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MAINTENANCE AND
ABANDONMENT
GUIDELINE
May | 2014
Version 1.14
WELLHEADS ......................................................................................................5
TUBING ............................................................................................................5
PACKERS ...........................................................................................................5
SUBSURFACE SAFETY VALVES ................................................................................6
OIL WELLS ........................................................................................................6
FENCING ...........................................................................................................7
LEAK DETECTION ................................................................................................7
Manual Revisions
Summary of Revisions
The Well Completion, Maintenance and Abandonment Manual
has been revised based upon feedback to provide clarity in
terms of requirements and process. Structural changes by
section are highlighted below.
Applications received on or after the effective date will be
required to meet the revised application standards.
Effective Date
1-Jan-2012
1-Feb-2012
1-Jun-2012
1-Jul-2012
Section
4
6
Appendix B
Appendix B
6
1-Dec-2012
1-March-2013
Appendix A
1-June-2013
Section 6.1
1-May-2014
Section 5.1
Section 4
1-June-2014
Section 6
Description/Rationale
Updated Table 4.1: Recommended Spacing Distances
Added Section 6.4: Data Submission
Updated Appendix B screen shots, p.52.
Added Well Suspension/Inspection Report Instructions, p. 52.
Added clarification to Section 6.3, p.48: samples must be taken prior to
or within six months. Added Section 6.5: Production Logs, p.48.
Updated Section 6.1, p. 42: Two signed copies to A signed copy.
Removed: in duplicate, from the Completion/Workover Report Form.
Updated Appendix A information (p.51, 52).
Updated section to include changes to the Completion / Workover
Report Form for the purpose of electronic submission of hydraulic
Fracture data (INDB 2013-03).
Updated reference to the Drilling and Production Regulation section
from 18(8)(a) to 18(9)(a).
Updated s. 4.1.2 Class A & B hydrogen sulphide content samples from
10 mol % or great to 1 mol % or greater (p. 23).
Updated s. 4.1.4 to include a rating of production casing (p.30).
Updated the submissions section to reflect the new Well Data
Requirements Submission Guideline (p. 46)
1 Preface
1.1
Purpose
This manual has been created to guide users through the BC
Oil and Gas Commission (the Commission) processes and
procedures. It also serves to highlight changes in process,
procedure, requirements and terminology resulting from the Oil
and Gas Activities Act (OGAA).
For users already familiar with the Commission application
process, this manual provides a quick reference highlighting the
steps required to complete specific tasks. For users less
familiar, this manual presents a complete overview of
Commission requirements and provides links to more detailed
material.
This manual is not intended to take the place of the applicable
legislation. The user is encouraged to read the full text of
legislation and each applicable regulation and seek direction
from Commission staff, if and when necessary, for clarification.
1.2
Scope
This manual focuses exclusively on requirements and
processes associated with the Commissions legislative
authorities and does not provide information on legal
responsibilities that the Commission does not regulate. It is the
responsibility of the applicant or permit holder to know and
uphold its other legal responsibilities. Examples of legal
responsibilities outside of this manual include obligations under
the Federal Fisheries Act, the Transportation Act, the Highway
Act, the Workers Compensation Act, and the Wildlife Act.
1.3
1.4
Additional Guidance
Guidance for submitting applications for wells within the
jurisdiction of the Commission is located in the Well Permit
Application Manual.
Guidance for well construction, drilling, reclamation and waste
management for wells within the jurisdiction of the Commission
is located in the Well Drilling and Waste Management manuals
The glossary page on the Commission website provides a
comprehensive list of terms.
1.4.1 Feedback
The Commission is committed to continuous improvement by
collecting information on the effectiveness of guidelines and
manuals. Clients and stakeholders wishing to comment on
Commission guidelines and manuals may send constructive
comments to OGC.Systems@bcogc.ca.
2 Well Equipment
The well equipment section outlines the regulatory requirements
for well equipment in the Drilling and Production Regulation.
