Alberta aims to speed up orphan well clean up with $235-million loan
CARSTAIRS, Alta. — Alberta’s NDP government is trying to speed up the cleanup of old, orphaned oil and gas wells with a $235-million loan.
The province announced legislation Thursday that will allow it to lend the money to the Orphan Well Association.
The industry-funded, not-for-profit group manages the shutting and cleanup of oil and gas sites where there is no longer anyone legally responsible for those tasks, often because a company has gone out of business.
“The number of orphaned wells in Alberta is a growing problem that has been made much worse by the collapse in oil prices,” Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said at a rural property north of Calgary.