Replaces previous edition issued July 27, 2026
Released with Bulletin 2026-45
See section 1.3 of the directive for what’s new.
Purpose of this Directive
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) Directive 020: Well Abandonment details the minimum requirements for abandonments, casing removal, zonal abandonments, and plug backs as required under section 3.013 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Rules.
The objective of a well abandonment is to cover all nonsaline groundwater (water with total dissolved solids less than 4000 milligrams per litre [mg/l]) and to isolate or cover all porous zones.
All open-hole and cased-hole abandonments must be conducted in accordance with the requirements in this directive.
Notes:
- Well status (set through Petrinex) and licence status (set through the Digital Data Submission system) should align. For a list of valid combinations, refer to the well/licence status matrix link under Attachments below.
Forms
- Commingled Abandonment: Before Submitting a Request to Vary Requirements [PDF]
- Directive 020 Forms
Attachments
- Manual 031: Guidelines for Pilot Applications for New Technology or Processes
- Well / Licence Status Matrix (updated April 2012)
Designated Information Submission System
The table below sets out the designated information submission system to use when submitting information under Directive 020. In addition to using the designated information submission system indicated below, nonroutine requests and the required supporting information must also be submitted to WellOperations@aer.ca.
| Item (section of directive) | Designated Information Submission System |
|---|---|
| Obtaining approval for nonroutine abandonment operations (section 2.1) | DDS system |
| AER notification (section 2.2) | OneStop |
| AER reporting requirements – surface casing vent flow/ gas migration (section 2.3) | DDS system |
| AER reporting requirements – casing failure (section 2.3) | DDS system |
| AER reporting requirements – surface abandonments (section 2.3) | OneStop |
| Leaking wells/Lowering casing stubs (section 3.3) | OneStop |
| Gas migration testing for open- and cased-hole wells (section 7.1) | DDS system |
| Fluid level test for open-hole wells (section 7.2) | DDS system |
| Surface casing vent flow test for cased-hole wells (section 7.3) | DDS system |
| Surface abandonment (section 8) | OneStop |
