Petroleum & Natural Gas Direct Purchase Frequently Asked Questions

A normal oil spacing unit of a quarter section or a smaller special spacing unit as designated by the Energy Resources Conservation Board will be used to calculate the percentage of Crown rights in each spacing unit. For example, if one legal subdivision spacing exits for oil and you wish to purchase gas, the one legal subdivision spacing will be used to determine if the Crown portion is less than 50 per cent of each spacing unit you are purchasing. 

To support your request you must submit a statutory declaration stating that you or the company have ownership of or control over the P&NG in the freehold portion of the spacing unit. This control may occur by virtue of being the owner of a percentage of undivided interest in the P&NG or the holder of a percentage of undivided interest in the P&NG under a valid and existing freehold lease.

You must indicate on the statutory declaration the substance and zone(s) you own or hold a controlling interest. The Crown lease will be issued with the available corresponding mineral rights.

 

When a Land Agent holds the freehold agreement for a third party, and the Agent does not wish to facilitate the direct purchase, the Agent can advise the Crown of their client's name and provide authorization to the Crown to deal directly with their client. The bonus, fee and rent will be requested from the client and the agreement will be issued in the Land Agent's name. 

The bonus to purchase a portion of land is $500.00 per hectare with a minimum bonus of $2,000.00.

The bonus to purchase a single substance is calculated at 75 per cent of the regional price per hectare based on the average of the prices bid in the region (Plains, Northern or Foothills) for the last six petroleum and natural gas sales held immediately prior to the date the request is received.

The bonus to purchase complementing rights in an oil sands area is calculated at 125 per cent of the regional price per hectare based on the average of the prices bid in the region (Plains, Northern or Foothills depending on where the requested land is located) for the last six petroleum and natural gas sales held immediately prior to the date the request is received.

The regional price is posted Friday after each public sale. 

A 625.00 issuance fee is applicable to all direct purchases. The first year's rent of $3.50 per hectare with a minimum rent of $50.00 is also required except, when purchasing a single substance where your existing agreement will be amended to include the additional substance.

 

Once a request, including all the required information is received, the processing time is approximately two months. 

If a parcel of Crown rights does not qualify for a direct purchase or the applicant finds the direct purchase terms unsuitable, the parcel may be posted in the first available public sale. 

A request for a direct purchase must be submitted using the Departments Electronic Transfer System (ETS). ETS gives you access to a web-based posting system for petroleum and natural gas rights.

You can submit a request by logging into ETS and choosing the "Posting Requests" folder.

If you do not have an ETS account, you will need to apply for an account so that you can do business electronically with the department. More information about ETS and how to set up an account or change your current account is available here.

If you have questions concerning direct purchases of Crown petroleum and natural gas rights, please call our information line at 780-644-2577.