| #Q001 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Landowner, Department, or Agency Consent | wastewater, other | 1) The licensee must obtain written consent (agreement) from the landowner, department, or agency to a) manage drilling waste from pipeline construction on the associated pipeline right-of-way once the right-of-way surface has been restored and is being used by the landowner, department, or agency (also applies to landspraying , landspraying while drilling , and pump-off of drilling waste onto a restored pipeline right-of-way); b) manage drilling waste outside the well site or pipeline right-of-way boundaries using the landspray, landspray while drilling, disposal onto forested public lands, or pump-off method; c) store, mix-bury-cover, landspread, or use an alternative method (e.g., land treat or biodegrade in a contained system) for treating drilling waste on a remote site from the well site or pipeline right-of-way; and d) for private land only, place cement returns in pits on a well site or remote site when the combined area of one or more pits exceeds four square metres (m 2 ). 2) Licensees must provide a copy of a document called Information for Landowners on Consent for the Disposal, Treatment, or Storage of Drilling Wastes to the owners of any land on which licensees plan to manage drilling waste (includes well sites, remotes sites, and disturbed pipeline rights-of-way). | Applies to management of drilling waste on various land types requiring specific consent. | high |
| #Q002 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Overview of Drilling Waste Management Methods Restrictions | wastewater, other | 3) Licensees may not use mix-bury-cover or landspread to manage drilling waste from hydrocarbon-based mud systems unless the waste has undergone biodegradation. 4) Drilling waste disposal on a pipeline right-of-way is limited to drilling waste generated from the construction of that pipeline right-of-way. 5) If the site has previously been used for disposal, licensees must only proceed with the mix-bury-cover and landspread disposal if a) disposal occurs on an area of the site not previously used for drilling waste disposal, and all mix-bury-cover or landspread requirements are met; and b) the use of the site for drilling waste management or multiple disposals does not exceed five years, and any reuse of a storage system has followed the requirements set out in section 6.6. | General applicability for drilling waste management methods. | high |
| #Q003 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Soil Endpoint Requirements Update | wastewater, other | 6) If the Government of Alberta develops new soil quality guidelines or updates its existing soil remediation guidelines, licensees must adjust the endpoints set out in tables 2, 3, and 5 accordingly. | When provincial guidelines are updated. | high |
| #Q004 | monitoring | treatment | mandatory | Soil Salinity Endpoint Actions | wastewater, other | 7) Licensees must sample the receiving soil of the disposal area at the soil horizon and depth appropriate for the disposal method and analyze it to verify that the background soil electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) values are within the initial salinity criteria specified in table 2. 8) For each disposal method and applicable soil horizon and depth, licensees must ensure the soil-waste mix does not exceed the soil salinity endpoints in table 2. | Prior to and after disposal based on the chosen method. | high |
| #Q005 | operational | operational | mandatory | Soil Hydrocarbon Endpoint Requirements | wastewater, other | 9) Licensees must prevent soils receiving drilling waste from exceeding the hydrocarbon endpoints set out in table 3 and the concentrations in table 4. | Applicable to all receiving soils. | high |
| #Q006 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Soil Metal Endpoint Requirements | wastewater, other | 10) The use of barite in the drilling mud system will determine which of the following analytical methods the licensee must use: a) If barite is used, use the barium fusion inductively coupled plasma analysis method to determine the barite concentration. b) If barite is not used, use the total digest method to determine the total barium concentration. 11) Licensees must prevent soils receiving drilling waste from exceeding the metal endpoints set out in table 5 and the concentrations in tables 6 and 7. | Dependent on whether barite is present in the drilling mud system. | high |
| #Q007 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Receiving Soil Assessment and Disclosure of Exceedance | wastewater, other | 12) When assessing receiving soil conditions, licensees must ensure each sampling site is representative of a) the landscape within the proposed disposal area and of the most sensitive part of the landscape... and b) any previous drilling waste disposals within the disposal area. 13) For landspray, landspray while drilling, and disposal onto forested lands, licensees must collect samples for assessing pre- and post-disposal (where applicable) soil conditions as follows: a) Select one sampling site for every four hectares (ha) of a disposal area. b) Ensure each sampling site is a circular area with a 10 m radius and a centre precisely located and documented by GPS... c) At a minimum, collect one composite sample from the 0 to 10 centimetres (cm) soil depth increment... 14) When post-disposal sampling is required, licensees must sample the soil-waste mix within 60 days of the disposal and analyze it to verify that the endpoints... have not been exceeded. The post-disposal sampling and analysis must include a) lab analysis of the samples... and b) an assessment of soil particle size... 15) If the post-disposal or cement pit sample results exceed any of the soil endpoints... then licensees must email the AER at Directive050@aer.ca and provide a PDF notification disclosing the exceedance as a noncompliance event. The notice of disclosure must describe the situation... and include a plan to remedy the exceedance... | Applies to pre- and post-disposal soil assessment operations. | high |
| #Q008 | design | operational | mandatory | Drilling Waste Disposal Setbacks | wastewater, other | 16) For the landspray, landspray while drilling, disposal onto forested public lands, and pump-off disposal methods, licensees must ensure disposal does not occur within a) 10 m of a road ditch or property line, b) 50 m of a water well, c) 100 m of a water body, or d) 50 m of a water body if i) the water body is upgradient of the storage system or ii) the landscape creates a physical barrier that prevents the drilling waste from migrating towards the water body. 17) For mix-bury-cover and landspread disposal methods, licensees must ensure disposal does not occur within 10 m of an on-site rig water well. | Applicable depending on the disposal method in use. | high |
