NOTE: 1996-04-09: Interim Directive ID 96-2 identified the following change to ID 81-03:

"Appendix 3 is replaced by the requirements identified in Guide 56."

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Interim Directive ID 81-3

TO: ALL WELL, PIPELINE AND GAS PLANT OPERATORS

MINIMUM DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS SEPARATING NEW SOUR GAS FACILITIES FROM RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

This directive replaces Interim Directive ID 79-2 issued 22 February 1979. Appendices 1 and 2 are identical to those in ID 79-2 with the exception that the "Applications" section of Appendix 1 has been deleted. A new Appendix 3 sets out requirements for applications for well licences and pipeline permits and includes a section dealing with concurrent applications for these facilities.

The separation distances described in this directive were developed by Alberta Environment and the Board and have been applied since early 1979 in granting approvals for sour gas facilities near areas of public use. These distances increase as the potential sour gas release volumes increase and with increasing population density.

With regard to encroachment of occupied buildings on existing sour gas facilities, the Subdivision Regulations of The Planning Act, 1977, were amended by Order in Council 382/79 to require setbacks similar to the Board's separation distances.

Interim Directive ID 79-2 is hereby rescinded.

ISSUED at Calgary, Alberta, on 16 December 1981.

ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD

[signed by]

V.E. Bohme
Board Member

APPENDIX 1 TO ID 81-3
MINIMUM DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS SEPARATING NEW SOUR GAS FACILITIES FROM RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Definitions:

For the purpose of this Directive:

1. sour gas is natural gas having an H ₂ S content of 10 moles per kilomole or greater, or such lesser or greater H ₂ S content that the Board may stipulate in a particular case;
   
   
2. a sour gas facility is any facility which produces, processes, or transports sour gas including:

   a) gas wells producing or capable of producing sour gas,
   b) gas lines or secondary lines that transport sour gas,
   c) gas plants, and
   d) any other installations that the Board may designate;
   
   

3. unrestricted country development is defined as any collection of permanent dwellings situated out of urban centres and having more than eight permanent dwellings per quarter section; and for the purpose of this Directive includes any similar development the Board may designate as an unrestricted country development;
   
   
4. a public facility is defined as a recreational area such as a campground, or a public building such as a rural school or hospital, situated out of urban centres; and for the purpose of this Directive includes any similar development the Board may designate as a public facility;
   
   
5. an urban centre is defined as a city, town, village, or other incorporated centre, and for the purpose of this Directive includes any similar development the Board may designate as an urban centre;
   
   
6. separation distance is the required distance between a sour gas facility and developments such as individual permanent dwellings, unrestricted country development, public facilities, and urban centres;
   
   
7. the calculated flow rate of potential H ₂ S release from a sour gas well shall be established using the maximum wellhead deliverability that can be attained at any time through the tubing against zero wellhead pressure, and shall be expressed in the unit m ³ /s at standard conditions;
   
   
8. the calculated volume of potential H ₂ S release from a sour gas facility, other than a sour gas well, shall be established using the maximum operating pressure, shall be expressed in the unit m ³ at standard conditions, and for the purposes of this calculation shall assume that any automatic block valves close instantaneously upon failure of the facility.

Policy:

For the purpose of the policy, sour gas facilities shall be grouped into levels in accordance with their capability to release sour gas.

1. A level 1 facility is a sour gas well with a potential H ₂ S release rate of 0.3 m ³ /s or less, or any other sour gas facility with a potential to release 300 m ³ of H ₂ S or less. A new Level 1 facility, other than a sour gas well shall have no separation distance requirement other than that associated with the easement for the right of way. All wells remain subject to Section 2.110 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Regulations which requires a separation distance of 0.1 km. Notwithstanding this clause, the Board may specify some other separation distance for a Level 1 facility should the circumstances warrant such action.
   
   
2. A Level 2 facility is a sour gas well with a potential H ₂ S release rate of more than 0.3 m ³ /s and less than 2.0 m ³ /s, or any other sour gas facility with a potential to release more than 300 m ³ and less than 2000 m ³ of H ₂ S. A new Level 2 facility shall be situated to provide 0.1 km separation distance between it and any permanent dwelling, and 0.5 km separation distance between it and any urban centre or public facility.
   
   
3. A Level 3 facility is a sour gas well with a potential H ₂ S release rate of more than 2.0 m ³ /s and less than 6.0 m ³ /s, or any other sour gas facility with a potential to release more than 2000 m ³ and less than 6000 m ³ of H ₂ S. A new Level 3 facility shall be situated to provide 0.1 km separation distance between it and any permanent dwelling, 0.5 km separation distance between it and any unrestricted country development, and 1.5 km separation distance between it and any urban centre or public facility.
   
   
4. A Level 4 facility is a sour gas well with a potential H ₂ S release rate of more than 6.0 m ³ /s, or any other sour gas facility with a potential to release more than 6000 m ³ of H ₂ S. A new Level 4 facility shall be so situated that as a minimum, it shall meet the requirements set out for a Level 3 facility. However, the Board may require greater separation distances or set out other such requirements it deems necessary.
   
   
5. For ease of reference a summary of the foregoing policy is presented in Appendix 2.
   
   
6. The Board recognizes that notwithstanding the level into which an application for a sour gas facility may fall, under some special circumstances a detailed review may indicate that another H ₂ S release level is more applicable.

APPENDIX 2 TO ID 81-3
SUMMARY OF MINIMUM DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS SEPARATING NEW SOUR GAS FACILITIES FROM RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

APPENDIX 3 TO ID 81-3
APPLICATION FOR A WELL LICENCE
APPLICATION FOR A PIPELINE PERMIT

Where an application is to be made to the Board for:

• a licence for a well to be drilled into a formation known or expected to contain sour gas, or
  
  
• a permit for a pipeline to transport sour gas,
  
  
• the applicant, in addition to any other requirement for the licence or permit, shall submit
  
  
  1. the calculated flow rate or volume of potential H ₂ S release as defined in Appendix 1,
     
     
  2. the method of calculating the rate or volume and a statement of known and assumed parameters used,
     
     
  3. a plan or map showing:

     3.1 the location of individual permanent dwellings, unrestricted country development or public facilities within the separation distances set out in Appendix 1, and

     3.2 the location of any urban centres within:

     • 1.5 km of a Level 1 facility,
     • 2.0 km of a Level 2 facility,
     • 3.0 km of a Level 3 or 4 facility, and a statement that the applicant has advised the municipal administration of its intent to apply for a licence to drill the well, or

     3.3 a statement where appropriate, on the survey plan or elsewhere, that there are no dwellings, unrestricted country development, public facilities, or urban centres within the distances specified in sections 3.1 and 3.2 above.

  4. a list showing names, addresses, and land descriptions of all rural owners and occupants whose property is, in whole or in part, within:
     
     • 0.1 km of a Level l facility,
     • 0.5 km of a Level 2 facility,
     • 1.5 km of a Level 3 or 4 facility,
       
       
  5. such other information as the Board may require in the circumstances.

Where an application is to be made to the Board for a licence for a well drilled to a formation known or expected to contain sour gas, the applicant shall submit either:

a) an application for a permit for a pipeline to transport the sour gas to a processing plant or gathering system, or

b) a plan showing a proposed or possible pipeline route or alternative routes which would conform with the separation distances set forth in Appendix 1.

Questions with regard to these procedures should be directed to the Board's Development or Pipeline Departments.