- What wells qualify for the Abandoned Works Program?
- Who pays the cost?
- What should I do if I find a leaking or abandoned well?
- Why am I asked to sign a Landowner Access Agreement?
- How are wells plugged?
- What type of equipment will the plugging contractor use?
- Who actually plugs the well?
- Which wells are plugged first?
- Who is responsible for plugging oil and gas wells in Ontario?
- How can I check if wells were drilled in my area?
- How long will the plugging operation last?
- Can these wells be re-used?
- What happens when a well is found?
Answers
1. What wells qualify for the Abandoned Works Program?
Generally, any oil or gas well drilled on land before 1963 that has not been used by the landowner and no responsible party for the well other than the landowner can be found.
2. Who pays the cost?
All costs are paid by the Ministry provided that you grant written permission for the contractor to enter your property to do the work. If access to the land is denied the Ministry may order the landowner to plug the well and the landowner pays for the plugging.
3. What should I do if I find a leaking or abandoned well?
Contact the Petroleum Operations Section at (519) 873-4734.
4. Why am I asked to sign a Landowner Access Agreement?
Abandoned wells are located on private property. The access agreement is a record of your consent to allow the provincially hired contractors to enter your property and plug the well and clean up the site.
5. How are wells plugged?
Wells are plugged by entering the well with well drilling equipment and placing oilfield cement throughout the wellbore.
6. What type of equipment will the plugging contractor use?
In general, the contractor will use a drilling rig that weighs about 16 tonnes and is about 12 metres high. Along with the rig, one or more steel tanks measuring 6 metres by 2 metres will be used to hold liquids during the plugging process. Additional tank trucks or construction equipment may also be utilized.
7. Who actually plugs the well?
The Ministry awards a contract to the lowest cost, best qualified bidder from a qualified list of well plugging contractors.
8. Which wells are plugged first?
The ministry selects priority wells to be plugged first. These are wells that are causing or represent serious and immediate risks to public and environmental safety including threats to our fresh source water resources.
9. Who is responsible for plugging oil and gas wells in Ontario?
Ontario law requires oil and gas well operators to plug wells which are no longer used for the purpose for which they were drilled or that did not produce oil or gas. Where no operator exists, the landowner is responsible for plugging the well.
10. How can I check if wells were drilled in my area?
Public records of known oil and wells can be obtained from the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Library. Well location maps can show you past areas of oil and gas interest and drilling activity. The library can be contacted at 519 686-2772.
11. How long will the plugging operation last?
Abandoned well plugging operations usually last from one day to six weeks depending on the degree of difficulty.
12. Can these wells be re-used?
No, wells that qualify for the Abandoned Works Program are old, in poor condition and do not meet current well location and construction standards. The Ministry will only licence such wells for the purposes of plugging.
13. What happens when a well is found?
The Petroleum Operations Section of the Ministry of Natural Resources will investigate each well to determine if it qualifies for the Abandoned Works Program. To qualify, a well must be verified as an oil or gas well and have no current operator other than the landowner responsible for the well.
An inspector must be able to observe and document the condition of the well during a site visit. The Ministry will not excavate property to look for an abandoned well that has been cut off and buried. It is the landowner’s responsibility to locate and expose the well for inspection in such cases. The inspector then completes an investigation to determine eligibility. If an operator is found, the Ministry will require the operator to plug the well. If no operator or well record is found, the Ministry will evaluate the well and assign a priority ranking for consideration under the Abandoned Works Program.