2.1
Wellheads
[Section 17, Drilling and Production Regulation]
Wellheads are required to operate safely under the conditions
anticipated during the life of the well and the wellhead is not to
be subjected to excessive force.
Refer to Enform Publications Industry Recommended Practice
(IRP) Volume #5, (IRP 5 Minimum Wellhead Requirements)
for more information.
2.2
Tubing
[Section 16, Drilling and Production Regulation]
Tubing is required for the production of gas containing 5%
hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and for all injection and disposal
except for the injection of fresh water.
2.3
Packers
[Sections 16 and 39, Drilling and Production Regulation]
A production packer must be used for:
All injection and disposal except for the injection of fresh
water and
Wells containing gas with > 5% H2S, or if a numbered
highway or populated area is located within the emergency
planning zone for the well.
Populated area means a dwelling, school, picnic ground or
other place of public concourse.
Annual packer isolation testing is required for all wells where
installation of a production packer is required. If a packer test
fails, the permit holder must complete repairs without
2.4
2.5
Oil Wells
[Section 39, Drilling and Production Regulation]
Oil wells completed after September 13, 2010 equipped with an
artificial lift, if the H2S content of the gas exceeds 100 ppm,
must install the following
An automatic shutdown on the stuffing box that will shut
down the pumping unit in the event of a stuffing box or
polish rod failure and
An automatic vibration shutdown system
2.6
Fencing
[Section 39, Drilling and Production Regulation]
Permit holders of completed wells that:
Are located within 800 m of a populated area or
Have a populated area within the emergency planning
zone for the well
Fencing or other measures to prevent unauthorized access to
the well must be installed in these circumstances.
Fencing or other forms of access control must be proportional to
the potential for unauthorized access to the wellsite. Access
control may include fencing of the wellsite, or gating the access
road. If the well is located in an access-controlled area, no
additional measures may be required. For wells that are located
on private land, the method of access control should be
developed in consultation with the landowner.
2.7
Leak Detection
[Section 39, Drilling and Production Regulation]
All completed wells must be equipped with a system to detect
and control leaks as quickly as practicable.
The Commission expects that leak detection systems will be
proportional to the consequences that may result from a leak.
Leak detection may range from fully automated shutdown
systems to periodic inspections.
If an uncontrolled flow from a completed well could produce a
hydrogen sulphide concentration in atmosphere greater than
100 ppm at a distance of 50 metres from the well, the permit
holder must install and maintain:
An automated shutdown system and
A hydrogen sulphide detection, alarm and automated
shutdown system if the well is located within 1600 metres
of a populated area
For wells completed prior to October 4, 2010, H2S detection and
automated shutdown systems are not required until
January 1, 2012 and the permit holder may apply for an
exemption to the requirement.
3.1
3.2
3.3
Well Suspension
[Section 25, Drilling and Production Regulation]
3.3.1 Definitions
Activity means
(a) production, injection, or disposal of fluids,
(b) drilling, completion or workover operations and
(c) reservoir pressure observation.
Inactive Well means a well that has not been abandoned but
(a) has not been active for 12 consecutive months or
(b) if the well is classified as a special sour well or an acid
gas disposal well and has not been active for 6
consecutive months.
For active production, injection and disposal wells, the date of
last activity is defined as the first day of the month following the
last month for which production, injection and disposal volumes
were reported.
Observation wells are deemed to be active (see Observation
Wells section).
For drilling activity, including new wells and re-entries, the date
of last activity is defined as the rig release date.
For completion and workover activity, the date of last activity is
defined as the completion date.
A permit holder may apply to the Commission to declassify a
special sour well.
Unperforated wells may use a welded steel plate atop the production casing stub.
The plate must provide access to the wellbore for pressure measurement. All other
wells must use standard wellheads as described in IRP2 and IRP5 (draft).
There shall be no wellhead leaks.
Bullplugs or blind flanges with needle valves must be installed on all outlets except
the surface casing vent.
The surface casing vent valve must be open and the surface casing vent
unobstructed unless otherwise exempted by an official.
