Geophysical
Seismic exploration programs to locate subsurface targets for oil
and gas deposits are administered under the Exploration
Regulations and Part 8 of the Mines
and Minerals Act which is administered by Alberta Sustainable
Resource Development.
Commencement and Completion of Seismic Operations
All permittees must inform Lands Division at the commencement of drilling or surface energy operations as well as the completion of recording operations. This information can be submitted at (780) 427-3932 or e-mail the completed forms - Commencement and Completion - to LFS.Seismic@gov.ab.ca
Exploration Directives
Exploration regulations specify what the geophysical industry “must do” in their day-to-day activities of its geophysical operations. Exploration directives focus on the field component of the geophysical industry and specify the descriptive “how to.”
Exploration Regulation (AR 284/2006) received Cabinet approval in November of 2006 and the associated directives were developed in consultation with stakeholders such as Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada.
Exploration directives allow flexibility as they can be updated to address changes in Alberta Sustainable Resource Development’s (ASRD) land management objectives, changes in technology and emergent issues associated with advances in the exploration industry. Exploration directives are approved by the executive director of ASRD’s Land Management Branch.
The transition and implementation of the Exploration Regulation and the associated exploration directives developed so far are now underway. ASRD has implemented 24 of the 26 new exploration directives. The remaining two –ED2006-16 Surface Water and Aquifers and ED2006-23 General Care and Duty – will be developed shortly.
ASRD expects that the transitional phase of the Exploration Regulation and the exploration directives developed to date will be fully implemented by November 1, 2007. This transition phase allows both government and industry to become familiar with the exploration directives and how they will be implemented.
For more information about Exploration Regulations and directives, please contact Laurice Block at (780) 415 - 4656 (toll free by calling 310-0000).