Regulatory details of Alberta wells

This section presents key regulatory details associated with well sites in Alberta. It includes information on Unique Well Identifiers (UWI), Licensee and Operator data, structural and fluid types, field and pool codes, and important dates such as license issuance, final drill, and status updates. This page aims to provide a clear understanding of the regulatory specifics for each well.

UWI

The UWI (Unique Well Identifier) is a distinct code assigned to each well in the oil and gas industry, crucial for tracking, reporting, and operational management. It typically consists of area and field codes, a unique well number, and sometimes additional geological information. UWIs are essential for regulatory compliance, data management, operational clarity, and environmental and safety monitoring, providing a standardized way to reference wells.

Examples

02/06-21-020-08W4/0: This UWI denotes sequence, location based on land survey, meridian, range, and a unique well event number.
AB/10-30-048-08W4/0: Indicates the well‘s province (Alberta), precise location (township-range), meridian-range in Western Canada, and a specific event number.

Licensee

The Licensee refers to the company or entity that holds the legal right or license to operate a well. This designation is key to understanding who is responsible for the well‘s management, safety, and environmental compliance. Common licensees in Alberta include:

Crescent Point Energy
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Encana Corporation

Operator

The Operator is the company or individual responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of a well. They oversee the technical aspects of drilling, production, and maintenance. Key duties include:

Drilling/Construction oversight
Production, optimization
Maintenance, troubleshooting
Data reporting

Major operators like Suncor and Imperial Oil leverage technical expertise in running Alberta’s wells.

Agent

An Agent acts on behalf of the licensee or operator, handling specific tasks or representing the company in regulatory matters. They play a crucial role in ensuring that the well‘s operations adhere to legal and industry standards, including:

Regulatory submissions
Compliance duties
Stakeholder representation

They play a crucial role in ensuring that the well‘s operations adhere to legal and industry standards.

License issued

The initial license issue date is when the well license was officially issued by the regulatory authority. For example, a well with a license issued date of 2015-09-27 indicates that its operation was authorized on September 27, 2015.

Final drill date

This date marks the completion of the drilling process for the well. For example, a well with a final drill date of 2016-04-29 indicates that the drilling process was completed on April 29, 2016.

Status update date

This is the most recent date when the well’s status was updated, indicating any changes in operation or condition. For example, a well with a status update date of 2016-05-01 indicates that the well’s status was updated on May 1, 2016.

Total Depth

The final depth in meters, indicating the subsurface extent of the wellbore. A well with a total depth of 2,384 meters means the well extends 2,384 meters (7,822 feet) below the surface.

Status code

Status codes are a series of numbers that convey key information about a well’s current operational phase, compliance status, and other regulatory-relevant details. These codes are standardized for consistency and ease of interpretation within the industry. For example, 0102000000 indicates that the well is active, drilling, and compliant.

Field code

This numeric code identifies the field where the well is located. Each field is assigned a unique code by the regulatory authority. For example, a well with a field code of 750 indicates provost, whose centre is Wainwright.

Pool code

This numeric code identifies the specific hydrocarbon pool within a field from which the well extracts resources. For example 0322252 indicates the CHARLIE LAKE FFF pool that lies within the Wembley field.