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ARTICLE · 11 DECEMBER 2012

ERCB Accelerating Applications & Updating Oil Sands Regulation

Stikeman Elliott LLP
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In the wake of increasing applications for commercial developments of oil sands projects, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (the "ERCB") has announced that it is taking steps to accelerate project approvals and update its rules regarding how oil sands projects tailings, subsurface reservoirs, water and wellbores are managed.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
The Energy Practice Group
The Energy Practice Group
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In the wake of increasing applications for commercial developments of oil sands projects, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (the "ERCB") has announced that it is taking steps to accelerate project approvals and update its rules regarding how oil sands projects tailings, subsurface reservoirs, water and wellbores are managed.

Speaking at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers environmental issues seminar on November 14, 2012, Terry Abel, executive manager of the ERCB's oil sands and coal division, stated that applications for commercial developments of oil sands projects have tripled in the last three years. This outcome has resulted in long lead times to receiving project approvals and demonstrated that existing guidelines need updating. The current lead times have been attributed to a lack of clarity in what companies need to include in an application. As a result, the ERCB intends to update Directive 23 (Guidelines Respecting an Application

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