EUB Backgrounder: Bitumen Conservation Year in Review
Return to News Release (NR 2004-21)
June 3, 2003 – EUB Issues Proposed Bitumen Conservation Policy
- EUB issues General Bulletin 2003-16: Proposed Conservation Policy Affecting Gas Production in Athabasca Wabiskaw-McMurray Oil Sands Areas.
- EUB announces it will hold public meetings on the proposed policy beginning July 3, 2003.
July 3 to 5, 2003 – EUB Holds Public Meetings on Proposed Bitumen Conservation Policy
- The EUB holds public meetings in Calgary on the proposed bitumen conservation policy.
July 22, 2003 – EUB Bitumen Conservation Guidelines Released
- EUB issues Bitumen Conservation Guidelines and General Bulletin 2003-28. EUB orders the interim shut-in of 938 natural gas wells in the Wabiskaw-McMurray.
- Temporary exemptions offered to gas operators that believe their wells are not in contact with bitumen.
- EUB calls for completion of a Regional Geological Study of Wabiskaw-McMurray.
January 2, 2004 – EUB Regional Geological Study Released
January 26, 2004 – EUB Staff Submission Group Recommendations Released
- EUB Staff Submission Group examines Regional Geological Study and makes recommendations regarding gas production in the Wabiskaw-McMurray.
March 10 to April 1, 2004 – EUB Bitumen Conservation Hearing Held
- Bitumen and gas producers challenge some recommendations of the EUB Staff Submission Group. EUB holds public hearing on the matter.
June 8, 2004 – EUB Issues Decision 2004-045, Order 04-001, and Order 04-002
- Decision 2004-045 rules on the wells challenged at the EUB Hearing.
- Order 04-001 rules that gas production not be allowed from additional wells sharing common gas pools with the wells challenged at the hearing. While these additional wells may not be currently producing gas, they may be capable of producing gas in the future, and may pose a risk to bitumen recovery.
- Order 04-002 rules on other gas production that the EUB Staff Submission Group made recommendations on, those recommendations were not challenged by bitumen or gas producers. While these wells may not currently be producing gas, they may be capable of producing gas in the future, and may pose a risk to bitumen recovery.
Return to News Release (NR 2004-21)
