Peace Region EPD

Instructions for Oil & Gas Air Emission Permit Application

• An air discharge permit is generally required where combined compression, pumping or generating power exceeds 3000 kW or where a facility removes from natural gas or discharges 30 tonnes or more of total sulphur in any 15 day period. Refer to the Oil and Gas Waste Regulation for specific criteria.
• All information requested on the application form must be provided (unless it is not applicable), or the application may not be acceptable. Identify and describe all discharges.
• A site plan of the facility, latitude and longitude and a location map, showing the facility with respect to a named road or other landmark, must accompany an application.
• Applications must be accompanied by an application fee. It is simplest, however, to first submit a draft application requesting the ministry to calculate the application fee.
• For applicants classified as "major" (which includes most new applications), the front of the first page of the application will be published in the BC Gazette and a local newspaper and circulated to other government agencies for comment. The first page of the application form summarizes emissions from the facility as a whole.
• Individual discharges must be described in the "Additional Information" section or on a "Supplementary Information" table, if more space is required. Where relevant, operating information and additional information such as that provided by the manufacturer is to be included in support of emission data.
• Where gas sweetening is employed, equipment description and information related to the maximum capacity of the sweetening unit(s) is required as well as other pertinent information as outlined in the "Additional Information" section or "Supplemental Information" form. An indication of typical acid gas composition is also required.
• All information must be provided in the units, as indicated on the application form.
• All data must be converted to the standard conditions indicated on the application form (20°C, 1 atm, dry basis).
• A copy of the most recently recorded gas analysis or, where numerous wells may be involved, an estimate of composition, based on individual well analyses or measurement at the facility, is required. Information with respect to the design throughput rate of the facility is also required.
  • Air dispersion modelling is required whenever:
    • sour gas is combusted (as fuel or flared) - model SO₂
    • compressor or generator drive units are present - model NO_x as NO₂.
• The ministry requires that EPA based, predictive air dispersion models be used.
• For further information with respect to model selection, requirements or obtaining modelling software contact the Water and Air Monitoring and Reporting Section (HQ).
• The following ambient air quality objective concentration levels will be used as a basis when evaluating environmental impact.

Amendment Applications

• A general application form for amendment exists which requires information pertaining to existing equipment and that which is proposed. Due to the numerous discharge sources located at a typical facility in the oil and gas industry, and the level of detail of information required, it is requested that, in addition to completion of the required basic amendment application form, supplemental information also be provided including a description of all appropriate existing and proposed equipment as well as geodetic elevation, fuel type, base elevation, stack height, stack diameter, stack gas exit velocity and stack gas exit temperature.
• As for a new application, air dispersion modelling (using EPA predictive air dispersion models) is required whenever sour gas is combusted (as fuel or flared) — model SO₂ or compressor or generator drive units are present — model NO_x as NO₂.
• Amendment applications must be accompanied by an application fee. It is simplest, however, to first submit a draft application requesting the ministry to calculate the application fee.
• Advertisement as outlined in the Public Notification Regulation will be required for amendments considered "major", typically defined as one in which the increase in volumetric or contaminant discharge rate exceeds 10% of the original.
• Updated facility site plan indicating sources of discharge.
• For further information contact the Environmental Protection Division homepage.

november 2005