DATE ISSUED: Sept. 9, 2024

EFFECTIVE DATE: Jan. 1, 2025

The BC Energy Regulator (BCER) is implementing amended regulations to achieve further reductions in methane emissions from the province’s upstream oil and gas sector, in line with the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030. These regulation updates are designed to support the Province's targets of reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 75 per cent by 2030, relative to 2014 levels, and to nearly eliminate them by 2035.

The amendments will, effective Jan. 1, 2025, update the following regulations under the Energy Resource Activities Act:

• Drilling and Production Regulation (DPR): Updates to Sections 4, 18, and multiple sections in Part 7.
• Oil and Gas Processing Facility Regulation (OGPFR): Updates to Sections 21 and 22.
• Pipeline Regulation: Updates to Section 7.1.

The amendments were developed with input from environmental groups and industry and tailored as a comprehensive package for the B.C. context. They focus on key areas and sources of emissions, such as compressor seals, pneumatic pumps and devices, dehydrators, surface casing vent flows, and leak detection and repair requirements. The regulation updates will require automated monitoring systems on equipment with the highest rate of leakage, increase the number of leak detection and repair surveys required for large facilities, tighten venting limits for certain operations, and impose stricter design and operating standards for new and modified facilities.

To support ongoing progress on meeting targets, the BCER will continue to work closely with the Province, monitoring methane research, technological developments and potential federal regulations, as well as evaluating the contribution of complementary provincial policies.

The BCER is also involved in the BC Methane Research Collaborative (MERC), which was created to focus research efforts toward managing and reducing the release of methane from oil and gas operations in B.C. The initiative, involving provincial agencies, environmental, scientific and industry groups, makes recommendations on key research needs, and supports research projects that inform the identification, quantification and control of methane emissions to support B.C.’s reduction goals.

Please refer to the deposited amendments for the detailed requirements.

Updates to the relevant guidance documents will be forthcoming in the fall of 2024. Additional Technical Updates will be published when appropriate to provide clarity on reporting and submissions.

If you have any questions regarding this Information Update or the methane provisions in general, please contact:

Kristofer Siriunas, P.Eng.
Air Emissions Scientist
BC Energy Regulator
Kristofer.siriunas@bc-er.ca
250-419-4457