| #Q009 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Drilling Waste Sampling Requirements | wastewater, other | 18) Where a storage system has an area less than or equal to 500 m 2 , licensees must obtain a representative composite drilling waste sample comprising equal amounts of five subsamples. 19) Where a storage system has an area greater than 500 m 2 , licensees must obtain a representative composite drilling waste sample comprising equal amounts of one subsample for every 100 m 2 to a maximum of ten subsamples. 20) Samples must be taken at least 1 m from the edge of the storage system. 21) If the suction and discharge points of a storage system are identifiable, licensees must ensure one subsample is taken at each point. 22) If the fluid (i.e., clear liquids ) or solid phases of the drilling waste are managed separately, licensees must obtain a representative composite drilling waste sample for each phase. 23) Licensees must ensure subsamples are collected from the entire depth of each phase and keep any hydrocarbon layer in the sample if the hydrocarbon is not being removed from the drilling waste before disposal. 24) If the fluid and solid phases of the drilling waste are jointly managed, licensees must take each subsample comprising the representative composite drilling waste samples from the entire depth of each phase at one time... 25) Licensees must identify on a sketch of the storage system the locations and depths of the subsamples taken... 26) Licensees must divide the representative composite drilling waste sample into containers for the analysis and provide the data to support the method... 27) If the drilling waste management method starts 30 days to 6 months after the original sampling date, licensees must determine the pH, EC, and SAR of the drilling waste using field-screening methods... 28) If the drilling waste management method does not start within six months of the original sampling date, licensees must resample and analyze the drilling waste. 29) Immediately before implementing the waste management method, licensees must inspect the drilling waste storage system... 30) If field-screening tests or an inspection indicate that materials may have been added... licensees must resample and analyze the drilling waste. 31) Licensees must sample the drilling waste by taking either a) a total waste (fluids and solids) sample... or b) a solids sample if only the solid phase is being managed... | Applicable when characterizing drilling waste before disposal or treatment. | high |
| #Q010 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Drilling Waste Assessment and Toxicity Requirements | wastewater, other | 32) Licensees must ensure analyses for EC, SAR (sodium, calcium, magnesium), and forms of nitrogen... are done a) in oversaturated drilling waste samples using as-received filtrate; clarified filtrate... b) in undersaturated drilling waste samples using a saturated paste extract. 33) Licensees must conduct metal and hydrocarbon content analyses on the as-received drilling waste samples... hydrocarbon content in soils and soil-waste mixtures must be determined using the procedures and methods referenced in the latest edition of Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines. 34) Licensees must use the luminescent bacteria toxicity test to evaluate drilling waste toxicity... 35) If the EC50(15) value of the toxicity test is less than 75 per cent, licensees must have a lab treat the drilling waste sample with coarse activated carbon (charcoal) and test the charcoaltreated sample for toxicity... 36) If the charcoaltreated drilling waste passes the toxicity test... licensees must then test for hydrocarbon content... 37) For drilling waste with an original EC50(15) value or charcoal-treated EC50(15) value less than 75 per cent... licensees must a) gather more data to determine the cause of toxicity before proceeding with disposal or b) send the drilling waste to an approved waste management facility or use an alternative method... 38) If in-field treatments are conducted... licensees must resample and retest the drilling waste... 39) If the waste is treated, licensees must resample and reanalyze the waste... 40) For pipeline drilling activities, licensees must evaluate the toxicity of additives and products used... 41) The mechanism used to evaluate the toxicity of the system must be addressed in the licensee's disposal management plan... 42) If terrestrial toxicity testing is used... to establish a threshold toxicity level... the licensee must provide information showing that luminescent bacteria toxicity testing is not a suitable method... | When evaluating the chemical parameters and potential toxicity of drilling waste. | high |
| #Q011 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Generic Mud System Requirements | wastewater, other | 43) Licensees must a) develop a lab-tested generic mud system that mimics the mud formulation that will be used for the drilling program... and b) lab test the mud system for metals listed in table 5, toxicity (luminescent bacteria), and salinity... before use. 44) Licensees may proceed with disposal using landspray, landspray while drilling, and disposal onto forested public lands if the generic mud system a) passes the luminescent bacteria toxicity test, b) contains metal concentrations that do not exceed the soil metal endpoints... and c) does not exceed the salinity endpoints... 45) Licensees must re-evaluate using landspray, landspray while drilling, or disposal onto forested public lands if drilling operations result in changes to the drilling mud waste composition... 46) Licensees must monitor changes to the generic mud system by sampling and testing drilling waste for toxicity and metals from a) 5 per cent of the wells drilled for the drilling program or b) from at least two wells for a small drilling program... 47) If drilling waste sampling identifies a metal content exceeding the values in tables 6 or 7 or a toxicity threshold failure, licensees must sample the disposal area... and analyze the samples to determine compliance... 48) If sampling the disposal area identifies an exceedance of the endpoints... licensees must re-evaluate the continued use of landspray, landspray while drilling, and disposal onto forested public lands... | When utilizing a generic mud system for managing drilling waste across a program. | high |
| #Q012 | administrative | health | mandatory | Drilling Waste Containing Radioactive Isotopes Requirements | wastewater, other | 49) When land-applying drilling waste containing radioactive isotopes following a method in this directive, licensees must a) ensure the concentration of the radioactive isotope used is documented and kept in the well or pipeline file, including any conversion factors used to demonstrate that the resulting concentration in the drilling waste is below the prescribed limits, and b) disclose to relevant landowners that drilling waste disposed of on their land contains radioactive isotopes. | If radioactive isotopes are added to drilling mud systems. | high |
| #Q013 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Analytical Method and Field-Screening Requirements | wastewater, other | 50) To assess drilling waste, soils, and soil-waste mixes, licensees must refer to recognized and published analytical methods by accredited laboratories with quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) programs in place. 51) Licensees must limit the use of field-screening test methods to assess a) the suitability of soils to receive drilling waste, b) the suitability of drilling waste for landspray while drilling and disposal onto forested public lands, c) the minor treatment of drilling waste in the field (e.g., pH adjustment), and d) the suitability for disposal of pipeline drilling waste composed solely of bentonite and nonsaline water. 52) Licensees may only use field-screening test methods to assess pH, EC, SAR (magnesium, sodium, calcium), nitrogen (NH3-N, NO3-N, NO2-N), and hydrocarbons (i.e., BTEX and F1 to F4 fractions). 53) When choosing a field-screening test method, licensees must ensure a) the detection range of the chosen method is appropriate... and b) the detection limit of the test encompasses the criteria the sample is being evaluated against... 54) Licensees must ensure all field-screening programs are supported by an ongoing quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program that includes the following: a) training of field personnel... b) equipment and instrument calibration... c) documented standard operating procedures d) verification of data quality objectives... 55) Licensees must lab verify 5 per cent of field measurements and one receiving soil sample per well, and a) if any of the lab results are higher than the field results, recalculate the loading rates or spread rates using the lab results, or b) if the recalculated loading or spread rates exceed the section 3 soil endpoints, sample the receiving field (soil-waste mixture) after deposition of waste. | When undertaking sample analyses for any assessments. | high |
