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Requirements Aimed at Reducing Methane Emissions Amended

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Release Date: May 12, 2020

Today we released new editions of Directive 017: Measurement Requirements for Oil and Gas Operations and Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting, which are effective immediately. The following changes related to managing methane emissions were made:

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.

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.

The Directive 060 webpage on the AER website, www.aer.ca, contains a summary of the requirements for managing vent gas and fugitive emissions. It also shows the changes to the vent gas limits.

Directives 017 and 060 are available on our website. Printed copies of the directives can be purchased from AER Order Fulfillment, Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4; telephone: 403-297-8311 or 1-855-297-8311 (toll free; option 0); fax: 403-297-7040; email: @email.