Wellhead
Maintenance
All valves must be chained and locked or valve handles must be removed.
The flowline must be disconnected from the wellhead.
Polish rod removal is not required to suspend low risk oil wells as long as the polish
rod remains connected to the pump jack.
Pressure testing of the wellhead sealing elements refers to the primary and
secondary seals only, as applicable. For wellheads that do not have adequate test
ports, pressure tests may be omitted and visual observation for leaks is acceptable.
An explanatory note must be included on the well suspension report.
Surface
Casing Vent
Flows
Lease
Maintenance
Visual
Inspection
Surface casing vent flows are to be managed and reported in accordance with
Commission requirements.
A sign stating the wells surface location, current permit holder, the current
permit holders emergency contact number and appropriate warning symbols
as defined in Section 17 of the Drilling and Production Regulation must be in
place.
A visual inspection of the lease and wellhead must be conducted at least yearly to
observe for wellhead integrity, noxious weeds and other hazards.
For wells with helicopter access, the visual inspection frequency is the pressure
testing / monitoring frequency.
Reporting
Well Types
Suspension Options
Downhole
Requirements
Pressure Testing /
Monitoring / Servicing
Requirements
Pressure Testing /
Monitoring / Servicing
Frequency
Wellbore Fluid
Option B
If applicable, install a bridge plug or packer and tubing plug within 100
metres of the liner top on uncompleted special sour wells.
Well Types
Suspension
Options
Downhole /
Wellhead
Requirements
Bridge plug.
Pressure Testing /
Monitoring /
Servicing
Frequency
At the time of
suspension and then
every 3 years.
At the time of
suspension and then
every 5 years.
Wellbore Fluid
None.
Pressure Testing /
Monitoring /
Servicing
Requirements
Flowing oil wells are oil wells with sufficient reservoir pressure to sustain
flow against atmospheric pressure without artificial lift. The flowing product is
a fluid.
Well Types
Suspension
Options
Option A
Option B
(Type 1 only)
Downhole
Requirements
None.
Pressure Testing
/ Monitoring /
Servicing
Requirements
Pressure Testing
/ Monitoring /
Servicing
Frequency
None.
Wellbore Fluid
None.
Non-flowing oil wells are oil wells without sufficient reservoir pressure to
sustain flow against atmospheric pressure without artificial lift. The flowing
product is a fluid. Removal of polish rods is not required to suspend low-risk
oil wells as long as the polish rod remains connected to the pump jack.
3.4
100000
MEDIUM
RISK
H2 S (ppm)
10000
1000
535 ppm
100
LOW
RISK
10
1
1
10
Flowrate (x 1000
m3 /day)
28,000 m3/day
100
This calculation (adopted from the ERCB Directive 13) determines the
maximum flowrate for a given H2S concentration that will result in a
maximum concentration of H2S at the lease boundary of 10 ppm. The lease
boundary is assumed to be 50 metres from the wellhead.
6
Maximum flowrate is adopted from the ERCB Directive 13 and is
considered to be surface killable based on fluid momentum theory.
3.5
Well Abandonment
[Section 26, Drilling and Production Regulation]
For drilling wells, notification is not required prior to conducting
open hole plugbacks or abandonments.
Drilling wells that are downhole, but not surface abandoned at
the time of rig release, are not considered abandoned. An
abandonment notification and abandonment report must be
submitted to the Commission at the time of surface
abandonment as outlined below for the well status to be
changed to abandoned.
Notification is required 7 days prior to conducting all other well
abandonments; however the notification requirement may be
waived on a case by case basis. An abandonment program
must be included with the notification.
Wells must be abandoned in a manner that ensures:
Adequate hydraulic isolation between porous zones
Fluids will not leak from the well
Excessive pressure will not build up in any portion of the
well
The long-term integrity of the wellbore is maintained
Permit holders are expected to conduct abandonments and
plugbacks in accordance with the ERCB Directive 20. If there is
any doubt about the adequacy of a plugging or abandonment
program, the permit holder should discuss their plans with the
Commission. Failure to adequately plug or abandon a well may
result in an order for remedial work.