| #Q014 | operational | operational | mandatory | General Drilling Waste Storage Requirements | wastewater, other | 56) Licensees must only put drilling waste into a storage system. It is prohibited to mix camp sewage or other oilfield waste... with the drilling waste. It may be appropriate to direct rig washwater to a storage system provided only water-based drilling waste are stored in it and only nonsaline water is used to wash the rig... If wishing to conduct other drilling waste treatment activities in a storage system, licensees must obtain written AER approval... 57) Licensees must only use a storage system to store drilling waste. Licensees may treat drilling waste in a storage system to adjust pH, facilitate solids and liquids separation, or reduce drilling waste toxicity. 58) Licensees must ensure drilling waste storage areas are kept clean. The drilling waste may not create or constitute a safety hazard, nuisance, or adversely affect air, soil, surface water, or groundwater. 59) Licensees must secure the storage system or remote site so that it is not a hazard to the public or wildlife... 60) Licensees must ensure only wells and pipelines for which they are the licensee contribute drilling waste to their storage system or remote site. 61) Licensees must ensure waste from directional drilling for pipeline construction and waste from drilling oil, gas, geothermal, or brine-hosted mineral wells are stored and disposed of separately. 62) Licensees must locate the storage system or implement measures... to prevent surface water from entering or exiting the storage system. Precipitation landing within the storage system must be managed as drilling waste. 63) Licensees must maintain a minimum freeboard of 0.5 m for all storage systems. The storage system design capacity must account for seasonal precipitation rates and the volume of the expected drilling waste. 64) Within 18 months of rig release of the first well... or within 12 months of the first receipt of pipeline drilling waste, licensees must do the following: a) Remove the drilling waste from the storage system and manage it following the requirements of this directive. b) Physically close the storage system... | Applicable during the temporary storage and eventual closure of drilling waste facilities. | high |
| #Q015 | design | operational | mandatory | Sump Construction Requirements | wastewater, other | 65) Licensee must only construct sumps on a site with appropriate deposits of clayey soils (i.e., meets the criteria set out in requirement 66(b)) below that are free of hydraulic defects... If the soils do not meet the criteria... the sump must have a synthetic liner that meets the requirements of Directive 055... 66) Unless using a tank, bin, or sump with synthetic liner at the site, the licensee must engage a qualified person to conduct a site investigation to delineate the in situ clayey deposits at the site. The site investigation must include the following: a) At least three boreholes... b) Take representative soil samples from the coarsest material within the planned sump area and from within the area extending 1 m beyond the boundary... Each of the three core samples must be analyzed in a lab to confirm that the clay deposit has the following characteristics: i) greater than 50 per cent fines... ii) equal to or greater than 28 per cent clay... c) The lab analysis required in (b) for sumps of 100 m 2 or less can be reduced to one sample if the three cores... are similar in texture... 67) Before constructing the sump, licensees must prepare the site following typical well site and soil conservation practices. When constructing the sump, determine whether naturally saline subsoils are being excavated and keep them separate from nonsaline soil... | When constructing earthen sumps for drilling waste storage. | high |
| #Q016 | operational | operational | mandatory | Pipeline Drilling Storage Requirements | wastewater, other | 68) While drilling, licensees must store drilling muds and waste at the entry and exit pits of the drilling activity. The following are acceptable storage systems: a) earthen pits constructed in clayey soils that contain at least 20 per cent clay and 50 per cent fines... b) tanks, conductor barrels, or lined earthen pits c) earthen pits not meeting the criteria specified in (a) if the drilling mud waste released into the pit is immediately and continually removed during drilling and stored as per this directive 69) Immediately on completion of drilling, licensees must remove the drilling waste from the pits and manage it as per this directive, then backfill and reclaim the pits. | During and immediately after directional drilling for pipeline construction. | high |
| #Q017 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Remote Site Requirements | wastewater, other | 70) If the remote site is on a site other than a licensed well site, licensees must obtain a written agreement from the landowner or department agency managing the land... 71) If the storage system is on a site other than a licensed well site, licensees must have signage at the site entrance identifying the legal subdivision (LSD), the licensee, the well licence, or pipeline licence and line number to which the site is linked, and a 24-hour emergency phone number. Remote sites with multiple sumps and contributing wells or pipelines constructed after May 1, 2022, must have signage at each sump used to store drilling waste... 72) For liability tracking purposes, licensees must link the well or pipeline licence that generated the drilling waste to the remote site... 73) A remote site must not be used for more than five years from rig release of the first well that contributed drilling waste to the storage system or from the first receipt of pipeline drilling waste... | Applicable when utilizing a remote site rather than the generating well site for waste management. | high |
| #Q018 | design | operational | mandatory | Earthen-Bermed Storage System Requirements | wastewater, other | 74) Licensees must only use earthen-bermed storage systems a) to store nonhydrocarbon-based drilling waste solids... intended for disposal by landspread, mix-bury-cover, or at an approved waste management facility; and b) on a well site or remote site that has been prepared following typical well site and soil conservation practices... 75) Licensees must assess the shallow subsoils of the area on which the earthen-bermed storage system will be constructed and verify the subsoils are of limited permeability . The assessment must be conducted by a qualified person and consist of at least three subsoil samples... analyzed to confirm that for a minimum depth of 30 cm the soil forming the base of the system has a) greater than 50 per cent fines... and b) greater than 20 per cent clay... 76) Licensees must construct the berms with clayey soil meeting the characteristics set out in requirement 75 above. The berms must be of sufficient capacity, but at least 15 cm high, to contain any generated leachate and prevent the flow of surface water into the storage system. | When electing to construct earthen-bermed storage structures built on grade. | high |
