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"Point in Time" Regulation Content

Geothermal Resources Act

Geothermal Operations Regulation

B.C. Reg. 79/2017

NOTE: Links below go to regulation content as it was prior to the changes made on the effective date. (PIT covers changes made from September 19, 2009 to "current to" date of the regulation.)
SECTIONEFFECTIVE DATE
Section 1 March 8, 2019
August 14, 2020
September 1, 2023
Section 3 September 1, 2023
Section 4 September 1, 2023
Section 6 September 1, 2023
Section 9 March 8, 2019
Section 10 March 8, 2019
Section 13 March 8, 2019
September 1, 2023
Section 18 September 1, 2023
Section 19 September 1, 2023
Section 20 March 8, 2019
Section 21 September 1, 2023
Section 22 September 1, 2023
Section 23 September 1, 2023
Section 24 September 1, 2023
Section 29 September 1, 2023
Section 31 March 8, 2019
September 1, 2023
Section 33 September 1, 2023
Section 34 September 1, 2023
Section 36 September 1, 2023
Section 37 March 8, 2019
August 14, 2020
September 1, 2023
Section 38 September 1, 2023
Section 39 September 1, 2023
Section 41 September 1, 2023
Section 43 September 1, 2023
Section 46 September 1, 2023
Section 47 September 1, 2023
Section 48 March 8, 2019

 Section 1 definition of "ASME B31.3" BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

"ASME B31.3" means the the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standard ASME B31.3, Process Piping, as amended from time to time;

 Section 1 definition of "Enform" BEFORE repealed by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

"Enform" means the non-profit organization of Canadian petroleum industry trade associations which provides certification, training and health and safety services to the oil and gas industry;

 Section 1 definition of "porous zones" was added by BC Reg 214/2020, effective August 14, 2020.

 Section 1 definitions of "official" and "qualified professional" BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

"official" means a person designated by the commission to carry out a duty or exercise a power of the commission under the Act;

"qualified professional" means a person who is licensed or registered as either a professional engineer or a professional geoscientist under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act;

 Section 3 (part) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

Well authorization application

3   A person may apply to the commission for a well authorization by submitting all of the following:

 Section 4 (2) and (3) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(2) A person with an interest in a well may apply to the commission to change the well's name.

(3) The commission may, on application under subsection (2) or on its own initiative, change a well's name.

 Section 6 (1) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(1) It is a condition of a well authorization that the holder must notify the commission, in electronic form, before doing any of the following:

 Section 9 (1) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

(1) A well authorization holder must ensure that, during all well operations, reliably operating well control equipment is installed to control kicks, prevent blowouts and safely carry out all well operations.

 Section 9 (3) was added by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

 Section 10 (1) (b) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

(b) the rig crew conducting the well operation has an adequate understanding of, and is able to operate, blowout prevention equipment.

 Section 10 (2) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

(2) At the request of an official, a well authorization holder's contractor or rig crew, when it is safe to do so, must test the operation and effectiveness of the blowout prevention equipment installed on the authorization holder's well in accordance with the Blowout Prevention Manual issued by Enform.

 Section 13 (2) and (3) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

(2) A driller of a well being drilled or tested during drilling operations must

(a) be trained in blowout prevention,

(b) have one of the following certificates issued by Enform:

(i) a valid first-line supervisor's blowout prevention certificate;

(ii) a valid second-line supervisor's well control certificate, and

(c) provide evidence of his or her qualifications to the commission on the commission's request.

(3) A rig manager and the well authorization holder's representative at the well site where a well is being drilled or tested during drilling operations must

(a) be trained in blowout prevention,

(b) have a valid second-line supervisor's well control certificate issued by Enform, and

(c) provide evidence of his or her qualifications to the commission on the commission's request.

 Section 13 (4) BEFORE repealed by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

(4) During well servicing operations, the following people must have a valid well service blowout prevention certificate issued by Enform and provide evidence of their qualifications to the commission on the commission's request:

(a) the driller on tour;

(b) the rig manager;

(c) the well authorization holder's representative.

 Section 13 (3) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(3) The persons referred to in subsection (2) must provide evidence of the person's qualifications to the commission on the commission's request.

 Section 18 (2) (a) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(a) notify the commission of the suspension within 30 days of the suspension,

 Section 19 (1) and (3) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(1) A well authorization holder must submit to the commission, at least 7 days before beginning well operations, a plan for well plugging addressing the matters referred to in subsection (2).

(3) A well authorization holder must submit to the commission, within 30 days of abandoning a well, an abandonment report detailing all operations, treatments, tests and any resulting well behaviour, including a downhole schematic diagram.

