The 2021 wildfire season in Alberta began on March 1. The oil and gas industry is susceptible to fire across all regions of the province. We remind licensees that the risk of brush and grass fires that start at flare stacks increases as we approach the drier seasons.
Provincial fire bans must be adhered to. A reminder that off-road vehicles from both recreational and industry are also a source of ignition for fires and may be included in provincial fire warnings and bans. For information on fire ban status and fire advisories across the province, visit https://www.albertafirebans.ca.
Proactive fire control measures should be in place. This includes acquiring and maintaining fire suppression equipment and having an emergency response plan in place in the event of fire. Should an emergency situation arise, licensees should communicate with local fire departments to coordinate response procedures.
Oil and gas facilities and flare systems are now handling lower (and in some cases significantly lower) throughputs than they were originally designed for. This can lead to carbon buildup on the flare tip that can break loose, fall to the ground, and cause fires. We therefore recommend that operators take preventative measures and adhere to a regular maintenance schedule for flare stacks and regularly examine flares for carbon and soot buildup around the flare tip.
Operators and licensees must adhere to AER Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting and Alberta's Forest and Prairie Protection Act.
Current wildfire status in Alberta can be obtained from https://wildfire.alberta.ca/wildfire-status/status-map.aspx. Emergency updates for the province can be obtained from the Alberta Emergency Alert website (http://www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca) or through the Alberta Emergency Alert app (https://open.alberta.ca/interact/alberta-emergency-alert).
For more information on this bulletin, contact our Customer Contact Centre by phone at 403-297-8311 (1-855-297-8311 toll free) or by email at inquiries@aer.ca .