| #Q019 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Reuse of a Storage System Requirements | wastewater, other | 77) Licensees must not reuse an earthen-bermed storage system. 78) Licensees wishing to reuse a storage system (other than an earthen-bermed storage system) for another drilling program must verify its integrity before reuse. 79) Licensees must notify the AER at least 30 days before the intended day of reuse. Send an email notification to Directive050@aer.ca and include the following information: a) the location of the site... b) a description of the method used to verify the integrity of the storage system... c) a description of any additional construction work done... d) verification that the landowner, department, or agency has agreed... e) a commitment to meet the requirements set out in sections 6.1, 6.2, and 6.4 f) the number of previous drilling programs for which the storage system has been used... g) verification that the site, overall, has not been used to store drilling waste for a period that exceeds five years | Applies prior to any planned reuse of non-earthen-bermed storage structures. | high |
| #Q020 | design | operational | mandatory | Storage System Setbacks | wastewater, other | 80) Licensees must ensure the exterior walls of the storage system are at least a) 20 m from an on-site rig water well, b) 50 m from any off-site water well, c) 100 m from a water body, or d) 50 m of a water body if i) the water body is upgradient of the storage system or ii) the landscape creates a physical barrier that prevents the drilling waste from migrating towards the water body. | During siting of all waste storage systems. | high |
| #Q021 | operational | operational | mandatory | Storage of Hydrocarbon-Based Drilling Waste Requirements | wastewater, other | 81) Licensees must store liquid hydrocarbon-based drilling waste in tanks. Suitable solids storage options that prevent solids from contact with the ground include a) lining the sump or earthen-bermed storage system with a synthetic liner as per Directive 055 or b) containing the drilling waste solids in tanks or other storage vessels as per Directive 055 . | When handling hydrocarbon-based fluids or solids. | high |
| #Q022 | operational | operational | mandatory | Management of Cement Returns Requirements | wastewater, other | 82) Licensees must use one of the following options to manage cement returns that have been isolated from the drilling waste: a) Allow the isolated cement returns to harden in aboveground synthetically lined walled storage systems (AWSS)... b) Allow the isolated cement returns to harden in aboveground portable rigid structures that will adequately contain the cement returns... c) Place the isolated cement returns into a segregated pit (or pits) on the originating well site or associated remote site. Allow the cement to harden, break the cement into pieces no larger than 0.5 m 3 , and cover with at least 1 m of clean fill... d) Place cement returns that are either isolated from drilling waste or removed from a cement return storage pit into cells that are part of an approved landfill... e) Apply to the AER for approval of alternatives to manage or recycle cement returns... | When cement returns are segregated from drilling waste. | high |
| #Q023 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Disposal Onto Forested Public Lands Site Receiving Soil Requirements | wastewater, other | 83) Licensees must only use DFPL on lands for which the AER has issued the following types of dispositions: a) MSLs, which include well sites, remote sites, and some short access roads b) licences of occupation (LOCs), which include developed and undeveloped roads 84) Licensees must not dispose of waste in the ditches of a developed LOC (e.g., where a roadbed has been constructed)... In addition, under winter MGD (frozen) conditions, lands under a LOC (whether developed or not) must be ploughed to create snow windrows, and the waste must be applied in several passes... 85) Licensees must not use DFPL on a) other accesses, seismic lines, or existing clearings and openings on public lands; b) areas with a slope greater than 5 per cent; c) areas where the applied drilling waste could pool, cause erosion, or migrate into lakes or watercourses... and d) receiving soils where the depth to the mineral soil horizon is greater than 30 cm or where vegetative indicators (e.g., tamarack, stunted black spruce) indicate unsuitable receiving soils such as open muskeg. | When evaluating sites for DFPL application method. | high |
| #Q024 | operational | operational | mandatory | Disposal Onto Forested Public Lands Disposal Requirements | wastewater, other | 86) Licensees must sample and analyze the drilling waste... and use the results to calculate spray rates... 87) Licensees must segregate cement returns from the drilling waste and manage them as set out in section 7. 88) If solids and cuttings are separated from the drilling waste, licensees must manage them using a different method... 89) Licensees must isolate drillstem test fluids and any sections of the mud system contaminated by hydrocarbons and manage them by a different method. 90) Licensees must only use the DFPL disposal method for water-based drilling mud systems where the drilling waste (fluids or total waste) a) has a pH between 6 and 10.5; b) has an EC that does not exceed 10 dS/m; c) contains no visible hydrocarbons, and no other hydrocarbon flags were encountered... d) does not contain cumulative concentrations of metals... that exceed the endpoints... e) does not contain any mud additives or products that were used in concentrations above the luminescent bacteria toxicity test pass threshold... 91) Despite the preceding requirements 90(c), (d), and (e), licensees must store, sample, and test the drilling waste before proceeding with DFPL if a) a hydrocarbon flag was encountered... b) additives and mud products were used in concentrations exceeding the luminescent bacteria toxicity test pass threshold... c) the cumulative concentration of metals... exceeds the endpoints... 92) Licensees must ensure the following when using DFPL: a) The minimum drilling waste spray rate is at least 10 m 3 /ha... b) The maximum drilling waste spray rate does not exceed 80 m 3 /ha... c) The drilling waste does not clump or pool on the land... d) The sodium application rate does not exceed 250 kg/ha... e) The solids application rate does not exceed six tonnes per hectare... and the DFPL does not smother or stress the vegetation... 93) Licensees must mark the spray area before disposal. All stop and start points must be clearly marked (e.g., flags). Markers are to remain in place until the entire disposal operation is complete and then removed. | During application of the DFPL method. | high |
