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EPAP-related Announcements
April 2, 2012 - Message to Industry regarding the Enhanced Production Audit Program (EPAP)- Related BAIDs
During the 2011 Declaration submission year, Industry operators were given the option to submit a single Declaration that covered facilities operated by multiple Business Associate Identifiers (BAIDs). The ERCB has determined that limitations in the RSAM computer system will no longer allow this Declaration option to be offered.
Therefore, beginning with the 2012 Declaration submission year and extending to subsequent years, operators with multiple BAIDs will be required to submit a separate Declaration for facilities for each BAID for which they report volumetric data to the Petroleum Registry of Alberta. The option for relating BAIDs is no longer available to Industry operators.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to affected operators. If you have any concerns or require further information regarding this matter please contact Colby Ruff, Production Operations Section Leader at 403-297-4544 or by e-mail at colby.ruff@ercb.ca
April 2, 2012 - Message to Industry regarding the Enhanced Production Audit Program (EPAP) - RSAM system ability to accept 2012 Declaration Submissions
Due to current RSAM system limitations, 2012 EPAP Declarations cannot be accepted at this time. Operator designated Primary Contacts will receive an e-mail notification when the 2012 Declarations can be submitted, and an announcement will be placed on the EPAP Section of the ERCB Website.
While the ERCB continues its work on the development of the EPAP system, it is recommended that Industry continue to focus its efforts on 2012 EPAP activities that are not dependent upon the EPAP software system.
For those Operators affected by this situation, thank you for your understanding and cooperation respecting the delay in the completion and submission of your 2012 Declaration. If you have any questions or require further information regarding this matter please contact your Production Audit Team member.
April 2, 2012 - Message to Industry regarding the Enhanced Production Audit Program (EPAP)- 2012 Declaration Submission Timing
ERCB Directive 076: Operator Declaration Regarding Measurement and Reporting Requirements came into effect on January 4, 2010. Requirement # 2 in Section 2 (Declaration Regarding ERCB Measurement and Reporting Requirements) states: “An operator’s declaration must cover the 12 calendar months ending in the operator’s declaration month and must be received by the end of the month following the declaration month”.
In order to obtain more accurate operator facility counts for the declaration period on the declaration appendices, the ERCB has determined that the declaration submission timing must be revised such that Industry operators submit their declarations no earlier than the first day of the second month following the declaration month and no later than the last day of the second month following the declaration month. This revision to the declaration submission timing requirement will better align with the time frame in which operators must inform the Petroleum Registry of Alberta of facility ownership changes.
As a result, beginning with the 2012 declaration submission year, operators are advised that declarations must be submitted to the ERCB no earlier than the first day of the second month following the declaration month and no later than the last day of the second month following the declaration month. Directive 076 is currently being revised to reflect this new declaration submission timing requirement.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation respecting the change in declaration submission timing. If you have any questions or require further information regarding this matter please contact your Production Audit Team member.
January 23, 2012- EPAP System Access Restored
Technical Issues have been resolved between the EPAP System/Digital Data Submission (DDS) System.
Access to the EPAP System has been restored.
Thank you for your patience.
January 23, 2012 - EPAP System Currently Unavailable
The Enhanced Production Audit Program (EPAP) System/ Digital Data Submission (DDS) System are currently experiencing Technical difficulties. The ERCB IT Department is working to resolve this issue.
An announcement will be issued when the access is available.
Thank you for your patience.
January 5, 2012 EPAP Compliance Assessment Indicator - Questionable Fuel Volume – Facility
The Production Audit Team (PAT) has had multiple queries regarding the logic used for the Compliance Assessment Indicator (CAI) Questionable Fuel Volume – Facility.
The intent of CAI is to identify instances when the volume of gas reported as Fuel deviated by more than +/- 50 % from the fuel usage volume expected for various facility subtypes. Possible action(s) to be considered/taken by an Operator who has this CAI appearing on their monthly Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) is to confirm the accuracy of the reported fuel gas volumes.
In consultation with the ERCB Measurement Specialist, the Production Audit Team developed the Questionable Fuel Volume- Facility CAI using two base assumptions:
- what typical equipment we might expect to see at a specific facility sub-type, and
- the amount of fuel each piece of equipment may use per manufacture specifications.
