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

• The holder of the ER approval must be the current operator of the scheme.
• Injection must not begin in a well until after written confirmation that both the ER
scheme application has been approved and Directive 051 requirements have been met.
• Gas-cap gas production requires ERCB approval for concurrent production.
• The type of ER scheme (e.g., waterflood, miscible flood, gas cycling) must be selected to
maximize recovery.
• The type of injection fluid must be selected to maximize hydrocarbon recovery.
• All ER schemes must be operated in a manner that optimizes hydrocarbon recovery.
• The injection fluid must be compatible with the reservoir rock and reservoir fluid.
• The supply of injection fluid must be capable of maintaining the specified scheme
voidage replacement.
• Injection wells and injection intervals must be located in such a manner that optimizes
both areal and vertical sweep efficiency.
• The proposed approval area must reflect the area that will be effectively swept by the
injection wells and must conform to the ERCB-approved spacing.
• The approval will list only existing injection well locations, not those planned at some
future date.
• The holder of an ER approval must comply with Directive 051. Injection pressures must
remain below the approved maximum wellhead injection pressure at all times.
• Gas must be conserved in accordance with Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry
Flaring Guide.
• If an ERP is required for the injection of H 2 S, an up-to-date ERCB-approved ERP must
be in place.
• The ER scheme approval area will not extend beyond the ERCB’s Pool Order boundary
for the subject pool.
2.1.2.2 Scheme Expectations
Although optimal operating practices may vary for each reservoir, there are fundamental
principles and practices that the ERCB expects to be followed, in addition to the above-noted
requirements, for all ER schemes. ERCB expectations on how ER schemes should be
assessed, designed, implemented, and operated are described below.
A) Assessment Stage
• For all pools, including those that are on GPP, the feasibility of ER should be reviewed
on an ongoing basis.
• For retrograde gas condensate pools, the feasibility of gas cycling should be evaluated
before reaching the dew point pressure in order to maximize recovery.
• Well licensees should collect the appropriate reservoir data necessary to accurately assess
ER potential.
• ER should normally be evaluated and, if feasible, implemented in oil pools prior to
production of the gas cap.
• Pool delineation should be well understood prior to designing and implementing an ER
scheme.
• The applicant should have a good understanding of the reservoir and fluid properties
prior to designing the ER scheme.
ERCB Directive 065: Resources Applications / Enhanced Recovery Scheme (October 2011) • 2-5