In October 2014 the Government of Alberta acknowledged in a STANDATA Gas Safety Information Bulletin G-02-14, that given the large inventory of equipment for some Oil and Gas companies, bringing all equipment into compliance may not have been possible within the proposed timeframe. It is estimated that there are more than 2.4 million appliances that require an installation or operating permit in Alberta. The Legacy Equipment Management System (LEMS) was implemented by the Alberta Government in order to account for this equipment. LEMS became an acceptable alternative to the January 1, 2015 deadline. Companies that participate in the LEMS program are required to be in full compliance under the standard by January 1, 2020.
CircaDyn is in the process of setting up the first centralized LEMS data center which your company can use to record your uncertified and unpermitted gas fired equipment which will help your company stay in compliance with the Alberta Safety Code and avoid incurring fines which can start as high as $100,000.
Some important points regarding compliance to LEMS:
- The operating company must provide an inventory of all gas-fired equipment for which no standard existed at the time of installation.
- This applied to all process applications in refineries, petrochemical plants and upstream oil and gas sites.
- Equipment must be approved by an agency accredited by the Standards Council of Canada.
- Old variances have expired (VAR-GAS-04-04 or VAR-GAS-05-05)
- All gas fired equipment must be brought up to code
- No grandfathering
- Fines of $100,000 or more exist for non-compliance
- Operating companies are required to create an internal program in order to design, install and monitor all upgrades and ensure compliance.
- The inventory shall be kept current and submitted to Alberta Municipal Affairs Chief Plumbing and Gas Administrator on an annual basis.
- An annual report shall show compliance progress of non-compliant inventory. Producers that sign on to this program are being given until January 1, 2020 to become compliant and must show progress annually.
- Each company shall conduct a risk assessment in order to categorize and prioritize inventory ensuring the equipment posing the greatest risk are addressed as early as possible.
- As equipment is upgraded, it shall be inspected for compliance with B149.3
- Equipment must be certified by an agency accredited by the Standards Council of Canada.