Webinar: 2020: What’s New in Oil and Gas Reclamation
This webinar will address recent developments in oil and gas reclamation as our Provincial Government grapples with its ever-expanding inventory of abandoned and orphaned wells.
As of July 2020, Alberta had at least 96,969 inactive wells and 70,785 abandoned wells. The AER has recently estimated that as many as 12,000 new wells may soon be added to the Orphan Well Association’s inventory.
In response, the Province is gradually rolling out the New Liability Management Framework, which has already expanded the role of the Orphan Well Association, and is set to further:
- establish a mechanism for landowners to nominate sites for cleanup; and
- implement a process to address legacy and post-closure sites – or sites that were abandoned, remediated or reclaimed before current standards were put in place.
Join Jessica Proudfoot and Kimberly Wasylenchuk as they explore some of the novel opportunities for reclamation under the New Framework. They will talk briefly about how the Framework ties into the Federal Governments’ $1.7 billion stimulus package to fund the closure and reclamation of orphan and inactive wells in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan.
They will also discuss some of the more practical aspects of the Province’s new approach. Notably, recent amendments to the Surface Rights Act and proposed changes to the Surface Rights Board Rules are expected to expand the number of matters that can be heard by the Board, as well as add clarity and efficiency to some of the Board’s processes.
Finally, they will discuss a series of recent decisions which illuminate the test(s) that landowners will need to meet to maximize claims for rental recovery.
Who Should Attend: This webinar is designed for industry, environmental consultants, and landowners.
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2020
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Cost: Complimentary