| #Q025 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Disposal Onto Forested Public Lands Post-Disposal Sampling Requirements | wastewater, other | 94) Licensees must conduct post-disposal sampling of the soil-waste mix and compare the results to the applicable soil endpoints set out in section 3 if predisposal testing (see section 8.3) resulted in any of the following outcomes: a) The EC of the drilling waste exceeded 8 dS/m, the nitrogen loading rate exceeded 20 kg/ha, or the sodium loading rate exceeded 150 kg/ha... b) The concentrations of metals in the drilling waste exceeded any of those in tables 6 or 7... c) A hydrocarbon flag was encountered, and the hydrocarbon concentrations in the drilling waste exceeded the values for any of the parameters in table 4... | When predisposal parameters trip defined threshold limits. | high |
| #Q026 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Pump-off Receiving Soil Requirements | wastewater, other | 95) Licensees must collect samples for assessing pre- and post-disposal (where applicable) soil conditions as follows: a) Select one sampling site for each hectare of the disposal area. b) Ensure each sampling site is a circular area with a 10 m radius and a centre precisely located and documented by GPS... c) At a minimum, collect one composite sample from the 0 to 10 cm soil depth increment and one from the 10 to 30 cm soil depth increment from each sampling site. Each composite sample must include five subsamples. | When utilizing the pump-off method for clear fluids. | high |
| #Q027 | operational | operational | mandatory | Pump-off Disposal Requirements | wastewater, other | 96) Licensees must only use the pump-off disposal method for the portions of water-based drilling waste that qualify as clear liquids (i.e., do not contain any visible hydrocarbons and appear nonturbid when sampled from the discharge point; may be colourless or have natural colour or staining). 97) Licensees must sample and analyze the clear liquids for toxicity, pH, EC, SAR, Na, and N... to ensure the liquids meet the following criteria: a) a pH between 6 and 8.5. If the pH is adjusted, it must be reverified before pumping off... b) an EC that does not exceed 10 dS/m c) pass a luminescent bacteria toxicity test before disposal... d) the sodium loading rate does not exceed 250 kg/ha, and the nitrogen loading rate does not exceed the rates in table 10... 98) Licensees must not exceed an application rate of 1000 m 3 /ha. 99) When using pump-off disposal, licensees must ensure the drilling waste does not clump or pool on the land, migrate off the disposal area, or cause land erosion. | Prior to and during the execution of a pump-off operation. | high |
| #Q028 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Pump-off Post-Disposal Sampling Requirements | wastewater, other | 100) Licensees must conduct post-disposal sampling and compare the results to the applicable soil endpoints set out in section 3 if predisposal testing (see section 9.3) resulted in any of the following outcomes: a) The EC of the clear liquid exceeded 5 dS/m... b) The sodium loading rate exceeded 150 kg/ha... c) The nitrogen loading rate exceeded 20 kg/ha... | When predisposal parameters trip defined threshold limits during a pump-off. | high |
| #Q029 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Mix-Bury-Cover Receiving Soil Requirements | wastewater, other | 101) Licensees must conduct MBC disposals within deeper subsoils (i.e., at a depth profile between 1 and 1.5 m or deeper to form a stabilized waste-soil mass below the major rooting zone)... 102) Licensees must collect samples for assessing pre- and post-disposal (where applicable) soil conditions as follows: a) For disposal areas that are 3000 m 2 or less, collect a minimum of one composite sample comprising five subsamples. b) For disposal areas that exceed 3000 m 2 , divide the area into equal plots that are no larger than 3000 m 2 and collect one composite sample... c) Collect each subsample at the soil profile depth for incorporation of the drilling waste... d) Ensure the soil-waste mix sample is not diluted with soil from above or below the mix depth. 103) If the drilling waste contains nitrogen or the nitrogen content is unknown, licensees must determine whether the receiving soil is coarse grained... or fine grained... | When assessing site suitability for MBC. | high |
| #Q030 | operational | treatment | mandatory | Mix-Bury-Cover Disposal Requirements | wastewater, other | 104) Licensees must have the sample analyzed for the following parameters and use the results to determine the soil-waste mix ratio that will prevent the receiving soil from exceeding the soil endpoints set out in section 3: a) pH, EC, SAR, and Na b) nitrogen (N)... c) metals... d) hydrocarbons... e) toxicity... 105) Licensees must mix the subsoil and drilling waste at a ratio of at least three parts subsoil to one part drilling waste... In addition, a) licensees must use predictive lab mixes to determine the soil-waste mix ratio for drilling waste with an EC of 10 dS/m or more, an Na concentration of 3000 milligrams per litre (mg/L) or greater... and b) licensees must not start MBC operations when the predictive lab or calculated mix ratio s exceed seven parts soil to one part waste... 106) Licensees must not exceed a soil N endpoint... of 10 mg/kg for coarse soils... or 40 mg/kg for fine soils... 107) Licensees must cover the subsoil-waste mixture with at least 1 m of clean fill. The EC and SAR of the clean fill must meet the latest edition of Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines for the applicable soil rating category and depth. | During the design and execution of an MBC disposal. | high |
| #Q031 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Mix-Bury-Cover Post-Disposal Sampling Requirements | wastewater, other | 108) Licensees must conduct post-disposal sampling and compare the results to the applicable soil endpoints set out in section 3 if predisposal testing (see section 10.3) resulted in any of the following outcomes: a) The EC of the drilling waste exceeded 10 dS/m, or the Na content of the drilling waste exceeded 3000 mg/L... b) The concentrations of metals in the drilling waste exceeded any of those in tables 6 or 7... c) The hydrocarbon concentration in the drilling waste exceeded the values for any of the parameters in table 4... d) If the nitrogen concentration in the drilling waste (wet weight) is 6 mg/kg or more for disposals in coarse soils... or 120 mg/kg or more for disposals in fine soils... | When predisposal parameters trip defined threshold limits during an MBC. | high |
| #Q032 | operational | operational | mandatory | Landspray and Landspray While Drilling Receiving Soil Requirements | wastewater, other | 109) For landspray and landspray while drilling, licensees must only select land with a slope of less than 5 per cent for summer (unfrozen ground) operations or a slope of less than 3 per cent for winter (frozen and snow covered) operations. | When evaluating sites for Landspray or LWD. | high |
| #Q033 | operational | treatment | mandatory | Requirements for Landspray | wastewater, other | 110) Licensees must contain the drilling waste in a storage system before landspraying and a) take a fluids sample... or b) take a total waste sample... 111) Licensees must analyze the drilling waste sample for the parameters listed below to determine spray rates that will prevent the receiving soil from exceeding the soil endpoints... 112) Licensees must ensure a) the pH of the drilling waste is between 6 and 10.5; b) the drilling waste passes a toxicity test... and c) spray rates for winter operations must be determined using calculations for application without soil incorporation. 113) For disposal with incorporation, licensees must ensure drilling waste spray rates are determined by the calculations for soil incorporation and that the drilling waste incorporates into the receiving soil to a maximum depth of 15 cm within 60 days of application. If incorporation does not occur within 60 days of application, licensees must select sites where migration of drilling waste from the application area would not occur within the 60 days allowed for incorporation and ensure the waste spray rates are determined by the calculations without soil incorporation. | During application of standard landspray method. | high |
