Oil Sands Orders

In the 1980s, there was a growing issue with distinguishing extra-heavy oil from bitumen. To resolve this issue, the Oil Sands Conservation Act gave the regulator the authority to simply designate subsurface deposits in specific areas as “crude bitumen.” This led to the AER issuing three oil sands area orders that defined the Athabasca, Peace River, and Cold Lake Oil Sands Areas.

Oil Sands area orders are as follows (dated March 30, 2021);

Learn more about the other orders we issue to ensure that companies comply with our requirements.

AER Shut-In Orders

Order 15-002 (November 12, 2015)	Table 1 [XLS]
Order 15-001 (July 22, 2015)	Table 1 [XLS]

Athabasca Oil Sands Area
Sunshine, Athabasca, Total, and Paramount Applications for Shut-In or Production of Gas	Decision 2009-061 (October 15, 2009)	Interim Shut-In Order 09-003 (October 16, 2009)	Table 1 included in order
		Amended Interim Shut-In Order 09-003 (January 11, 2010)	Table 1 included in order Table 2 included in order
		Amendment B to Interim Shut-In Order 09-003 (April 12, 2010)	Table 3 included in order
	Decision 2011 ABERCB 012 (May 10, 2011)	Interim Shut-In Order 11-001 (May 25, 2011)	Tables 1 & 2 [XLS]
	Decision 2011 ABERCB 035 (December 13, 2011)	Shut-in Order 11-002 (December 15, 2011)	Table 1 [XLS]
Canadian Natural Resources Limited Pool Delineation Application and Shut-in Request	Decision 2009-024 (February 24, 2009)
Paramount Experimental Gas Storage Scheme and Review and Variance Applications	Decision 2009-044 (July 21, 2009)
Cold Lake Oil Sands Areas
EnCana, Canadian Natural Resources Limited, and Husky Production Shut-in of Gas from the Clearwater Formation	Decision 2007-056 (July 23, 2007)	Shut-In Order 07-001 (July 24, 2007)	Table 1 [XLS]
Peace River Oil Sands Areas
Durvernay Oil Corp. and Murphy Oil Company Ltd. Production and Shut-in of Gas from the Seal Bluesky A Pool	Decision 2007-108 (December 18, 2007)

Gulf Canada Resources Limited
Surmount Shut-In Order, Board Order (Proceeding 960952) April 3, 2000

Devon Canada, EnCana, BP Canada, Paramount Resources Limited, Rio Alta Exploration Ltd.
Chard/Leismer Shut-In Order (Applications 1069381, 1069382, 1039410, and 1047055) March 18, 2003, rescinded in part by Order 05-001

Order 05-001 (Phase 3 Final Order December 21, 2005)	Table 1 [XLS]
Order 07-001 (July 24, 2007)	Table 1 [XLS]
Order 08-001 (August 11, 2008)	Table 1 [XLS]
Order 09-001 (February 24, 2009)	Table 1 [XLS]
Order 09-002 (May 12, 2009)	Table 1 [XLS]
Order 11-002 (December 15, 2011)	Table 1 [XLS]

Contact Us

For general questions, please visit the help section on the order system. For other questions, please contact our Customer Contact Centre.

Oil Sands Orders

AER Shut-In Orders

Oil Sands Area Shut-in Decisions

EUB/ ERCB Shut-in Orders

Contact Us

Related Information