Timeline
Our estimated processing times vary by scheme:
- new applications: 375 business days
- amendment category 1 applications: 21 business days
- amendment category 2 applications: 113 business days
- amendment category 3 applications: 250 business days
See our timeline spreadsheet for updates.
Purpose of the Application
We divide in situ oil sands applications under the Oil Sands Conservation Act into four application types:
- commercial scheme: new
- commercial scheme: amendment category 1
- commercial scheme: amendment category 2
- commercial scheme: amendment category 3
Commercial scheme: new applications are for new projects that might affect resource conservation or mineral rights owners, result in an adverse and material change to the environment, have socioeconomic impacts, or directly and adversely affect stakeholders.
Commercial scheme: amendments
Amendments to existing in situ oil sands scheme approvals fall under one of three categories depending on the nature of the modifications proposed. For each commercial scheme amendment category, a list of project modifications considered typical for that category is provided. However, the list of examples is not exhaustive.
Section 9.1 of Directive 023: Oil Sands Project Applications describes the process for applying for an in situ life-cycle application. Life-cycle eligibility is identified in the tables below for each of the modifications under the three amendment categories. If a modification is identified as life-cycle eligible, applicants may apply for any number or combination of these modifications under a single life-cycle amendment application.
A single amendment application can include many proposed project modifications and will be assigned the highest category applicable to the type of modifications proposed.
When considering what category to use when applying, applicants should choose the category that best aligns with the scale and nature of the proposed modifications.
Although the categories below represent most scenarios, upon initial review of an amendment application, the AER may recategorize the application and request additional information.
Commercial scheme: amendment category 1 applications are for project modifications that are not expected to affect resource conservation, alter environmental or socioeconomic impacts assessed in the original application or approved amendments, or directly and adversely affect stakeholders, including mineral rights owners.
Examples:
| Project modifications | Life-cycle eligible |
|---|---|
| Changes to the approved water balance, such as water reuse and water transfers between facilities (including changes that might affect Directive 081: Water Disposal Limits and Reporting Requirements for Thermal In Situ Oil Sands Schemes | Y |
| Short-term (<3 months) equipment tests | Y |
| A temporary increase in maximum operating pressure (MOP) (requested MOP must be below the caprock fracture closure pressure, and the duration of the proposed operations must be less than 48 hours) | N |
| Changes to previously approved drainage patterns that either shrink or maintain the size of the pattern | Y |
| Short-term injection tests | Y |
| Ramp down or blowdown | Y |
| Surface equipment additions or modifications that do not change material balances | Y |
| Operational/maintenance-related variances/waivers for ≤30 days | N |
| Changes to reporting dates and deadlines | N |
| Measurement changes (Directive 017: Measurement Requirements for Oil and Gas Operations or Directive 042: Measurement, Accounting, and Reporting Plan (MARP) Requirements for Thermal Bitumen Schemes) | Y |
| Well-testing procedures and equipment changes | Y |
| Surface pad location change outside the development area | Y |
Commercial scheme: amendment category 2 applications are for project modifications that might affect resource conservation or are significant in scope. However, the modifications are not expected to affect the rights of stakeholders or alter the environmental and socioeconomic impacts assessed in the original application or approved amendments.
Examples:
| Project modifications | Life-cycle eligible |
|---|---|
| Expansion of the development area | N |
| New proposed drainage patterns | Y |
| Changes to previously approved drainage patterns that modify the shape or size | Y |
| Changes to MOP, including proposed temporary MOP increase (for all scenarios that are not included in the category 1 temporary MOP increases) | N |
| Repressurization of an associated gas cap | N |
| Changes to methods for recovering bitumen | N |
| Abandonment of well patterns or pads | N |
| Suspension of scheme operations for more than 30 days and not related to an emergency response situation | N |
| Injection or co-injection of noncondensable gas, solvent, casing gas | Y |
| Changes that require the modification of an approval clause | N |
| Change to an authorized monitoring program | N |
| Change to sulphur recovery equipment | N |
| Operational/maintenance-related variances/waivers >30 days | N |
| Equipment modifications that affect approved water balance | Y |
Commercial scheme: amendment category 3 applications are for project modifications that might affect resource conservation. These changes might affect other mineral rights owners or result in an adverse and material change to environmental or socioeconomic impacts assessed in the original application or approved amendments, and thus might directly and adversely affect other stakeholders.
| Project modifications | Life-cycle eligible |
|---|---|
| Change to approved bitumen production capacity | N |
| Expansion of the project area | N |
Further information regarding in situ oil sands amendment applications can be found in section 9 of Directive 023.
Process Checklist
Submit an Application
Companies must submit in situ oil sands applications by email to InSitu.Applications@aer.ca.
By submitting an application, the company accepts that its information is no longer confidential.
Review Process
- We share all applications on our Public Notice of Application page to encourage public participation in the approval process.
- Anyone who believes they may be directly and adversely affected by an application can file a statement of concern (SOC). If we receive an SOC, it may take us longer to process the application.
- We will assign the application to a subject matter expert for initial review. If information is missing (i.e., the application is incomplete), we may close the application. Otherwise, we will proceed with a full technical review.
- We may request additional information (through a supplemental information request) to complete our technical review.
- We will decide to approve, close, or deny the application. If we close it, the applicant may reapply without prejudice. If we deny it, the applicant can file an appeal through our appeal process.
- We will provide the applicant with a link to documents with our decision, which are accessible through the Integrated Application Registry. We will also share our decision on our Publication of Decision page.
