Resource Conservation Branch
PO Box 9329 Stn Prov Gov’t
Victoria, BC V8W 9N3 		Phone: (250) 952-0310
Fax: (250) 952-0301
Alt: (250) 952-0311

GUIDELINE FOR OTHER THAN NORMAL SPACING FOR WELLS

The normal spacing area for oil wells is one unit or 1/4 section (approximately 65 hectares), with the unadjusted oil allowable calculation based on a ten-year depletion rate for reserves underlying that tract. Gas wells have a spacing area of four units or one section; however, for most gas wells, there is no allowable restriction.

Approval of a Good Engineering Practice project status for an approved area or conclusion of a Unitization Agreement allows the Oil and Gas Commission to release the operator(s) from some of the detailed spacing and allowable regulations under Sections 101 or 105 of the Drilling and Production Regulation, thus permitting greater operational flexibility.

Where an individual well bore, such as that of a horizontal well, contacts a pool in more than one normal spacing area, and is not within a project, an application may be made to create a larger spacing area under section 65.1 of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act. Provided that only one well is productive from the pool within the spacing area, the assigned area is increased accordingly.

An application will not normally be processed by Commission staff until the prospective well has been successfully completed, as experience has shown that well bore trajectories and lengths will vary from those planned prior to drilling.

Notice of application may be published in The British Columbia Gazette.

An application for other than normal spacing under section 65.1 may contain, when applicable:

    the surface and bottom-hole locations and coordinates of the well, and the name of the productive formation

  • a map showing title holders of the productive formation over the pool area

  • a schematic diagram of the well bore completion

  • a general discussion of the need for other than normal spacing

  • written statements of no objection to the increased spacing from parties that may be affected. An example of such a statement is provided here.

Two copies of the application are to be submitted to the Director of the Resource Conservation Branch of the Oil and Gas Commission in Victoria at the address noted above.