Based on those assumptions a formula was developed for the each facility subtype. The CAI will not be triggered unless the reported Fuel Volume is +/- 50% of the calculated fuel usage estimate.
Please see Questionable Fuel Volume- Facility spreadsheet for specific logic details.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact your PAT member directly or epapsupport@ercb.ca.
January 5, 2012 Production Audit Team Communications with Operator designated Primary Contacts
The Production Audit Team (PAT) would like to remind Operators, as per the July 22, 2011- Production Audit Team Communications with Operator designated Primary Contact announcement posted below, effective January 1, 2012 all communication with the assigned PAT member must be made through the Primary Contact designated by each Operator.
Please ensure only one Primary Contact has been identified within the EPAP System. The EPAP System will not acknowledge multiple Primary Contact designations.
For additional details please see the July 22, 2011- Production Audit Team Communications with Operator designated Primary Contact announcement below.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact your PAT member directly or epapsupport@ercb.ca.
October 28, 2011- Facility Subtype Applicability to Directive 076 Update
Based on recent revisions that have been made to Directive 007- Volumetric and Infrastructure Requirements (September 2011), the Production Audit Team (PAT) has re-evaluated the facility subtypes and has determined Directive 076 -Operator Declaration Regarding Measurement and Reporting Requirements does not apply to the following subtypes:
633 Interconnected meter station
634 Border crossing meter station
640 Interconnect PL to PL disposition meter station
204 Gas transporter
206 Gas distributor
For additional clarification please contact your assigned PAT member.
October 28, 2011- EPAP Compliance Assessment Indicators
An important aspect of the operation of EPAP is for industry operators to investigate Compliance Assessment Indicators (CAIs) appearing on their compliance assessment reports. Additional Compliance Assessment Indicators (CAIs) have been activated within the EPAP System and may appear on industry Operators compliance assessment reports.
For a complete listing and descriptions of the 43 CAIs currently Active within the EPAP System please see ACTIVE CAIs within the EPAP System- Oct 28-11
July 22, 2011 - EPAP System Update
The EPAP System currently has the capability to accept the submission of Operator Declarations. For assistance in how to define Primary Contacts, input Signing Executives and Print the Declaration report please see the Frequently Asked Questions “FAQ” portion of the EPAP Section of the ERCB Website.
July 22, 2011 -Production Audit Team Communications with Operator designated Primary Contacts
The Production Audit Team (PAT) is currently receiving Operator inquiries regarding EPAP Implementation, Compliance Assessment Indicators (CAIs) and Declaration submissions from any operator representative that is currently listed on the Authorized Contact list on the General Tab within the EPAP System.
In order to effectively provide Operators with responses to queries generated through the Enhanced Production Audit Program, Operators are required to designate a Primary Contact within the EPAP System. This designation also provides the PAT with a “first point of contact” for each Operator when additional information is required and/or queries need to be addressed.
To make the communication process more effective and efficient for both Operators and the PAT members, effective January 1, 2012 all communication with the assigned PAT member must be made through the Primary Contact designated by each Operator. By doing so the following benefits will be realized:
- the Operator Primary Contact will have an appreciation of all the questions being asked by Operator representatives and may be able to provide responses to commonly asked questions in a more timely fashion instead of or prior to having to contact the assigned PAT member.
- the Operator Primary Contact will be able to determine if information received from their assigned PAT member may be relevant and important for others involved in the Operator EPAP implementation and disseminate that information accordingly
- communications amongst individual Operator representatives involved with the EPAP implementation will be more coordinated and structured which will minimize the possibility for misunderstanding and miscommunication
- turnaround time for an Operator to receive a response from a PAT member will be minimized as the PAT member will be providing a response to only one Operator representative.
The PAT does recognize there maybe instances where discussions with someone other than the designated Primary Contact may need to occur for a specific response or detailed information request. In these cases, the communication should be arranged through the Primary Contact so the Primary Contact is aware of the details.
If you have any questions regarding the above please contact your PAT member directly or epapsupport@ercb.ca.
