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Bulletin 2010-05

January 28, 2010

Revised Directive 062: Coalbed Methane Control Well Requirements and Related Matters Issued

This bulletin announces the revised edition of the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) Directive 062: Coalbed Methane Control Well Requirements and Related Matters. This edition of Directive 062 replaces the previous edition of the directive issued April 29, 2008.

The requirements in this revised edition of Directive 062 are effective on January 28, 2010.

The ERCB released a draft revised Directive 062 on July 16, 2009, for stakeholder comment, with submissions accepted up to September 30, 2009. The responses received and the ERCB’s comments regarding the feedback are summarized in a table on the ERCB Web site www.ercb.ca under Industry Zone : Rules, Regulations, Requirements : Control Well Requirements. 

The ERCB is continuing its ongoing review of all unconventional gas regulatory requirements under its jurisdiction (the Unconventional Gas Regulatory Framework Project), including requirements related to coalbed methane (CBM) development. While Directive 062 explains the details of the CBM control well process and summarizes the associated testing, it is not comprehensive with respect to testing.

The broader project will examine all aspects of CBM development, including testing requirements, and further modifications to Directive 062 and other documents will likely result from this project. In the meantime, this revised edition of Directive 062 captures clarifications and enhancements to CBM control well processes and requirements that can be implemented immediately.  

What’s New in Revised Directive 062

• Appendix A of the directive shows an area where no further desorption control wells are needed for specific coal zones. No applications for the designation of desorption control wells or for the exception from desorption control well requirements are required for the area and zones shown on the map. Pressure and flow control well requirements remain unchanged in this area at this time.
• The directive allows a CBM well a 30-day flow period before control wells are required for the well.
• The Taber and McKay coal zones located in Development Entity No. 1 may be included in applications for temporary exploration deferral of control well requirements.
• Details on horizontal control wells and horizontal CBM production wells are included in the directive.
• Additional detail for requirements relating to applications for the deferral, exception, and rescission of control wells is incorporated into the directive.
• The directive also provides clarification on minimum requirements and the validation process for control wells.

The new edition of Directive 062 is available on the ERCB Web site under Industry Zone : Rules, Regulations, Requirements : Directives.

Questions on this bulletin or Directive 062 should be directed the ERCB Control Well Coordinator by e-mail to controlwells@ercb.ca.

<original signed by>

Stephen Smith
Executive Manager
Applications Branch