is recommending permit holders review their emergency management plans for wildfire preparedness. All permit holders’ field staff should know how to monitor current wildfire conditions. It is recommended they install the BC Wildfire Service app on their mobile devices for the latest updates on new fire locations. Companies with GIS capabilities can access near real-time fire information on our Provincial Emergency Updates webpage under the “Provincial Wildfire Updates” section.

Additional information can be found: Bulletin 2025-02