Category: Oil & Gas Page 9 of 54

By: Drew Yewchuk & Chris Wray

PDF Version: How is the Orphan Fund Levy Set? Alberta’s Oil and Gas Clean-up Costs in 2022

Decision Commented On: The Upcoming Orphan Fund Levy for 2022/2023

ABlawg has covered the orphan and inactive oil and gas well issue for around five years now and those who have not followed the issue can become lost in the complexities of the regulatory system. This post is an entry point for those first starting to look carefully at the issue. It describes Alberta’s oil and gas clean-up obligation and costs problems in detail, explains why it is difficult to get clear information about the precise size of the problem, and ends by describing what is at stake in the upcoming policy decision: the annual decision of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) to set the amount of the 2022/2023 Orphan Fund Levy.

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By: Drew Yewchuk

PDF Version: The December 2021 Mine Financial Security Program Standard

Regulatory Document Commented On: The December 23, 2021 Mine Financial Security Program Standard

In a post back in May 2021, I mentioned a quietly made change to Alberta’s Mine Financial Security Program (MFSP), which sets out the security requirements for coal and oil sands mines in Alberta:

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By: Drew Yewchuk

PDF Version: The AER’s Mandatory Closure Targets are Deficient 

Legislation Commented On: AER Bulletin 2021-23 ‘Mandatory Closure Spend Targets’

This is a follow up post to my June 24, 2021 post on the changes the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is making to the Liability Management Framework and specifically Draft Directive XXX: Licensee Life-Cycle Management (Draft Directive) meant to replace the current Directive 006 once finalized. Readers are encouraged to check that post for background context.

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By: Drew Yewchuk

PDF Version: The AER Announces Some Details of the Mandatory Closure Spend Targets 

Legislation Commented On: AER Bulletin 2021-22 ‘Invitation for Feedback on Proposed New Licensee Life-Cycle Management Directive’; AER Bulletin 2021-23 ‘Mandatory Closure Spend Targets’

This is another post on the changes the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is making to the Liability Management Framework for conventional oil and gas assets. The earlier post I co-authored with Shaun Fluker on the problems with the liability management framework and the changes being made to it (and specifically the changes to the Eligibility Requirements for Acquiring and Holding Energy Licences and Approvals) is here. The AER is now seeking comments on Draft Directive XXX: Licensee Life-Cycle Management (the Draft Directive) until July 25, 2021. The Draft Directive will replace the current Directive 006 once finalized. This post discusses the Draft Directive and the details of the inventory reduction program first announced a year ago.

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