Oil & Gas – ABLawg

The Orphan Well Association Annual Report 2025/2026: The Problem with the AER’s Long Run Plan for Orphan Oil and Gas Sites

On July 15, 2026, the Orphan Well Association (OWA) released their annual report for 2025/2026. OWA annual reports provide insight into Alberta’s orphan oil and gas site problem and the pace at which the problem is being addressed (see the ABLawg posts on past OWA annual reports: 2022/2023; 2023/2024; 2024/2025). The OWA annual report is separate from the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER)’s annual liability management performance reports, which are concerned with the closure liability of oil and gas sites generally in Alberta, most of which still have operating licensees.

A Successor in Title to the Settlor of a Trust (a GRTA) Cannot Apply to Vary That Trust

By Nigel Bankes

On July 28, 2026

In Natural Resources, Oil & Gas

By: Nigel Bankes

Decisions commented on: Montreal Trust Company of Canada v Astl, 2026 ABKB 255 (CanLII) and Montreal Trust Company of Canada v Astl, 2026 ABKB 510 (CanLII).

PDF Version: A Successor in Title to the Settlor of a Trust (a GRTA) Cannot Apply to Vary That Trust

Joint Responsibility Under Alberta’s Mines and Minerals Act

By Nigel Bankes

On July 20, 2026

In Energy, Natural Resources, Oil & Gas

By: Nigel Bankes

Decisions commented on: Terra Energy Corp (Re), 2023 ABKB 236 (CanLII); Alberta (Energy and Minerals) v Spartan Delta Corp, 2026 ABCA 214 (CanLII); Alberta (Energy and Minerals) v Canadian Natural Resources Limited, 2026 ABCA 213 (CanLII)

PDF Version: Joint Responsibility Under Alberta’s Mines and Minerals Act

Alberta’s Mines and Minerals Act, RSA 2000, c M-17 (MMA) refers to the concept of joint responsibility in two places. Both references were added to the MMA in 2003, see SA 2003, c 18. This post reviews three cases that consider these provisions of the MMA: Terra Energy Corp (Re), 2023 ABKB 236 (CanLII) (Terra Energy), Alberta (Energy and Minerals) v Spartan Delta Corp, 2026 ABCA 214 (CanLII) (Spartan Delta), and Alberta (Energy and Minerals) v Canadian Natural Resources Limited, 2026 ABCA 213 (CanLII) (CNRL).

$120,000 Penalty for the 2023 Kearl Tailings Overflow

By Drew Yewchuk

On July 2, 2026

In Administrative Law, Environmental, Oil & Gas

By: Drew Yewchuk

Regulatory Decision Commented On: AER News Release 2026-06-11, Imperial pleads guilty to EPEA violation in Crown’s summary disposition on Kearl

PDF Version: $120,000 Penalty for the 2023 Kearl Tailings Overflow

On 29 May 2026, Imperial Oil Resources Limited (Imperial) entered a guilty plea to a charge of contravening a term or condition of its Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, RSA 2000, c E-12 (EPEA) approval by releasing a substance from the Kearl oilsands mine in early 2023, and on 11 June 2026 the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) posted a news release publicizing that Imperial would pay a $120,000 penalty, $118,000 of which will go to a creative sentencing project.

Bitcoin Real Property Law

By Nigel Bankes

On May 26, 2026

In Oil & Gas, Property

By: Nigel Bankes

Decision Commented On: Flowers v Persist Oil and Gas Inc, 2026 ABCA 172 (CanLII)

PDF Version: Bitcoin Real Property Law

In this decision, Alberta’s Court of Appeal has confirmed Justice Christopher Rickards’ decision of the Court of King’s Bench on this matter. 2025 ABKB 142 (CanLII). Both levels of court concluded that neither a surface lease nor a right of entry order provide the operator with the necessary proprietary authorization to run a bitcoin mining operation on the leased lands using natural gas from a compressor located on the lands and licensed by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). I refer readers to my ABlawg post on Justice Rickards’ decision for a more detailed examination of the background as well as two related decisions of Alberta’s Land and Property Rights Tribunal.