The following is a summary of the most relevant changes to directive 017 and 060 in the new editions of Directive 017: Measurement Requirements for Oil and Gas Operations and Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting, from the Alberta Energy Regulator. These changes were posted on the AER website on May 12, 2020 and are effective immediately.
The following changes related to managing methane emissions were made:
AER Directive 017
Section 12.2.2.1: Lengthened the duration required to test gas production at heavy oil and crude bitumen batteries (not including thermal in situ facilities) from 24 hours to 72 hours starting in 2023.
AER Directive 060
- Section 2.9.1: Included reduced carbon levies in economic evaluations of gas conservation projects.
- Section 5.5: Revised measurement and reporting requirements to ensure consistency with the definitions in appendix 2 of the directive for fuel, flare, and vent gas.
- Section 8: Amended vent gas limits for crude bitumen batteries, pneumatic devices, compressor seals, and glycol dehydrators beginning in 2022. Also amended the exemptions for the overall vent gas limit and defined vent gas limit.
Directive 017 and 060 are available on the AER website, www.aer.ca.
How are you affected?
With changes to vent gas limits and exemptions now is an important time to conduct fugitive emissions studies and implement review quantification and monitoring programs.
Contact GreenPath for expert support.
