We inform industry about regulatory matters by offering formal education sessions, discussing the results of a field inspection with an operator, and working with companies to ensure that their applications meet our standards, to name a few ways. In addition to the guidance our directives and bulletins provide, this information helps companies meet our requirements and stay in compliance.
Here we share information for industry to learn more about certain AER requirements and what we expect for specific developments and activities.
More Opportunities for Industry to Learn
Our education programs and initiatives go beyond what is listed on this page. We offer many face-to-face sessions and presentations to companies throughout the year, such as
- group operator awareness sessions,
- presentations to individual companies, and
- AER inspection training.
We announce upcoming information sessions and technical briefings on our Events page and through direct email communication with operators. To learn about other opportunities, please email @email.
Contact Us
If you have any comments or questions about this information, please contact our Customer Contact Centre.
Note/Disclaimer: The following information is provided for guidance and summary purposes only and is not an exhaustive description of AER requirements relating to a given topic or subject area. Operators and licensees must at all times comply with, and should consult, all applicable AER requirements before undertaking any activity.
| Description | Learning resources | Applicable directives and regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Air Emissions & Monitoring | ||
| Read about Methane Reduction, Emissions Reports and Studies, Important Topics and Flaring and Venting related to energy development. | ||
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Updates to Directive 060 and Directive 017 were released in December 2018. Three web-based learning modules were developed to help operators comply with the changes. They are:
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Air Emissions Modules |
Directive 060: Directive 17: Manual 011: Manual 015: |
| Coal | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
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| Dam Safety | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
Water (Ministerial) Regulation - Part 6 Dam and Canal Safety |
| Drilling Waste | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
Directive 50: |
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This reference guide identifies the additional information required to submitting a drilling activity notification in DDS. Changes took effect on September 7, 2019. |
Reference Guide for DDS Drilling Activity Notifications |
Manual 002: |
| Drilling, Well Servicing & Fracturing | ||
| Read about Coalbed Methane, Commingling, Control Wells, Drilling, Hydraulic Fracturing, Seismic Activity, and Well Testing related to energy development. | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
Directive 008: Directive 009: Directive 010: Directive 036: Directive 059: Directive 083: |
| Facility & Well Site (includes Sour Gas Plants & In Situ) | ||
| Read about In Situ Recovery, Sour Gas, and Sulphur Recovery related to energy development. | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
Manual 001: |
| Land & Wildlife | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
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| Measurement & Data Quality Assurance | ||
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This presentation provides an overview of our Enhanced Production Audit Program (EPAP). |
Production Audit Enhanced Production Audit Program |
Directive 007: Directive 017: Directive 076: Manual 011: |
| Oil Sands | ||
| Read about Oil Sands, Mining, and Oil Sands Development Requirements related to energy development. | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
Directive 073: Directive 082: Directive 085: |
| Pipeline | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
Directive 077: |
| Waste Management (includes storage) | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
Directive 030: Directive 047: Directive 050: Directive 055: Directive 055 (Addendum): Directive 058: Directive 058 (Addendum): Directive 075: ID 96-03: ID 99-04: ID 2000-03: ID 2000-04: |
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The FAQ outlines our rules and requirements regarding the storage of materials produced, generated, or used on upstream petroleum sites. |
Directive 050 FAQ |
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| The FAQs and the Oilfield Waste Form support the rules and requirements outlined in Directive 058. |
Hydro Vac FAQ Directive 058 FAQ Oilfield Waste Form FAQ Oilfield Waste Form |
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| The FAQs, presentation, and report outlines our rules and requirements in Directive 055 regarding the storage of materials produced, generated, or used on upstream petroleum sites. |
Directive 055 Presentation Directive 055 FAQ Report 2009A - Discussion Document on Directive 055 |
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| This brochure helps waste generators characterize and classify oilfield waste. | Waste Characterization for Oilfield Waste Generators January 2020 |
Directive 058: Oilfield Waste Management Requirements for the Upstream Petroleum Industry Directive 047: Waste Reporting Requirements for Oilfield Waste Management Facilities Directive 030: Digital Data Submission of the Annual Oilfield Waste Disposition Report |
| Water & Fisheries | ||
| Read about Water use and Watercourse Crossing Management related to energy development. | ||
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This is a list of all the possible inspection results operators could see on the Inspection Detail Report in DDS following a site inspection. |
Inspection Items |
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Information for operators to become involved in the inspection and remediation of watercourse crossings. |
Information Package |
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| Description | Learning resources | Applicable directives and regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Assurance Program | ||
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This presentation describes our approach to compliance and enforcement, the Integrated Compliance Assurance Framework, and Manual 013: Compliance and Enforcement Program. |
AER Compliance and Enforcement Program |
Integrated Compliance Assurance Framework Manual 013: Compliance and Enforcement Program. |
Read an overview of how we respond to incidents and emergencies related to energy development.
| Description | Learning resources | Applicable directives and regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency response overview | ||
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This presentation describes the AER’s expectations for emergency response. |
Directive 071: |
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| Release reporting requirements | ||
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The presentation, FAQ, and brochure on release reporting requirements describe our expectations on release/spill containment, reporting, clean up, and disposal requirements. These documents clarify the reporting process, AER jurisdiction for various types of releases, different methods for clean-up/disposal, and commonly asked questions. |
Release Reporting Requirements brochure (June 2018) Release Reporting presentation Release Reporting FAQ Release Reporting Definitions Release Reporting Form Proactive Procedures to Prevent Spills brochure
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Informational Letter IL 98-01: A Memorandum of Understanding Between Alberta Environmental Protection and the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board Directive 058: Directive 071: Informational Letter IL 98-02: Suspension, Abandonment, Decontamination, and Surface Land Reclamation of Upstream Oil and Gas Facilities |
| Description | Learning resources |
|---|---|
| Digital Data Submission (DDS) system | |
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This user guide helps industry use the DDS system to submit information to us via the Internet. |
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