Saskatchewan’s oil and gas companies completed a record number of oil and gas well abandonments in 2019 and into 2020, according to a Ministry of Energy and Resources press release.
The province saw a total of 2,030 well abandonments completed between April 1, 2019 and Feb. 29, 2020, the release states. This represents an increase of more than 40 per cent compared to 2018-19 and 240 per cent compared to 2016-17.
An abandoned well is one that is no longer supporting a company’s oil and gas development and has been decommissioned to a safe and environmentally sound condition. This includes plugging the downhole producing zones, cutting off the well casing below the surface and sealing it with a welded cap.
“This increase in well abandonments demonstrates the commitment by industry and government to manage the entire life-cycle of provincial wells and ensure the safe retirement of unused infrastructure to protect our environment, landowners and the public,” said Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre.