Abandonment reports may be submitted using a
Completion/Workover Report Form.
4.1
Blowout Prevention
[Part 4, Division 2, Drilling and Production Regulation]
4.1.1 Well Servicing Blowout Prevention
The following section outlines blowout prevention standards that
a permit should follow to comply with the requirements of Part 4,
Division 2 of the Drilling and Production Regulation. It is the
responsibility of the permit holder to ensure that blowout
prevention equipment and procedures are adequate.
A permit holder may use alternate blowout prevention
equipment and techniques if they can demonstrate by means of
a detailed engineering analysis that the alternate equipment or
techniques are adequate as required by section 16(1) of the
Drilling and Production Regulation.
4.1.2 BOP Equipment Classes
For the purposes of well servicing, blowout prevention
equipment classes are as follows:
Class A equipment is required for a well where the minimum
pressure rating of the production casing flange is less than or
equal to 21 000 kilopascals (kPa) and the hydrogen sulphide
content in a representative sample of the gas is less than 1 mol
%;
Class B equipment is required for a well where the minimum
pressure rating of the production casing flange is:
a) greater than 21 000 kPa, or
b) less than or equal to 21 000 kPa and the hydrogen
sulphide content in a representative sample of the gas is
1 mol % or greater
Class C equipment is required for a special sour well.
Figure 4.B
Figure 4.C
Figure 4.D
Figure 4.E
4.2
Personnel
[Section 13, Drilling and Production Regulation]
The permit holder must ensure that there are a sufficient
number of trained and competent individuals to carry out all well
operations safely and without causing pollution.
The following people must possess a valid Well Service Blowout
Prevention Certificate, issued by Enform:
The driller on tour
The rig manager (tool push) and
The permit holders representative
If gas containing H2S is expected, every crew member must be
trained in H2S safety.
Blowout prevention drills should be performed by each rig crew
every 7 days or once per well, whichever is more frequent.
Blowout prevention drills should be recorded in the servicing log
book.
Evidence of the qualifications of any person referred to in this
section must be made available to an official on request.
The rig crew must have an adequate understanding of, and be
able to operate, the blowout prevention equipment and, when
requested by an official and if it is safe to do so, the contractor
or rig crew must:
Test the operation and effectiveness of the blowout
prevention equipment and
Perform a blowout prevention drill in accordance with the
Well Control Procedure placard issued by the Canadian
Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors or as outlined by
the Enform Blowout Prevention Manual
Refer to Enform IRP#7 Standards for Wellsite Supervision of
Drilling, Completions and Workovers for more information.
4.3
PRODUCED FLAMMABLE
LIQUIDS CRUDE OIL &
CONDENSATE TANKS
SEPARATOR
50
50
WELLHEAD
FLARE OR INCINERATOR
BOILER, STEAM
GENERATING EQUIPMENT,
TEG*
PRODUCED WATER TANK
OTHER SOURCES OF
IGNITABLE VAPOURS
SEPARATOR
FLAME TYPE EQUIPMENT
FLARE OR INCINERATOR
WELLHEAD
25
NS
NS
25
NS
25
NS
25
25*
25
50
50
25
25
25
25
25
NS
NS
25*
NS
NS
25*
NS
NS**
25*
25
NS
NS
25
25
NS
25
25
NS
NS
25*
25
25
25
25
NS
25*
NS
25*
25*
25*
T
50
50
25
NS
NS
NS**
25*
4.4
Incident Reporting
Spills and well control incidents must be reported to the
Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) at 1-800-663-3456, and
the Commission at (250) 794-5200
Spills must be reported in accordance with the Spill Reporting
Regulation.
4.5
Concurrent Operations
A concurrent operations plan is required for completions
operations on any well that is located within 25 metres of
another well.
