Facilities are a system of vessels, piping, valves, tanks and other equipment that are used to safely gather, process, measure, store or dispose of petroleum, natural gas or water. The BC Energy Regulator (BCER) regulates facilities to ensure they are designed, built, operated, suspended and removed safely and in accordance with provincial requirements.

Facilities are regulated under the Drilling & Production Regulation and the Processing Facility Regulation.

Facilities in B.C. and What They Do

B.C. has a unique diversity of oil and gas facilities that combine innovative engineering designs with a changing focus from oil to natural gas over the last 50 years.

Most of these facilities are in the northeast corner of the province, where the raw product originates from oil and gas wells. This is typically called the upstream industry. There are also other facilities that handle natural gas processing, transmission, liquefaction, and distribution throughout B.C. These activities are part of the midstream and downstream industry.

Types of Facilities

Oil facilities

Common oil facilities include batteries, processing batteries and satellite batteries.

• Batteries receive raw product from one or more wells and separate oil, gas and water for measurement or sale.
• Processing batteries include added equipment, such as compression or dehydration, to further treat oil or solution gas.
• Satellite batteries are used mainly for well testing and typically include limited equipment and no oil storage.

Natural Gas Facilities

Major natural gas facilities include gas processing plants and compressor stations.

• Gas processing plants remove impurities and natural gas liquids to produce market‑ready gas and other products such as propane and butane.
• Compressor stations increase gas pressure to allow for transport via pipelines.

Supporting Facilities

Supporting facilities include injection stations, disposal stations and pump stations. These handle activities such as waste management, fluid injection and the transport of hydrocarbon liquids or water used in operations.

Water Facilities

Natural gas development requires water use for a variety of purposes. Many operators treat and reuse nearly all produced water.

• Water hubs store produced water and support reuse for well completions, helping reduce freshwater demand and support environmental protection. Water is often moved by pipeline rather than truck to reduce impacts on roads and communities.

Key Operating Concepts

Sour Gas

Some natural gas reservoirs also contain naturally occurring hydrogen sulphide. Gas produced from these reservoirs may be called “sour gas” depending on the hydrogen sulphide content. Facilities are designed by qualified professionals and include the required piping and equipment designs with proven safety systems to prevent product releases, and in many cases, remove hydrogen sulphide from the gas.

Flaring and Venting

Flaring is used when needed to safely burn non-routine or emergency gas releases or during maintenance activities. Venting is the controlled release of very small volumes during normal operations. Ongoing innovation and regulatory change have reduced, and in many cases eliminated, venting at facilities.

Safety and Oversight

The BCER oversees facility design, construction, operation, removal and remediation under the Energy Resource Activities Act and the Environmental Management Act. Oversight includes compliance with technical standards, audits of safety and management systems, and coordination with other agencies, such as Technical Safety BC, to protect public safety and the environment and, where possible, reduce duplication and regulatory overlap.

Regulation of Facilities

Companies must apply to BCER before building a facility. Applications must include project engineering design details, location information, and environmental and safety considerations.

Facilities must meet requirements set out in legislation and regulations throughout their lifecycle, including design, construction, operation, and closure. The BCER reviews applications and monitors activities to ensure operators follow these requirements over the full lifecycle of the activity.