Orphan wells

• Big oil companies eligible for millions from federal coronavirus bailout to clean up sites

  There are currently close to 100,000 inactive wells in the province, which are wells that have stopped producing.

  Investigations

  Dec 17, 2020
• Alberta officials warned oilpatch faced ‘landslide’ of failures. Then coronavirus struck

  The provincial regulator warned in April that some companies were walking away from contaminated sites without properly shutting down.

  Investigations

  Dec 16, 2020
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• Saskatchewan-based companies receive first chunk of federal funding for inactive well cleanup

  The work will be spread out across the Lloydminster, Kindersley, Swift Current and Estevan areas.

  Environment

  Jul 16, 2020
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• Calgary-based Ranch Energy’s failure more than doubles B.C.’s inventory of orphan wells

  The number of orphan wells in British Columbia has more than doubled thanks to the failure of one oil and gas company.

  Environment

  Jun 19, 2020
• Alberta Energy Regulator blocks sale of Shell Canada assets over cleanup concerns

  Alberta's energy regulator has cited clean-up concerns in blocking the sale of sour gas wells, pipelines and other facilities from an energy giant to a much smaller company.

  Environment

  May 14, 2020
• Oil site cleanup program sees 18,000 applications in 4 days, ‘significantly’ over expectations

  Natural Resource Minister Seamus O'Regan called uptake "significantly higher" than expected.

  Canada

  May 5, 2020
• Alberta company diversifies oil field business amid challenging times for energy sector

  As Alberta's oil and gas sector continues to face a dire outlook, one company is diversifying the work it provides in the province.

  Economy

  Apr 28, 2020
• Funding to clean up Saskatchewan’s orphan wells a ‘positive first-step’ says Premier Moe

  According to the Ministry of Energy and Resources, there are 159 orphan wells in Saskatchewan that require abandonment.

  Politics

  Apr 17, 2020
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• Alberta needs better rules to ensure polluters clean up wells: Orphan Well Association

  A group tasked with cleaning up Alberta's thousands of abandoned energy facilities says the province's rules to make sure polluters clean up their wells before selling them off are inadequate.

  Environment

  Jan 14, 2020
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• Alberta test case: Planned sale of gas wells, pipelines raises cleanup concerns

  The possible transfer of hundreds of sour gas wells, pipelines and other facilities from energy giant Shell to a much smaller company has raised concerns about Alberta's efforts to ensure taxpayers don't get stuck with the cleanup bill.

  Economy

  Nov 14, 2019