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Bulletin 2007-12

May 3, 2007

Directive 017: Measurement Requirements for Upstream Oil and Gas Operations - Draft of Five New Sections and Associated Appendices for Stakeholder Review

The new draft sections and associated appendices listed below have been placed on the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) Web site www.ercb.ca for stakeholder review:

Section 4.3.4.5: Alternative Chart Reading Technology

This section presents the base requirements for alternative methods developed to read orifice meter charts other than using the conventional manual method.

Section 5.7: Gas Effluent Wells Exemption and Reduction for Testing Frequency

This section is transferred from the existing Directive 004: Determination of Water Production at Gas Wells to Directive 017, with some clarifications.

Section 7: Gas Proration Batteries

This section presents the base requirements and exceptions for gas proration batteries in the upstream oil and gas industry that are used in determining volumes for reporting to the EUB. It includes

• definition of the three types of gas proration batteries
• group measurement requirements
• stabilized flow and representative flow definitions
• testing requirements
• production accounting reporting procedures
• exceptions criteria

Section 8: Gas and Liquid Sampling and Analysis

This section presents the base requirements and exceptions for gas and liquids sampling and analysis in the upstream oil and gas industry that are used in determining volumes for reporting to the EUB. It includes

• general sampling requirements and procedures
• hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) sampling and analysis
• compositional analysis of natural gas
• gas equivalent factor (GEF) determination for condensate
• calculated compositional analyses
• sampling and analysis frequency with exception criteria

Section 9: Cross-border Measurement

This section presents the requirements for cross-border measurement point locations and how to resolve conflicting requirements between jurisdictions.

Appendices

The following appendices are also included:

• Appendix 5: On-site Analytical Techniques for H₂S Measurement
• Appendix 6: Gas Equivalent Volume Determination
• Appendix 7: Calculated Compositional Analysis Examples

The deadline for comments on this stakeholder review is June 18, 2007. The EUB will then review comments received and make changes as necessary before releasing these additions as approved sections of Directive 017. Comments or questions from the public and industry are welcomed and should be forwarded to Bill Cheung, of the Compliance, Environment, and Operations Branch, telephone: (403) 297-8798 or e-mail: bill.cheung@eub.ca.

[Original signed by]

D. K. Boyler, P.Eng.
Executive Manager
Compliance, Environment, and Operations Branch