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Timeline

Our estimated processing time for this application is 60 business days. See our timeline spreadsheet for updates.

Purpose of the Application

An owner can secure its share of oil or gas production from any pool it owns under the Oil and Gas Conservation Act (OGCA). We must review and approve the owner’s declaration of a common gas processor.

An owner of a capable well typically has a market for its gas, but the gas must be treated in a specific processing plant, which the company does not own. The gas must meet certain specifications before it can be transported through a pipeline.

The owner believes that using the existing plant is

  • the only economically feasible or most practical way to process the gas; or
  • the clearly environmentally superior way to process the gas.

However, if the owner has been unsuccessful in negotiating access to the plant on reasonable terms, it can apply for a declaration of a common processor in order to gain access to the plant and secure its share of gas from the pool.

Under section 53 of the OGCA, each common processor must process available gas in the plant without favouring one producer or owner over another in the pool.

Applicants have the option of requesting that the AER direct

  • the proportion of production to be processed by the common processor from each producer or owner in the pool, and
  • the total amount of gas to be processed by the common processor from the pool listed in the common processor order.

Process Checklist

Submit an Application
Companies must submit applications for a common processor through our Digital Data Submission (DDS) system. We will register each application and assign a reference number.
By submitting an application, the company accepts that its information is no longer confidential.

Review Process

  1. We share all applications on our Public Notice of Application page to encourage public participation in the approval process.
  2. Anyone who believes they may be directly and adversely affected by an application can file a statement of concern (SOC). If we receive an SOC, it may take us longer to process the application.
  3. We will assign the application to a subject matter expert for initial review. If information is missing (i.e., the application is not complete and does not meet Directive 065 requirements), we will close the application. Otherwise, we will proceed with a full technical review. Our review determines if
    • producible reserves are available for processing and processing facilities are needed;
    • reasonable arrangements for use of processing capacity in the processing plant could not be agreed on by the parties;
    • the proposed common processor operation is either the only economically feasible or most practical way to process the gas or is clearly superior environmentally; and
    • when an application is being made under sections 53(5)(a) or 53(5)(b) of the OGCA for the allocation of production or the total amount of gas from the pool to be processed at the plant respectively, the applicant could not make reasonable arrangements on these matters.
  4. We may request additional information (through a supplemental information request) to complete our technical review.
  5. We will decide to approve, close, or deny the application. If we close it, the applicant may reapply without prejudice. If we deny it, the applicant can file an appeal through our appeal process.
  6. We will provide the applicant with a link to the letter with our decision, which is accessible through the Integrated Application Registry. We will also share our decision on our Publication of Decision page.