June 8, 2011 - Declaration Level of Controls and Reporting Enhancements
Overview of enhancements that have been made within the Enhanced Production Audit Program [View PDF file]
June 8, 2011 - Compliance Assessment Indicators Update
The following CAIs are currently “active” as of June 1, 2011:
The first CAIs that were included in the first release were the following:
Missing Gas Volume – Well –Level
Venting Sour Gas
Unacceptable Oil Proration Factor- Proration Battery
Unacceptable Gas Proration Factor- Proration Battery
Unacceptable Water Proration Factor- Proration Battery
CAIs that were released for March 2011 volumetric activity were:
Inappropriate Production Volumes – Well-level
Invalid Gas or Water Metering Differences- Battery
Unacceptable hours on Production/Injection- Abandoned/Suspended Well
Multiple Gas Dispositions- Gas Group Battery
Invalid Proration Factor- Non-Prorated Battery
Linked Well Status Fluid Type Inappropriate for Facility Subtype
Invalid Well Links – Single-Well Battery
CAIs that were released for April 2011 volumetric activity were
Directive 017 Chapter 5 Approval, Gas Receipts – Single- Well Battery
Directive 017 Chapter 5 Approval, Gas Receipts – Proration Battery
Directive 017 Chapter 5 Approval, Oil Receipts- Oil/Bitumen Proration Battery
Excessive Venting – Gas Battery
Excessive Flaring- Gas Battery
Excessive Venting- Oil/Bitumen Battery
Excessive Flaring- Oil/Bitumen Battery
March 29, 2011 - EPAP Compliance Assessment Indicators
An important aspect of the operation of EPAP is for industry operators to investigate compliance assessment indicators (CAI)s appearing on their compliance assessment reports. The ACTIVE CAIs within the EPAP System (Oct 28-11) is a complete listing of and descriptions of all CAIs that may appear on industry operators compliance assessment reports. Please note that as of March 31, 2011, five of the compliance assessment indicators are active and the remaining CAIs will be activated in a phased approach over the next few months. The Production Audit Team will inform industry as additional CAIs are activated.
January 28, 2011
The EPAP System is in the process of undergoing some enhancements to system appearance and functionality. As a result, access to the EPAP System via DDS will be unavailable effective Friday, January 28. Access is expected to be restored on Tuesday, February 1. In the interim, the Production Audit Team appreciates your patience. Thank you.
December 8, 2010
Bulletin 2010-45: Reminder to Upstream Operators to Select Declaration Month under ERCB Directive 076: Operator Declaration Regarding Mesaurement and Reporting Requirements
The Production Audit Team (PAT) would like to draw the attention of industry to the attached Bulletin 2010-45, related to selecting an EPAP Declaration Month. Please review the bulletin and if required, plesae contact your assigned PAT Member accordingly.
October 18, 2010: EPAP Information Session – November 2010
There will not be an EPAP Information Session in the month of November 2010, as the Production Audit Team (PAT) is going through a move to a new ERCB head office. Details regarding the timing, content and location of future monthly Information Sessions will be communicated to Industry as they become available.
The PAT would like to thank Industry for participating thus far in the monthly Information Sessions. Presentations offered in prior sessions may be found in the “References and Resources” link of this section of the ERCB website. Please continue to contact your assigned Production Audit Team (PAT) member for questions and clarification with regards to EPAP Implementation. Thank you.
October 15, 2010: Producers Open Forum – Enhanced Production Audit Program
The EPAP System currently has the capability to accept the submission of Operator Declarations. For assistance in how to define Primary Contacts, input Signing Executives and Print the Declaration report please see the Frequently Asked Questions “FAQ” portion of the EPAP Section of the ERCB Website.
Message to Industry regarding Enhanced Production Audit Program (EPAP)
Dated: August 5, 2010
Directive 076: Operator Declaration Regarding Measurement and Reporting Requirements took effect on January 4, 2010. To provide industry a reasonable period of time to implement its plans in order to comply with the new requirements, the year 2010 was chosen to be a “Trial Declaration Period” for the Program.
The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) has encouraged Industry to be proactive with its implementation of EPAP.
However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the completion of the ERCB development/implementation of the Program is taking longer than originally anticipated.
Notwithstanding this situation, the ERCB remains fully committed to the completion of the development/implementation of EPAP.
While the ERCB continues its work on completion of the development/implementation of EPAP, it is recommended that Industry focus its efforts on EPAP Implementation activities that are not dependent upon the EPAP software system, such as:
• Understanding the goals and objectives of EPAP, including the controls-based auditing approach.
• Educating relevant internal staff and Senior Management on the requirements of EPAP.
• Reviewing and understanding all ERCB regulations and requirements pertaining to Production Measurement and Reporting.
