Note: Section 3 of this Interim Directive has been RESCINDED by Guide 71, June 2003

Note: Directive 036 released in June 2004 incorporated some of the requirements specified here, particularly in parts of Section 4. The changes are detailed in Appendix 2 of Bulletin 2004-18. The page of Bulletin 2004-18 that documents these changes has been appended at the end of the PDF file of this Interim Directive

View the PDF version

Interim Directive ID 97-6

13 February 1998

TO: All Operators and Drilling Contractors

SOUR WELL LICENSING AND DRILLING REQUIREMENTS

This directive updates and replaces the requirements of Interim Directive ID 87-2. Specifically, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 are amended as herein described. Section 5, "Minimum Setbacks Separating Proposed Sour Wells from Residential and Other Developments" and Section 6, "Sour Well Emergency Response Plans" are replaced by Sections 2 and 3 of this directive. However, new emergency response planning requirements are expected to be announced following the completion of review work by a joint industry/Board stakeholder committee. Minimum setback requirements for all sour facilities, including wells, will be published in one document in the near future replacing Section 2 of this directive.

The requirements in this directive are in addition to those set out in the Oil and Gas Conservation Act, the Oil and Gas Conservation Regulations, and Guide 56 - Energy Development Application Guide and Schedules. The changes in this directive resulted from the integration of the well licensing process with the new energy development application process. The technical requirements for drilling a sour or critical sour well have remained largely unchanged.

This interim directive also supersedes IL 88-9.

Applicants requiring further information regarding this directive should contact the Board's Operations Group at 297-6952.

signed by

J. D. Dilay, P.Eng.
Board Member

Attachments

Link to PDF file to view attachment to this interim directive