5 Environmental Considerations
The environmental considerations section outlines and explains
the regulatory requirements for testing, repairing and reporting
environmental impacts: surface case venting flows, gas
migration, casing leaks and failures, noise, flaring and venting,
fluid storage and spills.
5.1
5.2
Gas Migration
[Section 41, Drilling and Production Regulation]
5.2.1 Definitions
Gas Migration (GM) means a flow of gas that is detectable at
the surface outside of the outermost casing string (often referred
to as external migration or seepage).
Serious Gas Migration means gas migration that
1) Contains hydrogen sulphide
2) Creates a fire or public safety hazard or
3) May cause off-lease environmental damage (such as,
groundwater contamination).
A permit holder must report, via email to
OGCDrilling.Production@bcogc.ca, all occurrences of gas
migration to the Commission as soon as possible.
The permit holder is not required to test for gas migration unless
there is visible evidence that it is occurring. Upon initial
discovery of gas migration, a gas sample should be collected to
identify the source of the gas. Recommended gas migration
testing procedures are as follows:
5.3
5.4
Noise
[Section 40, Drilling and Production Regulation]
A permit holder must ensure that well operations do not cause
excessive noise. Permit holders should work with area residents
to minimize noise impacts when undertaking completions
activities near populated areas.
The B.C. Noise Control Guideline (OGC IL 09-09) contains
information regarding acceptable noise levels and noise
assessment techniques.
5.5
5.6
Fluid Storage
[Section 50, Drilling and Production Regulation]
Secondary containment of tanks associated with completions
operations is generally not required. For extended, unmanned
flowback operations that require a facility permit, secondary
containment in accordance with the National Fire Protection
Agencys Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code (NFPA 30)
is required.
Fracturing fluid returns must be stored in accordance with the
Commissions Information Letter on the storage of fluid returns
from hydraulic fracturing operations (OGC IL 09-07).
6 Data Submission
General
All data must be submitted to the Commission: by mail or
courier to:
Well Data Management
BC Oil and Gas Commission
300-398 Harbour Road
Victoria, B.C. V9A 0B7
For compete submission requirements, please refer to the Well
Data Submission Requirements Manual.
This section provides instructions on completion, workover and
abandonment reports as well as instructions on well
deliverability test reports.
6.1
Completion/Workover/Abandonment Reports
[Sections 26 and 36, Drilling and Production Regulation]
A signed copy of the Completion/Workover Report and required
attachments must be submitted to the Commission office in
Victoria within 30 days of completing the operation. Incomplete
reports will not be accepted and will be returned to sender.
If a well has been abandoned, a summary of the surface
abandonment must be included for the well status to be
changed to abandoned and the location to be a candidate for a
Certificate of Restoration.
Appendix A specifies which operations require a
Completion/Workover Report and which operations do not.
Refer to Information Bulletin 2011-05 for more information.
6.1.1Completion/Workover Report Instructions
Check the appropriate box for type of report (Completion,
Workover, Abandonment, Other). The report must include: Well
Name, Well Permit #, Bottom hole location, 16 character Unique
Well Identifier (uwi), Start and Finish dates of the daily reports
included, Intervals worked (Open Hole interval, perforation
intervals or location of frac ports) and the geological formation
name. Incomplete reports will not be accepted and will be
returned.
6.2
7 Compliance
OGAA
A person found by the Courts, to have contravened the Oil
and Gas Activities Act may be subject to a fine not
exceeding the amount specified in Section 86 of the act. A
person found by the Commission, to have contravened
OGAA may be liable to an administrative penalty not
exceeding the amount specified in the Administrative
Penalties Regulation.
A Completion/Workover Report is
not required for the following well
maintenance operations:
Well Classification
Required at time of suspension. Not required for suspended well
inspections.
Risk: Select the well classification: High, Medium or Low risk,
as applicable, defined in Section 3.3.
Well Type: Select the well type: 1-6, as applicable, defined in
Section 3.3.
Suspension Option: Select the suspension option: A, B or C
used for suspension, defined in Section 3.3.