| #Q034 | operational | operational | mandatory | Requirements for Landspray While Drilling | wastewater, other | 114) Licensees must isolate drillstem test fluids and any sections of the mud system contaminated by hydrocarbons and manage them by a different method. 115) Licensees must sample and analyze the drilling waste... and use the results to determine spray rates that will prevent the receiving soil from exceeding the soil endpoints set out in section 3. 116) Licensees must only use the LWD disposal method for water-based drilling mud systems where the resulting drilling waste (fluids or total waste) a) has a pH between 6 and 10.5; b) has an EC that does not exceed 16 dS/m; c) contains no visible hydrocarbons, and no other hydrocarbon flags were encountered... d) does not contain cumulative concentrations of metals... that exceed the endpoint values... e) does not contain any mud additives or products used in concentrations above the luminescent bacteria toxicity test pass threshold... and f) spray rates are determined using calculations for application without soil incorporation. 117) Licensees must separate and handle drilling waste as different sections of the well are drilled... if changes are made to the drilling mud formulation... 118) Licensees must ensure LWD disposal operations occur within 48 hours of rig release. Under extreme weather conditions, drilling waste can be stored in tanks for a maximum of 96 hours... but the drilling waste must be retested before starting the LWD operations... | During application of Landspray While Drilling method. | high |
| #Q035 | operational | operational | mandatory | Requirements Common to Landspray and Landspray While Drilling | wastewater, other | 119) Licensees must segregate cement returns from the drilling waste and manage them as set out in section 7. 120) If solids and cuttings are separated from the drilling waste, licensees must manage them using a different method... 121) Licensees must ensure the following: a) The minimum drilling waste spray rate is not less than 10 m 3 /ha... b) The maximum drilling waste spray rate does not exceed 40 m 3 /ha for summer (unfrozen ground) operations. c) The maximum drilling waste spray rate does not exceed 20 m 3 /ha for winter operations... d) In winter operations, when the disposal area is snow covered, the disposal area is prepared so that the drilling waste is applied to the surface of the disposal area and not onto snow accumulation. e) The drilling waste does not clump or pool on the land... f) The sodium loading rate does not exceed 250 kg/ha, and the nitrogen loading rate does not exceed the rates in table 10... g) The solids application rate does not exceed 6 t/ha when spraying onto vegetated lands, and the disposal material does not smother or stress the vegetation... h) Licensees must discuss compaction and access impact (rutting) with the landowner, department, or agency before disposal... | Mandatory bounds applying to both variants of landspraying. | high |
| #Q036 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Landspray Sampling | wastewater, other | 122) Licensees must conduct post-disposal sampling and compare the results to the applicable soil endpoints set out in section 3 if predisposal testing (see sections 11.3.1, 11.3.2, and 11.3.3) resulted in any of the following outcomes: a) The EC of the drilling waste exceeded 10 dS/m, the nitrogen loading rate exceeded 20 kg/ha, or the sodium loading rate exceeded 150 kg/ha... b) The concentration of metals in the drilling waste exceeded any of those in tables 6 or 7... c) A hydrocarbon flag was encountered, and the hydrocarbon concentration in the drilling waste exceeded the values for any of the parameters in table 4... | When predisposal parameters trip defined threshold limits during a regular landspray. | high |
| #Q037 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Landspray While Drilling Sampling | wastewater, other | 123) Licensees must conduct post-disposal sampling and compare the results to the applicable soil endpoints set out in section 3 if any of the following criteria are met: a) If the EC of the drilling waste exceeds 10 dS/m... b) If the nitrogen loading rate exceeds 20 kg/ha... c) If the sodium loading rate exceeds 150 kg/ha... | When predisposal parameters trip defined threshold limits during an LWD operation. | high |
| #Q038 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Landspread Receiving Soil Requirements | wastewater, other | 124) Licensees must conduct landspreading within shallow subsoils (i.e., no more than 1 m depth) on the well site, pipeline right-of-way, or remote site. 125) Licensees must collect samples for assessing pre- and post-disposal (where applicable) soil conditions as follows: a) For disposal areas that are 3000 m 2 or less, collect a minimum of one composite sample comprising five subsamples. b) For disposal areas that exceed 3000 m 2 , divide the area into equal plots no larger than 3000 m 2 and collect one composite sample comprising five subsamples from each plot. c) Collect each subsample from the 0 to 30 cm soil depth profile or the drilling waste depth incorporation, whichever is less. d) Ensure the soil-waste mix sample is not diluted with soil from below the mix depth. | When assessing site suitability for landspreading. | high |
| #Q039 | operational | treatment | mandatory | Landspread Disposal Requirements | wastewater, other | 126) Licensees must analyze the sample for the following parameters and use the results to determine the soil-waste mix ratio that will prevent the receiving soil from exceeding the soil endpoints set out in section 3: a) pH, EC, SAR, Na b) nitrogen (N)... c) metals... d) hydrocarbons... e) toxicity... 127) Licensees must ensure the pH of drilling waste being landspread is between 6 and 10.5. 128) Licensees must mix the subsoil and drilling waste at a ratio of at least three parts subsoil to one part drilling waste... In addition, a) licensees must use predictive lab mixes to determine the soil-waste mix ratio if drilling waste has an EC of 8 dS/m or more, an Na concentration of 2000 mg/L or greater... or if the landspreading is to occur on soil within the fair soil rating category... and b) licensees must not proceed with landspreading operations when the predictive lab or calculated mix ratios exceed seven parts soil to one part waste... 129) Licensees must not exceed a waste application rate of 1000 m 3 /ha or a thickness of 10 cm. 130) Licensees must not exceed an N loading of 400 kg N/ha within the landspread disposal area; this value must be prorated to applicable mass of N based on the total area used for the landspread disposal... | During the design and execution of a landspread disposal. | high |
