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Ministry of Energy, Mines and Pertoleum Resources

Advance Posting of Petroleum and Natural Gas Rights

(Issued December 10, 1998)


The Executive Director, Titles Division, entertains requests for an advance posting of Crown petroleum and natural gas rights, provided the request is within the following guidelines:

  • Advance postings will be accepted only when a commitment is made to drill a well in excess of 3050m;
  • The commitment well is classified as exploratory;
  • Lands included in an advance posting in lease form will not exceed six sections or 24 units;
  • Lands included in an advance posting in drilling licence form will not exceed the number of units or quarter sections that could be earned under lease, by drilling two wells on the drilling licence to the depth of the commitment well;

While the lands included in a drilling licence advance posting will be restricted as above, the final posting may be larger to provide greater flexibility in exploration;

  • The length of time of the advance posting will be:

            (a)   Up to a maximum of 24 weeks where the well commitment is between 3050m and 3660m;

            (b)    Up to a maximum of 32 weeks where the well commitment is between 3660m and 4270m;

            (c)    Up to a maximum of 40 weeks where the well commitment is deeper than 4270m.

The length of time for the advance posting is from the date industry is advised by the Advance Notice of a Competitive Offering to the date of the sale it will be offered in.

The Advance Notice of a Competitive Offering will be attached to each regular notice of disposal of Crown petroleum and natural gas rights, published prior to the requested sale date.  It will describe the lands and indicate the date they will be offered for disposition.

Companies wishing to request an advance posting must include the following in the request letter:

  • A commitment to drill a well to a depth greater than 3050m;
  • Location and well authorization number of the committed well;
  • Anticipated spud date;
  • Projected depth of the well;
  • Requested sale date;
  • Land description of the posting request.


For further information contact:

Gerald German
Executive Director
Titles Division
PO Box 9326, Stn Prov Gov't
6th floor, 1810 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC  V8W 9N3

Telephone:  (250) 952-0334
Facsimile:  (250) 952-0331
Email:  Gerald.German@gems8.gov.bc.ca