BC Oil & Gas Commission
56
H2S (%)
CO2 (%)
INTERVAL
(mKB)
Baldonnel
0.0
2.14
1238.7 -1249.7
Visual Inspection
Required for all suspensions and inspections.
Select yes or no, as applicable:
1. No indicates that there is no evidence of leaks from the
wellhead, including any attached fittings and valves and
no evidence of significant corrosion.
General
Required for all suspensions and inspections.
Comments: Provide any useful comments, for example,
additional suspension detail.
Name, Phone, Email, Cell: Provide the contact information of
the person responsible for the report.
June 2012
Version 1.4
59
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1.2 Sign On
You can access the Online Drilling Results Application by selecting Web Applications from the
OGCs main web page at www.bcogc.ca.
From the Web Application section of the OGC website you will be directed to the logon page
depicted below.
Enter your username and password and navigate to the Rich Client Applications Menu. From
there select the link for Notice of Operation or Notice of Flare. These links will direct you to the
Online Drilling Reporting Systems Main Menu.
62
2 NOTICE OF OPERATION
2.1 Notice of Operation Well Selection
Selecting the Notice of Operation button from the Online Drilling Reporting System Main Menu
will direct the user to the Notice of Operation Well Selection screen.
By Default the Notice of Operation Well Selection screen displays all wells for which you are able
to enter a Notice of Operation. The list of wells presented is ordered by descending WA #.
In order to enter Notice of Operation information the user must first select a well record. This can
be accomplished in one of two ways:
63
Notice of Operation
Click the Notice of
Operation button to
navigate to the Notice
of Operation entry
screen.
64
65
The Notice of Operation screen Formation H2S canvas depicted above enables the entry of
geological formations and H2S concentrations. The Expected H2S % field will accept values
between 0 and 99.99. Users can select the Formation from a List of Values by double clicking
the Formation field as shown below.
66
The Notice of Operation screen Document canvas depicted above allows users to upload
supporting Notice of Operation documentation to the OGC. Users can load a document from
their local or network file system by clicking the Browse button and navigating to the appropriate
file.
67
After selecting the appropriate document to load the user then simply clicks the Load button and
the file will be submitted to the OGC. Only pdf and MS Word document formats may be
uploaded.
Users can view previously uploaded files for a Notice of Operation by selecting the desired file
and clicking on the Show Document button.
68
69
To generate the Completion Report Overdue report simply select the Operator you are interested
in from the pull down list and then press the Run Report button. The report will open in a new
browser window.
70
3 NOTICE OF FLARE
3.1 Notice of Flare - Well Selection
Selecting the Notice of Flare button from the Online Drilling Reporting System Main Menu will
direct the user to the Notice of Flare Well Selection screen depicted below.
71
Select a Record
Highlight the well record
for which you want to
submit a Notice of
Flare.
Notice of Flare
Click the Notice of
Flare button to
navigate to the Notice
of Flare entry screen.
72
Click on the Notice of Flare button to navigate to the Notice of Flare screen.
Mandatory data items to be entered to the Notice of Flare main canvas depicted above include:
Site Supervisor #1 Name and Phone, Purpose of Flaring, Expected Start Date, Expected
End Date and In Line Testing indicator. The Flare Stack Height should be entered if
applicable. The OGC Review Complete indicator, Flare Volume MM3 and Test Facility data
73
The Formation H2S canvas of the Notice of Flare screen enables the entry of geological
formations, H2S concentrations and maximum flare volumes. The Expected H2S % Field will
accept values between 0 and 99.99 and should be entered with two decimal places. The Max
Flare Vol MM3 field will accept values between 0 and 99999 and should be entered with no
decimal. Users can select the Formation from a List of Values by double clicking the Formation
field as depicted below.
74
The Notice of Flare screen Cancel Flare canvas depicted below allows users to cancel a Notice
of Flare that was entered in error or is no longer applicable. Please enter both the Cancel Date
and a Comment indicating why the Notice of Flare has been cancelled. . Please press the Save
button after entering or updating a Notice of Operation.
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