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As a Canadian this reminds me of Alberta. They will have an abandoned well problem to deal with but are in denial. They are also in denial about their tailing

by 14 5y ago

As a Canadian this reminds me of Alberta. They will have an abandoned well problem to deal with but are in denial. They are also in denial about their tailing ponds from the tar sands. They love to show their one example of how the cleaned up an area and made it grow grass again but the fact is they never dealt with the mess they simply moved it to other ponds far away from sight and put some fresh dirt on top and called it a success. But in reality they are growing more and more and I am willing to bet once the oil industry fails and it becomes no longer profitable these companies will bail ship leaving clean up to future generations. The only way these companies are profitable is at the expense of the environment. A lot of people from Alberta are in denial and will criticize any talk of such things. Here is just one of many articles that outline the billions it will take to clean up the sands and the problems around it. https://theconversation.com/how-plants-can-help-clean-up-oilsands-tailing-ponds-148158 https://theconversation.com/how-plants-can-help-clean-up-oil... Albertans know that without the oil industry they have no jobs so turn a blind eye.

selimthegrim 5y ago
Someone wrote an entire book about how the oil industry bought out the Alberta govt: https://www.amazon.com/Oils-Deep-State-petroleum-undermines/dp/1459409973 https://www.amazon.com/Oils-Deep-State-petroleum-undermines/...
cmrdporcupine 5y ago
Not all Albertans. Just a vocal and powerful portion of the population. (Grew up there, family is still there.)
refurb 5y ago
Alberta is doing just fine thanks. Oil sands are opening new reserves. Old wells are being shut down. It’s helping make North America oil independent from the Middle East which is a good thing not a bad thing. Alberta will continue to provide the energy the rest of country needs for a lot longer.
- 14 5y ago
  With approx. 71,000 abandoned wells and 91,000 inactive wells even if you closed 500 a month, and let me tell you this is no where near the rate of how many are being closed, it would take 27 years. The fact is however that even more are being created annually. Alberta is not doing fine they have a future crisis that will be abandoned as soon as it becomes unprofitable leaving the burden up to future generations Long after we stop burning fossil fuels.
  - refurb 5y ago
    I’m not sure closing inactive wells over decades is a problem?
    - 14 5y ago
      Well the problem, which is well documented is that the owners of the wells have no incentive to close down a non profiting well. So instead they are abandoning them. So yes taking decades to close a well is a problem. The money to close them down should be put upfront so the minute they are no longer needed they get shut down in a timely manner. This is a problem that will be dumped on future generation of kids. I assume you don't have any kids or this would definitely concern you. The rate of wells is accelerating not declining. But thank you for confirming my first post that Albertans are in denial.
      - refurb 5y ago
        Looks like the issue is being addressed. Regardless, the company was always responsible for clean up. https://globalnews.ca/news/8416893/alberta-regulator-oil-gas-wells-rules/ https://globalnews.ca/news/8416893/alberta-regulator-oil-gas... Far bigger issues to deal with and some abandoned wells in the middle of nowhere. If my kid can’t afford to put a house over their head or feed their family I’m not sure I care much some abandoned wells.
        14 5y ago
        That is far from addressing the issue. They are putting 4% of liability down. That won’t even keep up with current inflation and like your article states will still take 25-30 years. Critics in the same article don’t believe their assessment is correct and that the cost will be much higher and as with every project the costs are always much higher. If market crashes where will they come up with the other 96%? This is all based on best case scenario. Also stated in the article only if no new wells are created in the mean time will this take 25-30 years. If the problem was addressed it would not be a 30 year problem.

by 14 5y ago

selimthegrim 5y ago

Someone wrote an entire book about how the oil industry bought out the Alberta govt: https://www.amazon.com/Oils-Deep-State-petroleum-undermines/dp/1459409973 https://www.amazon.com/Oils-Deep-State-petroleum-undermines/...

cmrdporcupine 5y ago

Not all Albertans. Just a vocal and powerful portion of the population. (Grew up there, family is still there.)

refurb 5y ago

Alberta is doing just fine thanks. Oil sands are opening new reserves. Old wells are being shut down. It’s helping make North America oil independent from the Middle East which is a good thing not a bad thing. Alberta will continue to provide the energy the rest of country needs for a lot longer.

14 5y ago
With approx. 71,000 abandoned wells and 91,000 inactive wells even if you closed 500 a month, and let me tell you this is no where near the rate of how many are being closed, it would take 27 years. The fact is however that even more are being created annually. Alberta is not doing fine they have a future crisis that will be abandoned as soon as it becomes unprofitable leaving the burden up to future generations Long after we stop burning fossil fuels.
- refurb 5y ago
  I’m not sure closing inactive wells over decades is a problem?
  - 14 5y ago
    Well the problem, which is well documented is that the owners of the wells have no incentive to close down a non profiting well. So instead they are abandoning them. So yes taking decades to close a well is a problem. The money to close them down should be put upfront so the minute they are no longer needed they get shut down in a timely manner. This is a problem that will be dumped on future generation of kids. I assume you don't have any kids or this would definitely concern you. The rate of wells is accelerating not declining. But thank you for confirming my first post that Albertans are in denial.
    - refurb 5y ago
      Looks like the issue is being addressed. Regardless, the company was always responsible for clean up. https://globalnews.ca/news/8416893/alberta-regulator-oil-gas-wells-rules/ https://globalnews.ca/news/8416893/alberta-regulator-oil-gas... Far bigger issues to deal with and some abandoned wells in the middle of nowhere. If my kid can’t afford to put a house over their head or feed their family I’m not sure I care much some abandoned wells.
      - 14 5y ago
        That is far from addressing the issue. They are putting 4% of liability down. That won’t even keep up with current inflation and like your article states will still take 25-30 years. Critics in the same article don’t believe their assessment is correct and that the cost will be much higher and as with every project the costs are always much higher. If market crashes where will they come up with the other 96%? This is all based on best case scenario. Also stated in the article only if no new wells are created in the mean time will this take 25-30 years. If the problem was addressed it would not be a 30 year problem.