(Saskatchewan) Directive PNG036: Venting and Flaring Requirements

Last updated: 8 March 2024

This Directive addresses venting and flaring requirements from oil and gas wells and facilities in the province of Saskatchewan. 

Oil well or facility in Saskatchewan where the combined vented and flared volumes of associated gas are greater than 900 m³/day must flare all non-conserved volumes of gas unless the gas is vented to avoid serious risk to human health or safety concerns. Gas venting and flaring from a gas well or gas facility is prohibited unless in emergency situations and a reasonable level of precaution has been taken to protect human health, public safety, property, and the environment and to prevent fire or explosion. Gas plants are approved to flare as per the conditions on the facility license. The Directive imposes notification requirements on the Licensees to the Ministry of Energy and Resources and the public if temporary or non-routine flaring or venting will occur. This notification must be given 48 hours before or within 48 hours of unplanned non-routine flaring and venting events. (S.11) 

The law also imposes reporting requirements on the licensees who must maintain a log of flaring and venting events and respond to public complaints (S.10.3). The records must be kept for a minimum of 12 months and made available to the Ministry upon request. The logs must include, e.g., information on complaints related to flaring and venting events, and a description of the flaring and venting incidents.

It includes a requirement for operators to carry out leak detection and repair (LDAR) surveys at least twice per year at facilities that produce or receive more than 60,000 m3 annually. The regulations also specifies the instruments that required (gas-imaging camera or organic vapour analyser used according to U.S. EPA Method 21).  Generally, leaks must be repaired with 30 days or at the next turnaround of a facility if shutdown is required. The regulation also allows operators to implement an alternate program, provided it achieves equivalent fugitive reduction outcomes and is subject to approval of the regulator.

In November 2020, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan entered into an equivalency agreement finding that PNG 017 and PNG 036 are equivalent to federal standards. This agreement runs through 31 December 2024.

Want to know more about this policy ? Learn more