| #Q040 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Landspread Post-Disposal Sampling Requirements | wastewater, other | 131) Licensees must conduct post-disposal sampling of the soil-waste mix and compare the results to the applicable soil endpoints set out in section 3 if predisposal testing (see section 12.3) resulted in any of the following outcomes: a) The EC of the drilling waste exceeded 8 dS/m, or the Na content of the drilling waste exceeds 2000 mg/L... b) The concentrations of metals in the drilling waste exceeded any of those in tables 6 or 7... c) The hydrocarbon concentration in the drilling waste exceeded the values for any of the parameters in table 4... d) The nitrogen loading rate exceeded 300 kg/ha... | When predisposal parameters trip defined threshold limits during a landspread. | high |
| #Q041 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Sending Drilling Waste to Approved Waste Management Facilities | wastewater, other | 132) Any required characterization, classification, and analyses must be done on the drilling waste before adding sorbent material. 133) Licensees must a) keep information on the use of an approved waste management facility in the well file... b) make the information available to the AER upon request, and c) use the information to support an application for reclamation certification... 134) Licensees must not send drilling waste to registered landfill or landfill currently operating under an Alberta Public Health permit that will qualify for registration under the Code of Practice for Landfills under EPEA... 135) Licensees must not send drilling waste to compost facilities or compost components at waste management facilities, including AEPA-regulated landfills. 136) Licensees must not send drilling waste to dedicated land treatment facilities (i.e., facilities approved by or registered with AEPA for the treatment of soils contaminated with refined hydrocarbons). | When dispatching drilling waste off-site to approved third-party facilities. | high |
| #Q042 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Mobile Thermal Treatment Units | wastewater, other | 137) Licensees must notify the AER at least thirty days before starting thermal treatment operations. Send an email notification to Directive058@aer.ca with the notification requirements outlined in Directive 058 along with: a) the well licence number and unique well identifier (UWI) if the mobile thermal treatment unit is on the well site, or b) if the mobile thermal treatment unit is on a remote site, the well licence and UWI to which the remote site is linked (see requirement 72. | Prior to starting thermal treatment operations. | high |
| #Q043 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Alternative Management Methods Requirements | wastewater, other | 138) Licensees must provide sufficient information in the application to substantiate that the proposed systems, procedures, or technologies will achieve a level of environmental protection and safety equivalent to the methods set out in this directive. Details regarding the need for an alternative method, including supporting science and technical rationale, must be included in the application. 139) Licensees must obtain AER approval before implementing the alternative management method. | When seeking an exemption or utilizing unlisted waste management technologies. | high |
| #Q044 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Application Information Requirements | wastewater, other | 140) The MOS EPEA approval holder must record these volumes as per the requirements in the MOS EPEA approval. 141) The licensee's application must include the following information: a) legal land location (surface), pipeline or well licence number, and the UWI of the well that generated the drilling waste... b) legal land location of the site or area on which the alternative method is being used... c) current land use (e.g., agricultural, natural area, or parkland) of the site and adjacent lands... d) written verification that the landowner, department, or agency has agreed to the proposed activity e) proposed start date and date of completion f) a general description of the proposed alternative method... g) any site assessment information, including i) a plot plan... ii) applicable background soil conditions... h) A description of the process that will be used to measure the success of the alternative method... | As part of an application to the AER for alternative methods. | high |
| #Q045 | operational | treatment | mandatory | Requirements to Remix a Former Drilling Waste Disposal | wastewater, other | 142) Licensees must meet the following requirements when remixing old drilling waste disposals: a) The remix must only occur on a licensed well site or remote site where the original drilling waste disposal occurred. b) The old drilling waste disposal area must be vertically and horizontally delineated. c) Representative samples must be taken and analyzed in a lab to determine background soil conditions and the quality of the drilling waste disposal area... d) Predictive lab mixes must be done to determine the soil-waste mix ratio that will meet the soil endpoints... e) The mix ratio for the remix must not exceed three parts subsoil to one part drilling waste. f) The remix must be done at the soil horizon depth that correlates to the salinities set out in table 2... g) The volume of the drilling waste and soil to be remixed must be determined and used to gauge the size of disturbance needed... h) Compare the pros and cons of the site disturbance required for the remix option with those of the dig and dump option. i) If the site is on public lands, the AER must agree with the remix option. | When initiating a remediation project to remix a previously concluded drilling waste disposal area. | high |
| #Q046 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Notification Requirements (Remix) | wastewater, other | 143) Licensees must notify the AER at least 30 days before starting the remix activity. Send the email notification to Directive050@aer.ca and include the following information: a) legal land location (surface)... b) a description of the proposed remix with supporting documentation... which must include i) the history of the site... ii) a plot plan... iii) soil borehole logs... iv) the soil horizon depth at which the remix is to occur... 144) Licensees must notify the local AER field centre and give them the details of the intended remix at least 48 hours before beginning. | Mandatory deadlines and disclosure content required before physically starting a remix job. | high |
| #Q047 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Record Keeping Requirements for Well Licences | wastewater, other | 145) Licensees must document the following information and keep it in the well file of the well that generated the drilling waste and make the information available to the AER upon request: a) surface land location, UWI, and well licence number... b) the type of drilling mud system used... c) the method used to store the drilling waste... d) the volume of drilling waste generated and the storage and disposal methods used... e) if different drilling waste types... were segregated, the information in (b), (c), and (d) above must be documented for the management of each segregated type or phase 146) Licensees must keep the information from requirement 145 above in the well file until the well site and any associated remote site have successfully been reclaimed (i.e., a reclamation certificate from the AER for sites designated as specified lands or alternative documentation from the department or agency responsible for nonspecified lands). | Always active obligation to curate physical or digital records pertaining to drilling waste decisions. | high |
