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Interim Directive ID 98-4

2 December 1998

To: All Oil and Gas Operators, and Well Test Service Companies

ELECTRONIC CAPTURE OF WELL TEST DATA

This interim directive outlines revisions to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) Guide 40, Pressure and Deliverability Testing Oil and Gas Wells Minimum Requirements and Recommended Practices. These revisions define the new requirements for electronic submission of well test data. The revised Guide 40 is scheduled for release in March 1999.

It is not the intent of these new requirements to change the information being gathered and submitted, only the reporting format and mode of submission. In most cases, the information currently reported in quality submissions is very close to the new electronic standards.

As of 1 March 1999, the well tests listed below must be submitted via signed and encrypted e-mail to wtc-submit@mail-ecx1.eub.gov.ab.ca, in the appropriate PAS format. PAS files submitted for drill stem tests, transient gauge, and transient acoustic tests require an attached TIFF file to include plots, charts, graphs, and discussion. A TIFF file can be attached to any PAS file to include dialogue/discussion or any information not covered in the PAS format. Hard copy reports will not be accepted after this date and failure to submit tests will result in non-compliance measures as defined in section 6.0 of Guide 40. Previous documentation and presentations have designated 1 January 1999 as the date that electronic submission of well test data becomes a requirement. Although this date has been deferred by two months, companies are strongly encouraged to continue with their efforts to establish a secure communication link with the EUB, and to test, and submit electronically as soon as possible.

Deliverability tests are to be submitted in AOF.PAS format

Production test data is to be submitted in PRD.PAS format

Static gradient tests are to be submitted in SG.PAS format

Transient gauge tests (build-ups or fall-offs) are to be submitted in TRG.PAS format

Acoustic tests are to be submitted in AWS.PAS

Drill Stem Tests are to be submitted in DST.PAS format

Gas Analyses are to be submitted in GAN.PAS format

Oil Analyses are to be submitted in OAN.PAS format

Water Analyses are to be submitted in WAN.PAS format

The PAS formats listed above, templates, examples, and documentation are available on the EUB website at http://www.ercb.ca/. EUB Guide 52, Electronic Capture of Well Test Data (draft version of June 1998) and the October 1998 supplement are also available on the website. These documents are currently being merged and will be available by 1 January 1999.

EUB Guide 52 and the supplement address a range of issues, including:

the basic system design and how it works,

security measures implemented to protect EUB data systems, and the confidentiality of data,

an explanation of each PAS format,

the edits and ranges to ensure data quality,

the business rules for mandatory or optional elements,

codes,

how to set up and test E-mail communications with the EUB, and

how to prepare and submit files.

Background

Today, most well test data is gathered by electronic means. The EUB's former system of receiving well test data in hard copy, keying in a summary of the test, and storing the full report (including the raw test data) on microfiche, does not utilize the electronic capabilities of this data. The new data capture system being implemented will preserve the electronic capabilities of the data and eliminate the inefficiencies of backlogs, keying errors, and insufficient quality control checks. The change to electronic reporting and transmission of well test data is in keeping with the technological advances in the well test industry. The charts from the small percentage of mechanical gauges that are still in use are read by computer and the results reported in computerized formats. Software programs are widely used for analyzing well test data.

A key regulatory mandate of the EUB is to "provide for the recording and timely and useful dissemination of information regarding the energy resources of Alberta". The electronic capture of well test data allows the EUB to carry out this mandate in the most efficient manner, while providing industry with the data in a form that better suits its needs to carry out resource activities in Alberta.

In keeping with the EUB's commitment to consultation with stakeholders, a joint industry/EUB committee was struck to review existing reporting methods, define system needs, and reporting formats. The process used to develop this system was highly consultive and involved a committee comprised of a cross-section of key industry personnel, EUB staff, and the Well Test Special Interest Group of the Petroleum Society of CIM. This committee played a major role in the development of the new system, through all phases of design and implementation.

Conclusion

The EUB acknowledges industry's contribution and cooperation in developing a system that will provide significant benefits to all stakeholders. Many companies have already completed their testing and are being switched over to enable them to submit live data.

The changes referred to in this document may generate a number of questions and feedback. Please direct any questions or comments to our helpline at ecommerce-help@mail-ecx1.eub.gov.ab.ca or contact Brenda Christie at (403) 297-3557 or Doug Giles at (403) 297-4424.

[Original signed by]

Neil McCrank Q.C.
Chairman

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