Updated June 2024
Alberta's Gas Resources Preservation Act proclaimed in 1949, mandates that large volumes of natural gas be reserved for domestic use to ensure that Albertans have enough natural gas supply. Consequently, companies proposing to remove gas from Alberta must first obtain a permit from the AER.
Short- and Long-Term Removal Permits
There are two types of removal permits in Alberta:
- Short-term gas removal permits involve
- removals of not more than 3 billion cubic metres (109 m3) of gas (0.1 trillion cubic feet [Tcf]) and
- terms of not longer than two years.
- Long-term gas removal permits involve
- removals of over 3 109 m3 of gas and
- terms of longer than two years.
Natural gas removals from Alberta are only permitted if the gas for removal is surplus to the current and future natural gas core market requirements over a 15-year period and noncore market requirements over a 5-year period.
- The core market includes Alberta residential and commercial gas consumers.
- The noncore market includes large industrial users who contract their own gas.
The AER calculates estimated gas reserves available for removal from Alberta (see Table S5.5). Values are calculated after accounting for Alberta’s future requirements in core and noncore markets.
The AER has calculated that as of December 31, 2023, an additional 175 109 m3 (6.2 Tcf) of gas is available for removal permits.
Figure S5.9 shows the volumes of natural gas available for permitting in Alberta from 2012 to 2023.