| #Q048 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Record Keeping Requirements for Pipeline Licences | wastewater, other | 147) For drilling waste that has been generated from directional drilling activities, licensees must document the following information and keep it until the pipeline has been abandoned... a) the pipeline segment (licence and line number)... b) the pipeline 'from' and 'to' location... c) the legal land location... the plot plan showing the entry and exit pits... d) if a remote site was used, its LSD and specific use... e) the type of mud system used, the volume used, and a list of all additives, products, or chemicals used, and documentation to verify the mud system was nontoxic f) the volume of drilling waste generated and the storage and disposal methods used... g) proof of landowner, department, or agency consent or agreement... h) a copy of the completed Pipeline Drilling Waste Disposal form | Applicable for pipelines specifically. | high |
| #Q049 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Predisposal Notification Requirements | wastewater, other | 148) Proposed drilling waste storage and disposal information for well drilling activities must be submitted with the drilling activity notification through the Digital Data Submission (DDS) system and the Field Surveillance Inspection System (FIS) Drilling Activity Notification form. 149) Proposed drilling waste storage and disposal information for pipelines must be submitted through the DDS system using the Pipeline Drilling Waste Disposal form before the drilling waste activity occurs... 150) Changes to the well drilling activity notification and the Pipeline Drilling Waste Disposal form can be made in the DDS up to 48 hours after the initial entry of these records... After the 48-hour cutoff, the licensee must contact the appropriate AER field centre and provide any changes to the planned activity. | Notification required prior to executing drilling waste storage or disposal activities. | high |
| #Q050 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Post-Disposal Notification Requirements | wastewater, other | 151) Well licensees must electronically submit post-disposal information identifying the drilling waste volumes generated, the storage systems used, the disposal methods used, the disposal locations, and exceedances of soil endpoints. A Directive 050 Drilling Waste Management Disposal form must be completed for each well licence and submitted within 24 months of rig release. 152) Pipeline licensees must electronically submit post-disposal information identifying the drilling waste volumes generated, the storage systems used, the disposal methods used, and disposal locations. A Directive 050 Pipeline Drilling Waste Disposal form must be completed within 12 months of each directional drilling activity. 153) Licensees must submit the disposal information through the DDS system on the AER website... Licensees must also keep a copy of the completed form in the well or pipeline file. | Required within set timelines following completion of operations (12 or 24 months). | high |
| #Q051 | corrective_action | operational | mandatory | Remote Site Reclamation Responsibility | other | If a remote site is used to manage drilling waste, licensees are responsible for reclaiming the remote site to equivalent land capability. | Applies when a remote site is used to manage drilling waste. | high |
| #Q052 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Consent Authorities by Land Type | other | Table 1 specifies the consent required for each land type: Private land (Landowner); Public lands (AER); First Nations lands (Indian Oil and Gas Canada or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada); Mtis settlement lands (Affected settlement council); Canadian Forces Base Suffield (Department of National Defence base commander); Canadian Forces Base Wainwright (Department of National Defence base commander and AEPA); Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (Department of National Defence wing commander and AEPA); Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake (Department of National Defence wing commander). | Specific authorities identified for obtaining written consent under Section 1.5. | high |
| #Q053 | monitoring | unknown | recommended | Toxicological Review Recommendation | other | Toxicological information should be reviewed for all additives and mud products used to formulate the drilling mud; where information about an additive or product is unknown, its contribution to toxicity cannot be dismissed. Operating practices at the well site should be reviewed to determine whether other circumstances could have caused toxicity to develop (e.g., adding camp sewage or rig waste, such as chain oil, pipe dope, or rig wash, to the storage system). | | high |
| #Q054 | administrative | operational | mandatory | AWSS Liner Documentation | other | The manufacturer's liner specifications must be documented. | When using aboveground synthetically lined walled storage systems (AWSS) to store cement returns. | high |
| #Q055 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Buried Cement Disclosure | other | During the well site or remote site reclamation process, the licensee must disclose the presence of buried cement returns. | Applies when cement returns have been buried in pits on the originating well site or remote site. | high |
| #Q056 | design | operational | recommended | Development of Disposal Alternatives | other | industry is encouraged to develop alternatives to land disposal in support of the Alberta Beneficial Use of Waste study | | high |
| #Q057 | operational | operational | mandatory | Sump Excavation Soil Separation | other | When constructing the sump, determine whether naturally saline subsoils are being excavated and keep them separate from nonsaline soil so that they can be placed at a depth during final reclamation to enable site restoration to equivalent land capability. | During construction of sumps following typical well site and soil conservation practices. | high |
| #Q058 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Private Land Right-of-Entry Requirement | other | In the case of private land, where landowner consent is not obtained, a right-of-entry order from the Land and Property Rights Tribunal is required. | Applies to well sites and pipeline rights-of-way on private land when consent is withheld. | high |
| #Q059 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Generic Mud System Field Screening Requirement | other | Using a generic mud system does not allow licensees to forgo field screening to assess the suitability of a drilling waste management method. | When using the generic mud system approach to assess suitability of disposal. | high |
| #Q060 | operational | operational | mandatory | Reuse of Cement Return Storage Pits | other | Cement return storage pits may be reused provided conditions (i)-(vi) in (c) above are met. | Applies when reusing segregated pits for cement returns on originating or remote sites. | high |
| #Q061 | administrative | operational | guidance | Reclamation Exemption for Spray and Pump-off Methods | other | Landspray, landspray while drilling, and pump-off drilling waste methods typically occur outside the well site or pipeline right-of-way boundaries and involve limited land disturbance. Hence, sites used to manage drilling waste by these methods are not required to undergo the reclamation process. | Exemption for land application sites used specifically for landspray, LWD, or pump-off. | high |