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General Bulletin GB 2000-23

November 28, 2000

FIELD AND POOL ORDERS AND GAS STRIKE AREAS

The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) creates and revises Field and Pool Orders each month. A number of changes are being made to simplify the order process and to make use of new technology. In conjunction with these changes, the EUB is posting Orders and Gas Strike Areas on its Web site <http://www.ercb.ca> on a trial basis.

Changes to the Field and Pool Orders include the following:

• There will be a separate order for each pool rather than a single order for all pools in a field.
• Each order will be a single-page document, including a plat and the basic information for the order.
• The unique identifier for Field Orders will be the Field Code and Effective Date.
• The unique identifier for Pool Orders will be the Field Code, Pool Code, and Effective Date.
• Pool Orders will include a reference well, with top and base of pay information for all except confidential pools.
• In addition to the official Field and Pool Orders, this new system will include gas strike area boundaries.

Trial Period

The trial period for this system is effective immediately. The EUB Web site <http://www.ercb.ca> uses Internet Geographical Information System (GIS) software for viewing the information in map format. First-time users will have to download and install viewing software (1.8 megabytes) to access the data. This download is free and is provided within the system.

Note that the data during the trial period are not official and may not properly reflect effective dates and reference well information.

The current method for disseminating Field and Pool Orders will continue as well throughout the trial period and customers will not be affected. During this trial period you are encouraged to test and become familiar with the new on-line system. Your questions, comments, and feedback will be appreciated. Please contact Wayne Elsner of the Resource Appraisal Group by telephone at (403) 297-8229 or by e-mail at <wayne.elsner@gov.ab.ca>.

Implementation

If the trial goes well, the new system will be implemented effective February 1, 2001. The EUB will issue an informational letter (IL) to announce the implementation date. The IL will also outline what the changes mean to customers currently having subscriptions for Field and Pool Orders. Upon implementation, an order will be attached to the IL rescinding all existing Field and Pool Orders. The existing dissemination system will then cease and the on-line orders will be the official EUB orders.

For those customers wishing to integrate the data into their own database or GIS system, a complete set of data will be made available in ASCII text format. Call Wayne Elsner at the number listed above for sample data files and documentation.

<original signed by>

Terry Hurst
Executive Manager
Resources Branch