 Section 20 BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

Pulling casing

20   A well authorization holder must ensure that casing or other equipment is not removed from the holder's well if the casing or equipment is essential for well control or the prevention of inter-zonal communication.

 Section 21 (4) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(4) Within 90 days of completing a drilling waste disposal, a well authorization holder must submit to the commission a report of the drilling waste disposal.

 Section 21 (5) (j) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(j) that any sign of leakage is reported to the commission within 24 hours of discovery;

 Section 22 (b), (c) and (d) (part) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(b) if a kick occurs during drilling operations, notify the commission immediately and submit a written kick report to the commission within one day of the incident,

(c) submit a copy of the daily drilling report (tour sheet) to the commission within 30 days of rig release,

(d) submit a summary report of drilling operations to the commission within 4 days of the following:

 Section 23 (3) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(3) A well authorization holder must submit to the commission within 14 days of rig release the results of the directional survey under subsection (2).

 Section 24 (part) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

Well reports

24   Within 60 days after the date of rig release, a well authorization holder must submit to the commission a well report that includes the applicable of the following:

 Section 29 (1) (part), (2) and (3) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(1) During fracturing, injection, or disposal operations on a well, a well authorization holder must immediately report to the commission any seismic event within a 3 km radius of the drilling pad that is recorded by the well permit holder or reported to the well permit holder by any source available, if

(2) If a well is identified by the well authorization holder or the commission as being responsible for a seismic event under subsection (1), the well authorization holder must suspend fracturing, injection and disposal operations on the well immediately.

(3) Fracturing and disposal operations suspended under subsection (2) may continue once the well authorization holder has implemented operational changes satisfactory to the commission to reduce or eliminate the initiation of additional induced seismic events.

 Section 31 (2) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

(2) A well authorization holder must use non-toxic drilling fluid during the drilling of a well until, in the opinion of a qualified professional, all porous strata that

(a) are less than 600 m below ground level, and

(b) contain non-saline groundwater that is usable for domestic or agricultural purposes

have been isolated from the drilling fluid.

 Section 31 (3) (a) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

(a) surface casing must be set in a competent formation for anticipated well pressures;

 Section 31 (8) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

(8) A well authorization holder must ensure that a well is configured so that the casing is able to vent.

 Section 31 (7) (a) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(a) notify the commission about the leak or failure without delay, and

 Section 33 BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

Completion and workover reports

33   A well authorization holder must submit completion and workover reports, prepared to the satisfaction of an official, to the commission within 30 days of completion or workover.

 Section 34 (2) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(2) A well authorization holder must submit to the commission the records referred to in subsection (1) within 30 days after the completion of the well.

 Section 36 (part) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

Analyses and data

36   A well authorization holder must submit the following information to the commission within 30 days after completing the analysis or obtaining the data:

 Section 37 (1) (d) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.

(d) a report of any lost circulation zones encountered or blowouts reported during the drilling of the thermal gradient well.

 Section 37 (3) BEFORE repealed by BC Reg 214/2020, effective August 14, 2020.

(3) Information obtained from a thermal gradient well that is received by the commission in the course of the administration of the Act must be held confidential.

 Section 37 (1) (part) and (2) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(1) Not more than 3 months after the date of rig release of the drilling rig from a thermal gradient well, a well authorization holder must submit a report to the commission containing the following information:

(2) The well authorization holder must submit to the commission one copy of each log, including temperature measurements, taken at a thermal gradient well within 30 days after the date the log or measurement was taken.

 Section 38 (1) (part) and (2) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(1) A well authorization holder must notify the commission at least 2 days before

(2) A well authorization holder must notify the commission at least one day before

 Section 39 (c) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(c) submit to the commission all as-built drawings and schematics, signed and sealed by a qualified professional, within 3 months of beginning operations at a facility, or after a major modification of a facility.

 Section 41 (2) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(2) If a well authorization holder injects or disposes of water, gas, air or any other fluid into an underground formation, the well authorization holder must submit a monthly injection or disposal report, indicating the quantity and rate of the fluid injected or disposed of, the wellhead injection or disposal pressure and the total monthly operating hours, to the commission within 25 days after the end of the calendar month in which the activity occurred.

 Section 43 BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

Report of geothermal production

43   A well authorization holder must submit to the commission within 25 days after the end of the production month a report of production dates, hours produced, volumes produced and pressures measured.

 Section 46 BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

Fee for certificate of restoration

46   A person requesting that the commission issue a certificate of restoration under section 16 of the Act must submit to the commission a fee of $2 000.

 Section 47 (2) (part) BEFORE amended by BC Reg 202/2023, effective September 1, 2023.

(2) The commission must return the security in its entirety to a person who provided the security if

 Section 48 was enacted by BC Reg 44/2019, effective March 8, 2019.