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Timeline

Our estimated processing time for this application is 60 business days. See our timeline spreadsheet for updates.

Purpose of the Application

An owner can secure its share of oil or gas production from any pool it owns under the Oil and Gas Conservation Act (OGCA). We must review and approve the owner’s declaration of a common carrier of oil, gas, or synthetic crude.

An owner of a capable well typically has a market for its gas and has arranged to have it processed at a nearby plant. The owner believes the existing gathering system is

  • the only economically feasible or practical way to transport the substance, or
  • the clearly environmentally superior way to transport the gas to the processing plant.

However, if the owner has been unsuccessful in negotiating its use of the existing pipeline, it can apply for a declaration of a common carrier.

Under section 48 of the OGCA, a common carrier must provide equal opportunity to each owner to have its production transported. A common carrier order would allow an owner to share in the existing capacity of the pipeline.

Applicants have the option of requesting that we direct

  • the point at which the common carrier will take delivery of the production, and
  • the proportion of production to be taken by the common carrier from each producer or owner in the pipeline.

Process Checklist

Before Applying
Please note that the common carrier provisions of the OGCA cannot be used to gain access to an oil battery (as indicated in the AER letter of October 26, 2005, regarding Application No. 1398650).

Submit an Application
Companies must submit applications for a common carrier through our Digital Data Submission (DDS) system. We will register each application and assign a reference number.

By submitting an application, the company accepts that its information is no longer confidential.Review Process

  1. We share all applications on our Public Notice of Application page to encourage public participation in the approval process.
  2. Anyone who believes they may be directly and adversely affected by an application can file a statement of concern (SOC). If we receive an SOC, it may take us longer to process the application.
  3. We will assign the application to a subject matter expert for initial review. If information is missing (i.e., the application is not complete and does not meet Directive 065 requirements), we will close the application. Otherwise, we will proceed with a full technical review. We will determine if
    • producible reserves are available to transport through an existing pipeline;
    • there is a reasonable expectation of a market for the substance that is proposed to be transported by the common carrier operation;
    • the applicant could not make reasonable arrangements to use the existing pipeline;
    • the proposed common carrier operation is the only economically feasible way to transport the substance in question, the most practical way, or clearly the environmentally superior way; and
    • where an application is being made under sections 48(4)(a) or 48(4)(b) of the OGCA for the designation of a delivery point or the proportion of production to be delivered to the pipeline respectively, the applicant could not make reasonable arrangements on these matters.
  4. We may request additional information (through a supplemental information request) to complete our technical review.
  5. We will decide to approve, close, or deny the application. If we close it, the applicant may reapply without prejudice. If we deny it, the applicant can file an appeal through our appeal process.
  6. We will provide the applicant with a link to the letter with our decision, which is accessible through the Integrated Application Registry. We will also share our decision on our Publication of Decision page.