Data Acquisition and Reporting Guidelines - Updated
On December 31, 2009 the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB), in consultation with the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) issued on a one-year trial basis, draft Data Acquisition and Reporting Guidelines (December 31, 2009). Since that time the guidelines have been updated to reflect lessons learned from their use. Additionally, based on further assessment by both Boards it was decided that each Board would issue and maintain its own set of Data Acquisition and Reporting Guidelines.
The changes reflected in the C-NLOPB version include:
- Introduced text “Administrative Authority” on page 1, indicating the authority delegated by the Board to the Chief Conservation Officer (CCO) in respect of these guidelines as per the C-NLOPB’s by-laws.
- Added guidance on page 4, regarding “Use of New or Equivalent Technology” which encourages Operators to apply new or equivalent technology where it meets or exceeds the legislative or regulatory requirements.
- Added guidance in Section 4.1(iii) on page 7, regarding geochemistry samples (i.e. adding bactericide) as follows: “Four (4) drops of bactericide should be added to prevent the formation of gas from bacteria that are routinely found in cuttings samples.”
- Added guidance in Section 7.1.1(b) on page 23, to clarify the classification of “exploration well” and “delineation well” in respect of Section 119 of the Act.
- Clarified expectations respecting formation flow testing in Section 7 as follows:
- Added guidance to Section 7.1.2 (Standard Test Program) on page 25, whereby a formation flow test need not be conducted where results from the well following the Approval to Alter the Condition of a Well (ACW) met pre-job performance expectations;
- Included in section 7.2(b) (Equipment Requirements) on page 26, a reference to Sections 34 and 36 of the Drilling & Production Guidelines respecting guidance and standards (i.e. NORSOK D-SR-007 and D-010 respectively) applicable to "Equipment Requirements" for testing of wells;
- Removed prescriptive requirements with respect to “drawdown” limitations from “Appendix C - Schedule 3a” on page 46 (as per Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers’ [CAPP] request);
- Included under Section 7.2(e) on page 29, text clarifying the distinction between a “downhole test tool” and a “downhole safety valve” as required under Section 34(2) of the Drilling and Production (D&P) Regulations; and
- Added guidance to 7.4(c) (Field Data Acquisition Program) on page 31, which streamline the C-NLOPB’s reporting requirements regarding Formation Flow Tests.