Decision commented on: Sarg Oils Limited, Review of Abandonment Orders AD 2006-17, AD 2006-17A, AD 2006-18, AD 2006-19 and AD 2006-20, November 15, 2011, 2011 AERCB 032.
Well over ten years ago Sarg Oils sold oil and gas assets to another party. The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) refused to consent to the transfer of the well licences associated with those assets and as a result Sarg was left with the responsibility of abandoning those facilities. And when Sarg refused, the ERCB did the job itself and sent the bill to Sarg; and when Sarg didn’t pay (and the Court of Appeal ruled that this was a lawful debt owing to the Board: ERCB v Sarg Oils Ltd, 2002 ABCA 174) the ERCB garnisheed other assets of Sarg (the Southern Alberta assets). Sarg didn’t like that and shut the facilities in – owing by this time in excess of $1 million. The Board informed the province of this dastardly deed and the province triggered the procedures under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Tenure Regulation (Alta Reg 267/1997, s18) to terminate the leases on those Southern Alberta assets. Since Sarg no longer had the right to exploit the resources on those terminated leases, the ERCB ordered Sarg (2006) to abandon the related wells and facilities. Sarg did nothing about this except to seek a section 40 review (this application) under the Energy Resources Conservation Act, RSA 2000, c E-10) of the Board orders. And now, five years later, the Board has concluded that the orders “are valid and will be upheld” (at para 148). And now, Sarg must really get on with it! Whew! Unless of course Sarg seeks leave to appeal.