• Identifying existing relevant Business Processes, Controls and Control gaps.
• Identifying existing relevant Evaluation of Controls procedures and the need for new procedures.
• Documenting all Business Processes, Controls, and Evaluation of Controls procedures in support of EPAP implementation.
• Working with the assigned Production Audit Team (PAT) member to review any Implementation work that has been performed to date.
The ERCB wishes to extend its appreciation to Industry for its effort thus far towards the Implementation of EPAP.
September 23, 2010: EPAP Information Session Update: The next EPAP Information Session offered by the Production Audit Team will occur on November 8, 2010. A topic for this session is to be determined, and an update to this announcement will be posted once that has occurred.
September 13 EPAP Information Session: “Declaration - Reporting EPAP Results”.
Please note: The ERCB Production Audit Team (PAT) will be providing a series of information sessions related to the Enhanced Production Audit Program (EPAP). These sessions are intended to educate industry personnel on the various aspects of EPAP.
>Session structure:
Each session will be a half-day in duration and will be dedicated to one EPAP subject. The PAT will first provide a brief presentation related to the subject of the day, with the remainder of the session being dedicated to an "operator-driven" question and answer period. The PAT will solicit and field questions, engage in discussion, provide insights, and generally help attendees gain a better understanding of the day's subject matter.
Session schedule and topics:
- Monday, September 13, 9 am to noon: “Declaration - Reporting EPAP Results”
- Second Monday of each calendar month thereafter: topics will be decided based on industry demand/feedback.
Session location:
The sessions will be held in the ERCB Building at 640 5th Avenue SW, in Govier Hall (room 237).
To register:
Please note that space for the sessions is limited to approximately 75 individuals at a time; therefore, a maximum of 2 attendees per company please. Names of attendees and the companies represented are to be forwarded to epapsupport@ercb.ca. Attendants will be confirmed late in the week prior to each session, and if a limit has been reached, an update will be posted. If interest and demand dictates, additional sessions on each topic will be scheduled.
July 23, 2010 - EPAP Information Session Presentations
The Production Audit Team (PAT) thanks all operators that have attended the EPAP Information Sessions offered to date in 2010, and recommends Industry attendance at these sessions. The PowerPoint Presentations used in the Information Sessions have been posted under the "Reference and Resources" section of the EPAP Web site.
June 28, 2010: Providing of Company Specific Information
One of the Production Audit Team’s (PAT) business processes dictates that particulars pertaining to a specific company, including the name of the PAT representative, will only be provided to persons identified on the EPAP System as Authorized Contacts for the company. Therefore, for any others who contact us, we are only able to provide general information regarding EPAP that can be found on the EPAP Section of the ERCB website.
In order for the PAT to better assist company personnel and take action on any requests, please first ensure your name appears on the Authorized Contacts list. Once this designation has been provided, the appropriate PAT member(s) will then be authorized to assist you in any way that they can.
If assistance gaining access to DDS and assigning roles is required, please see the DDS Guide, or contact the DDS Administrator.
June 28, 2010: Declaration Month Selection
Operators do NOT have the ability to input the selected Declaration Month into the EPAP System. Please contact your Production Audit Team (PAT) member to have this information entered on your behalf.
May 13, 2010: EPAP System is available to industry
Please note: As at close of business Wednesday, May 12, the EPAP System is available for industry access and use. The Production Audit Team (PAT) thanks industry personnel for their patience during the recent outage, and encourages industry personnel to continue accessing and using the EPAP System.
May 7, 2010: EPAP System down for maintenance
Please note: As at close of business May 6, 2010, the EPAP System is down for maintenance. During this outage, industry personnel will be unable to see the link to the system through Data Submission and Reporting (DDS). An update to this message will be posted as soon as the system is back up. The Production Audit Team thanks industry personnel for their patience.
April 7, 2010: Notice regarding upcoming Canadian School of Hydrocarbon Measurement
The 2010 Canadian School of Hydrocarbon Measurement (CSHM) is being held on April 20 and 21, 2010. This year, the CSHM will be offering
- an Introduction to EPAP presentation on day 1, as part of the Production Accounting and Regulatory Compliance stream, and
- a set of presentations on EPAP on day 2.
Operators are encouraged to learn more about the CSHM and EPAP-learning opportunities at http://www.cshm.ca/.
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