ALBERTA BOILERS SAFETY ASSOCIATION 2026
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE BOILER SAFETY
CODES AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Maximum heating surface for Special Oilwell. Answer: ≤ 500 m² (if
> 500 m² it becomes a regular Power Boiler requiring 4th Class or
higher).
◉ Types of boilers registered as Special Oilwell. Answer: 1. Once-
Through Steam Generators (OTSG / coil-tube) 2. Water-tube boilers
with mud drum (e.g., older "A" or "O" type packages).
◉ Governing regulation for Special Oilwell Boilers. Answer: Pressure
Equipment Safety Regulation (PESR) AR 49/2006 - User-Managed
Integrity Program + Design Registration.
◉ Operator certification for Special Oilwell Boiler. Answer: A holder
of a valid "Special Oilwell Boiler Operator" certificate issued by
ABSA.
◉ Minimum age for ABSA Special Oilwell exam. Answer: 18 years
old.
,◉ Validity of Special Oilwell Operator certificate. Answer: 5 years
(must be renewed with proof of 200 hours operation or refresher
course).
◉ Primary code of construction for Alberta-registered OTSGs.
Answer: ASME Section I (most are stamped with "S" and registered
with CRN ending in .1C for Alberta).
◉ Typical MAWP for coil-tube OTSGs. Answer: 6,900 kPag to 11,000
kPag (1,000-1,600 psig) for SAGD; up to 17,250 kPag (2,500 psig) for
some high-pressure CSS units.
◉ Minimum feedwater temperature for OTSG. Answer: 140 °C (to
prevent acid dew-point corrosion from sour gas combustion).
◉ Common cause of OTSG tube failures. Answer: Oxygen pitting and
deposit-induced overheating (scale / iron deposits).
◉ Required steam quality for SAGD injection. Answer: Minimum 80
% (typically 90-95 %); 100 % required for most cyclic steam (CSS)
wells.
◉ Device that separates water from steam on an OTSG. Answer:
High-pressure separator vessel (internal or external).
, ◉ Mandatory low-water protection devices on OTSG. Answer: 1. Low
feedwater flow switch 2. Secondary low-flow or thermal dispersion
flow device (both must trip fuel).
◉ Reason traditional float cage LWCO is not used on OTSGs. Answer:
There is no steam drum or large water volume - it is a once-through
system.
◉ Daily tests required on Alberta Special Oilwell Boiler. Answer: 1.
Low-water cutoff(s) 2. Flame scanner 3. Safety valves (try-lever test)
4. Feedwater flow proving.
◉ Minimum number of safety relief valves on Special Oilwell Boiler.
Answer: Two full-flow safety valves (one set at MAWP, second ≤ 103
% of MAWP).
◉ Maximum allowable lift pressure differential between SRVs.
Answer: 3 % (or 20 psi, whichever is greater).
◉ Meaning of SSOV. Answer: Safety Shut-Off Valve (two required in
series on fuel train).
◉ Proof of tight shut-off of upstream SSOV. Answer: Vent valve
between the two SSOVs must show zero pressure rise during leak
test.
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE BOILER SAFETY
CODES AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Maximum heating surface for Special Oilwell. Answer: ≤ 500 m² (if
> 500 m² it becomes a regular Power Boiler requiring 4th Class or
higher).
◉ Types of boilers registered as Special Oilwell. Answer: 1. Once-
Through Steam Generators (OTSG / coil-tube) 2. Water-tube boilers
with mud drum (e.g., older "A" or "O" type packages).
◉ Governing regulation for Special Oilwell Boilers. Answer: Pressure
Equipment Safety Regulation (PESR) AR 49/2006 - User-Managed
Integrity Program + Design Registration.
◉ Operator certification for Special Oilwell Boiler. Answer: A holder
of a valid "Special Oilwell Boiler Operator" certificate issued by
ABSA.
◉ Minimum age for ABSA Special Oilwell exam. Answer: 18 years
old.
,◉ Validity of Special Oilwell Operator certificate. Answer: 5 years
(must be renewed with proof of 200 hours operation or refresher
course).
◉ Primary code of construction for Alberta-registered OTSGs.
Answer: ASME Section I (most are stamped with "S" and registered
with CRN ending in .1C for Alberta).
◉ Typical MAWP for coil-tube OTSGs. Answer: 6,900 kPag to 11,000
kPag (1,000-1,600 psig) for SAGD; up to 17,250 kPag (2,500 psig) for
some high-pressure CSS units.
◉ Minimum feedwater temperature for OTSG. Answer: 140 °C (to
prevent acid dew-point corrosion from sour gas combustion).
◉ Common cause of OTSG tube failures. Answer: Oxygen pitting and
deposit-induced overheating (scale / iron deposits).
◉ Required steam quality for SAGD injection. Answer: Minimum 80
% (typically 90-95 %); 100 % required for most cyclic steam (CSS)
wells.
◉ Device that separates water from steam on an OTSG. Answer:
High-pressure separator vessel (internal or external).
, ◉ Mandatory low-water protection devices on OTSG. Answer: 1. Low
feedwater flow switch 2. Secondary low-flow or thermal dispersion
flow device (both must trip fuel).
◉ Reason traditional float cage LWCO is not used on OTSGs. Answer:
There is no steam drum or large water volume - it is a once-through
system.
◉ Daily tests required on Alberta Special Oilwell Boiler. Answer: 1.
Low-water cutoff(s) 2. Flame scanner 3. Safety valves (try-lever test)
4. Feedwater flow proving.
◉ Minimum number of safety relief valves on Special Oilwell Boiler.
Answer: Two full-flow safety valves (one set at MAWP, second ≤ 103
% of MAWP).
◉ Maximum allowable lift pressure differential between SRVs.
Answer: 3 % (or 20 psi, whichever is greater).
◉ Meaning of SSOV. Answer: Safety Shut-Off Valve (two required in
series on fuel train).
◉ Proof of tight shut-off of upstream SSOV. Answer: Vent valve
between the two SSOVs must show zero pressure rise during leak
test.
