Category Archives: Oil & Gas

The AER Announces Some Details of the Mandatory Closure Spend Targets

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. Continue reading →

The Canada Energy Regulator Protects Trans Mountain from Canadians

By: Christine Laing & Drew Yewchuk

PDF Version: The Canada Energy Regulator Protects Trans Mountain from Canadians

Decision Commented On: Decision on Trans Mountain’s Request for Confidential Treatment dated 29 April 2021

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER or Commission) has the statutory duty to assess financial resources plans filed by operating pipeline companies each year and determine whether those resources remain sufficient to cover the company’s expected liabilities if a pipeline spills. The written review process is open to the public through postings on the CER’s website. Trans Mountain requested an exception to the typical public filing process, asking the CER to keep their insurers confidential going forward. On April 29, 2021, the CER granted the request by making an order under section 60 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, SC 2019, c 28, s 10 (CER Act) to keep the identity of Trans Mountain’s insurers confidential. The decision pertains to the insurance in place to cover liability for the operating Trans Mountain pipeline, not liability associated with its decommissioning or liability associated with the construction or operation of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. Continue reading →

Responding to Concerns that Alberta Does Not Collect Enough Security for Environmental Remediation the AER Chooses to Collect Less Security

By: Drew Yewchuk

PDF Version: Responding to Concerns that Alberta Does Not Collect Enough Security for Environmental Remediation the AER Chooses to Collect Less Security

Document Commented On: Mine Financial Security Program Standard, dated May 6, 2021

On May 6, 2021, the Alberta Government announced they would review and modify the Mine Financial Security Program (MFSP). The MFSP is Alberta’s system for ensuring (purportedly at least) that companies pay for the reclamation of their mines, both oilsands and coal. At first glance, a review and modification sounds like a good idea, since the MFSP has been criticized as severely deficient since at least 2015 when an Auditor General report identified numerous significant problems concluding that in the event that “a mine operator cannot fulfill its reclamation obligations… the province may have to pay a potentially substantial cost for this work to be completed” (at 2). Since then, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has improved its administration of the program, but Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP), the primary department responsible for the policy and design of the MFSP, has not addressed the overall structure of the program (see the Auditor General’s 2019 report). Under the MFSP, the province held $1.57 billion in security against estimated reclamation liabilities of $20.8 billion in December 2014 and $1.46 billion in security against $28.35 billion in estimated reclamation liabilities in June 2018. So reform is long overdue, especially if Alberta is considering approving new coal mines. Continue reading →

The AER is Seeking Public Input on its Proposed Regulatory Solution for the Growing Orphan Well and Other Unfunded Liabilities Problem in Alberta’s Oil and Gas Sector

By: Shaun Fluker & Drew Yewchuk

PDF Version: The AER is Seeking Public Input on its Proposed Regulatory Solution for the Growing Orphan Well and Other Unfunded Liabilities Problem in Alberta’s Oil and Gas Sector

Matter Commented On: Proposed amendments to AER Directive 067: Eligibility Requirements for Acquiring and Holding Energy Licences and Approvals

On January 13, 2021 the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) issued Bulletin 2021-01 seeking public comments on proposed amendments to Directive 067: Eligibility Requirements for Acquiring and Holding Energy Licences and Approvals. These amendments are an implementation component of Alberta’s policy initiative, announced in July 2020 as the new Liability Management Framework, to improve the effectiveness of laws intended to address Alberta’s growing (and already enormous) problem of unfunded end-of-life closure and reclamation liabilities in the energy sector. The proposed amendments to Directive 067 constitute the details of the Licensee Capability Assessment System – the AER’s replacement for the catastrophic failure known as the Licensee Liability Rating program used in the oil and gas sector. The AER will receive public comments on the proposed changes to Directive 067 until and through February 14, and this post constitutes our comments – which will be submitted to the AER in its requested form (which can be downloaded here and sent via email to Directive067@aer.ca – alternatively you can submit the comments form by mail to the AER, