Directive 065: Resources Applications for Oil and Gas Reservoirs ...

Unit 7
Application for Special Well Spacing
7.1 Introduction
Well spacing defines the number of subsurface drainage locations necessary to maximize oil
or gas recovery from a specific pool or formation. The objectives of spacing regulations are
to promote conservation through efficient and orderly development of reservoirs and to
protect the equity of mineral rights owners.
In accordance with Section 16(1) of the Oil and Gas Conservation Act (OGCA), a working
interest participant with the right to produce may, for one or more of the following reasons,
apply for special well spacing that would allow for an increase in well density with more
flexibility for well placement in a drilling spacing unit (DSU):
• recovery would be improved,
• additional wells are necessary to provide capacity to drain the pool at a reasonable rate
without adversely affecting recovery from the pool,
• the spacing has already been substantially established in a pool, and the proposed spacing
provisions are equal to or more restrictive than the established pool spacing.
Well spacing applications that do not clearly meet one of the above criteria to establish
special well spacing will be closed. All applications for special well spacing must be made in
accordance with Directive 065 and must be supported by proper engineering arguments and
analysis and by associated production, geological, and other engineering data.
Well spacing applications approved by the ERCB are displayed on the Well Spacing Map.
The disposition documents for all spacing applications can be viewed for 30 days after they
have been issued using the Integrated Application Registry (IAR) Query. Both the Well
Spacing Map and the IAR Query can be accessed through Quick Links or the DDS system on
the ERCB Web site www.ercb.ca.
7.2 Background
7.2.1 Standard Drilling Spacing Units, Target Areas, and Baseline Well Densities
The ERCB has authority under the OGCA to designate drilling spacing units (DSUs) and
target areas and to make or amend regulations pertaining to them.
As described in Part 4 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Regulations (OGCR), the standard
DSU is one section for a gas well and one quarter section for an oil well. Standard target area
orientation—consistent throughout the province—is the central part of the DSU, except in gas
DSUs in the area identified in Schedule 13A of the OGCR and shown in Figure 7.1. Target
areas for standard oil and gas DSUs are as follows:
• For a gas well producing from the area shown in Schedule 13A, the target area is at least
150 m from the south and west boundaries of the section.
• For a gas well producing from areas not included in Schedule 13A, the target area is at
least 150 m from all boundaries of the section.
• For an oil well producing from all areas of the province, the target area is at least
100 m from all boundaries of the quarter section.
Note that a well originally drilled on target in a DSU will always be considered on target
regardless of any subsequent spacing approvals.
ERCB Directive 065: Resources Applications / Application for Special Well Spacing (October 2011) • 7-1