October 2022 Regulatory Newsletter

October 2022

‌

AB: Industrial Heartland Designated Industrial Zone Directive

On September 27, 2022, Alberta Environment and Parks released the Industrial Heartland Designated Industrial Zone Directive with an effective date of October 1, 2022. The Industrial Heartland is northeast of Edmonton and is Alberta’s first designated industrial zone.

The directive was developed to improve regulatory consistency and achieve targeted environmental outcomes within the Industrial Heartland Designated Industrial Zone. The directive focuses on aligning conditions under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) for all facilities within the zone and clarifies requirements for proponents interested in operating within the zone.

The AER will also apply the directive to all new EPEA approvals and renewals.

Additional information can be found here: Bulletin 2022-34

AB: New Edition of Directive 065

On October 19, 2022, the AER released a new edition of Directive 065: Resources Applications for Oil and Gas Reservoirs . The directive has been updated to incorporate application requirements for carbon dioxide (CO2) enhanced oil recovery storage (Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage) and CO2 sequestration schemes (Carbon Capture and Storage).

The following directives also have been updated:

Additional information can be found here: Bulletin 2022-32

AB: New Guidance on Applications Under the Water Conservation Policy for Upstream Oil and Gas Operations

On October 11, 2022, the AER released Manual 025: Applications Under the Water Conservation Policy for Upstream Oil and Gas Operations. The purpose of this manual is to assist operators in applying for new water licences, licence renewals, and licence amendments pursuant to the Water Act and under the scope of the Water Conservation Policy for Upstream Oil and Gas Operations.

Additionally, the AER released a mapping tool to help industry compare desired diversion locations against the water short, potentially water short, and locally constrained areas: https://extmapviewer.aer.ca/wcp/index.html.

Additional information can be found here: Bulletin 2022-31

AB: OneStop Updates and Trainings Bulletin 2022-33

Well Licensing

The well licensing module in OneStop now accepts geothermal well licence applications. Geothermal applicants should follow section 8 in Manual 012: Energy Development Applications; Procedures and Schedules.

Public Lands Update

Refer to for the latest changes to the Government of Alberta’s Master Schedule of Standards and Conditions (MSSC).

Updates to MSSC will apply to all public lands applications submitted after November 3, 2022.

Reclamation Certificate Variance

A new submission type, Reclamation Certificate Variance, has been added to OneStop allowing submitters to use professional justifications in variance request submissions as identified in section 8.2 “Professional Justification” in Specified Enactment Direction 002: Application Submission Requirements and Guidance for Reclamation Certificates for Well Sites and Associated Facilities.

Other Enhancements and Fixes

Additional information to the above One Stop updates can be found here: Bulletin 2022-33

Information regarding upcoming OneStop training can be found HERE

AB: - New Licensee C* Licence Report

The Department of Energy (DOE) is requesting feedback from industry on a potential new C* licence report. The new report would be included in the monthly royalty report package provided by the department.

The mock up report can be found here: Oil Information Bulletin 2022-02 C-Star Licensee Report Mock-up. The feedback will be accepted by no later than November 23, 2022.

Additional information can be found here: IB 2022-02

SK: Pipelines

On October 13, 2022 the Ministry of Energy and Resources (ER) reported that following four obligations related to pipeline segment data amendment applications remain unfulfilled after approval:

(1) Report Segment Watercourse Crossing;

(2) Construction Completion Report Spatial Data;

(3) Construction Completion Report Pipe Segment Data; and

(4) Outside Right of Way.

Please contact ER Service desk at er.servicedesk@gov.sk.ca, if there are unfulfilled obligations related to segment data amendment applications.

Additional information can be found HERE

BC: Compliance Management Information System (CM-IS)

On Nov. 25, 2022, the BCOGC will update its Compliance Management Information System (CM-IS). This update will add the capability to communicate inspection results and manage non-compliances associated with inspections.

The online training session will be held on Nov. 8, 2022 and a recording of the session will be available on the bcogc.ca website.

It is recommended that all industry representatives who work in compliance management attend this session, particularly those who currently use the KERMIT system to manage inspection results. You can register by sending an email to CMSFeedback@bcogc.ca.

Additional information can be found here: TU 2022-03

BC: Well Decommissioning

The BCOGC is enhancing submission processes for well decommissioning to accommodate the increase in well decommissioning activities. The enhanced submission system will be available to industry on Nov. 18, 2022.

Guidance documents for the enhanced notification and reporting system will be published to the Well Decommissioning section. Recordings of industry training sessions will also be available on the BCOGC YouTube channel.

Additional information can be found here: TU 2022-04

BC: Vent and Glycol Dehydrator Data

On November 4, 2022, the BCOGC announced that eSubmissions of vent data and glycol dehydrator data are currently on hold pending anticipated changes to collection and reporting protocols. Permit holders should continue to maintain data using the relevant Vent Data Collection Template and Glycol Dehydrator Data Collection Template.

The BCOGC may require submission of data on a case-specific basis to support compliance monitoring activities.

Additional information can be found here: TU 2022-05

Well Testing Services at Benoit

To support Benoit's regulatory application and compliance related submissions, Benoit utilizes an in-house well test analysis expert, Mr. Reza Ali, C.E.T.

Mr. Ali has over 30 years of experience specializing in domestic and international Flow and Build-Up, Production Data and DFIT Analyses.

If you would like a well test analyzed or if you would simply like more information on our well testing services, please feel free to contact Robyn (at 403.263.3690) or Jason (at 403.874.6769). You may also contact Reza Ali directly at 403.454.0430.

Benoit +

Did you know that Benoit provides a service which covers our regulatory application, liability management ratio and evaluation services under one umbrella?

Under this program, Benoit acts as a “regulatory arm” for your company by receiving and responding to all compliance related matters on your company’s behalf.

As your regulatory designate, in addition to our regulatory application service, Benoit conducts a number of additional services including, but not limited to:

· Inactive Well Compliance Program Monitoring

· Liability Management Rating Forecasting

· DDS Entry for Well/Completion Details

· Flaring Notifications

· Well Test Data Submissions

· Gas Conservation Economic Analyses

· Monthly VRR calculations/updates for Enhanced Recovery Schemes

If you're interested in this service or would like to discuss this further, please contact us for more information.

Visit our website

We post regulatory updates to our LinkedIn company page on a weekly basis. Follow us to ensure you have access to the most up-to-date information. To view and follow our company page, please click h ere.