in Canada, these thousands of abandoned oil wells have become “ecological time bombs”

There are at least 60,000 abandoned oil wells in Western Canada, according to environmental organizations. This represents thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gases emitted each year.

At the time of COP28, Canada is far from being an example when it comes to fossil fuels. In the province of Alberta, in the west of the country, thousands of oil wells are abandoned in fields and on the side of roads. Some leak and emit gas. Real “ecological time bombs” which worry some farmers and environmentalists.

“Here is an abandoned well. It’s old, it’s broken,” says activist Mark Dorin, pointing to a large rusty pump, cranks and a pressure gauge lying in the field. This oil well is no longer used and, yet, it is still accessible. Mark Dorin knows the subject well: we are a few kilometers from his parents’ farm where a well has remained open for years.

“There is a risk of explosion”

“A well like that pumps oil, water, gas. Then the liquids are sent to this reservoirhe explains. Except that this tank must be located at least 60 meters from the road. But there, he is at 12-15 meters maximum. If gas escapes from this tank and people pass on the road, there is a risk of explosion.” Most of these wells are on Canadian farmers’ land, but they do not own it: the oil companies give them money to compensate for their land which has become unusable.

“The well was right there, but there’s nothing left now.”, breathes Joe Lovell. This farmer saw the well on his grain field close last week, after seven years of waiting, when the company that owned it went bankrupt “because gas prices have fallen”. He specifies : “Typically, oil companies drill shallow gas wells, which is really inexpensive. They pump them to the maximum. And once gas prices fall, most of the time, they go into receivership and sell their shares, or they go bankrupt, like us.”

An organization closes and secures wells

If there is bankruptcy, Orphan Well Association takes over. The work of this organization financed by the oil industry and the State is to close and secure the wells. But it takes several years to get through the paperwork. “In some wells there is hydrogen sulfide, a very toxic gas that can kill people in very low concentrations, says Lars DePauw, program director. We must therefore ensure that none of these gases can rise to the surface. On the environmental side, we must prevent methane from escaping from the well because it is a greenhouse gas.”

Officially, 10,000 wells are orphaned in Alberta, but according to environmental associations, there are at least 50,000 others unidentified, or thousands of tons of greenhouse gases emitted each year.