CBC: The soaring number of abandoned oil and gas wells across Alberta is overwhelming the industry-backed fund that pays to clean them up — and now there's concern taxpayers could share in that burden if the province's energy regulator loses a crucial appeal at Canada's top court.
The issue arose at the Supreme Court this month during a hearing that will decide what is the priority when oil companies go bust: creditors or the clean-up of abandoned well sites.
Lower court rulings have sided with creditors, spurring the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and Orphan Well Association (OWA) to launch appeals, in part due to fears bankrupt energy companies will essentially walk away from polluted sites and dump clean-up costs on the orphan well fund.
The issue arose at the Supreme Court this month during a hearing that will decide what is the priority when oil companies go bust: creditors or the clean-up of abandoned well sites.
Lower court rulings have sided with creditors, spurring the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and Orphan Well Association (OWA) to launch appeals, in part due to fears bankrupt energy companies will essentially walk away from polluted sites and dump clean-up costs on the orphan well fund.
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