Oil and Gas
Although both oil and natural gas are produced in the South Peace, natural gas has become the foremost resource being sought after in recent years. Currently in BC, there are over 1,000 oil wells (producing nearly a million gallons of crude oil and condensate per day) and over 5,200 gas wells (producing 2.7 billion cubic feet of gas per day). This accounts for approximately 15% of Canada’s natural gas production, most of which is coming from the province’s northeastern sector. In 2007, BC’s oil and gas industry brought in roughly $2 billion in combined revenues from royalties and bonuses and about $5 billion on exploration and development.
The oil and gas industry provides the Peace Region residents with both fulltime and seasonal employment. To many in the agriculture industry, the oil and gas industry can offer revenue in the form of rent and employment during the winter months through the utilization of their existing equipment in an unconventional manner (i.e.; tow tractors, plowing of roads and/or seismic lines) or employment of individuals as semi-skilled labourers in a variety of areas such as drilling/ exploration, pipelining, construction/maintenance and processing.
The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources oversees government involvement in the oil and gas industry. They created the Mediation and Arbitration Board to help resolve conflicts in surface versus sub-surface rights. The Oil and Gas Commission was created to streamline the application process for oil and gas production companies by providing a “single window” for applications, public engagement, monitoring, and compliance/enforcement of regulations. There are numerous related community and industry associations that operate without government involvement.
Role of the Peace River Regional District
The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) works with other government agencies when dealing with oil and gas issues. The PRRD monitors and comments on certain applications through a referral system with the Oil and Gas Commission. For development on land within the Agricultural Land Reserve, once certain size or use thresholds are surpassed, the PRRD provides comment on Non-farm Use applications to the Agricultural Land Commission. The Regional District takes part in the Northeast Energy and Mines Advisory Committee (NEEMAC). Regional District staff can also assist land owners by guiding them to the appropriate forum or government agency to deal with industry issues.
Role of the Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan is used to provide guidance to the Regional Board in considering issues like the oil and gas industry and management strategies when dealing with other authorities. These policies can keep the Board and the public aware of issues and concerns to be addressed. The OCP can include means to mitigate the impacts of oil and gas activities on new development. The OCP also helps guide decision-making on ancillary oil and gas activities, like temporary work camps and some light industrial uses.
Visitor Comments
Oil and gas should not be near development. The agricultural industry should not have to sacrifice good farm land for oil and gas.
Oil and gas should operate on crown land only.
I believe it's way overdue for landowners to have far more control over exploration on land they own. The presence of oil companies drilling and setting up their noisy stinky crap all over is NOT something that we as Canadian citizens should have to roll over for.
It's time for that to change. Try drilling a sour gas well in Stanley Park. It's all about how many toes you gotta step on to get what you want. What are we leaving for our kids. A bunch of oilfield sites sucked dry by Calgary greed AND shoved down our throats by nearsighted politicians.