The Lieutenant Governor in Council authorizes the Energy Resources Conservation Board to grant Approval No. 11391 to Athabasca Oil Sands Corp. in the form attached.
For Information only
Recommended by: Minister of Energy
Authority: Oil Sands Conservation Act
(section 10)
COMMERCIAL SCHEME
Approval No. 11391
* Draft Form of Approval
IN THE MATTER of a commercial scheme of Athabasca Oil Sands Corp. (hereinafter called “the Operator”) for the recovery of crude bitumen from the Wabiskaw-McMurray Deposit of the Athabasca Oil Sands Area from wells located in the project area outlined in Appendix A to this approval.
WHEREAS the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) is prepared to approve an application by the Operator for a new scheme;
WHEREAS the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by Order in Council Number O.C. # dated #, hereto attached as Appendix B, has authorized the granting of this approval.
The ERCB, pursuant to Section 10 of the Oil Sands Conservation Act, chapter O-7 of the Revised Statutes of Alberta, 2000, orders as follows:
1)
The Operator’s scheme as
described in
a) Application No. 1592479,
is approved, subject to the Oil
Sands Conservation Regulation and the terms and conditions herein contained.
2) Clause 1 does not preclude alterations in design and equipment, provided that the ERCB is satisfied that the alterations are compatible with the outline of the scheme, are made for the better operation of the scheme, and do not result in unacceptable adverse impacts.
3) The recovery process approved for the scheme is Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) utilizing only steam as the injection fluid, unless otherwise stipulated by the ERCB.
4) Unless otherwise stipulated by the ERCB, the production of bitumen from the project area identified in Appendix A shall not exceed 350 cubic metres per day (m3/d) on an annual average basis.
5) The Operator shall notify the ERCB of any proposed material alteration or modification of the SAGD scheme or to any equipment proposed for use therein prior to effecting the alteration or modification.
6) Where, in the opinion of the ERCB, any alteration or modification referred to in Clause 5 to the scheme or to any equipment proposed for use therein:
a) is not of a minor nature,
b) is not consistent with the scheme approved herein, or
c) may not result in an improved or more efficient scheme or operation,
the alteration or modification shall not be proceeded with or effected without the further authorization of the ERCB. The Operator must provide evidence that this major alteration or modification to the scheme or to any equipment will result in a benefit to the scheme or operation and be in the public interest.
7)
The ERCB may,
a) upon its own motion, or
b)
upon the application of an
interested person,
rescind or amend this approval at any time.
END OF DOCUMENT
* This is only a draft form of Approval. The Approval, when issued, may have minor variations from that set out here.
Athabasca OIL SANDS AREA APPENDIX
A TO APPROVAL NO. 11391
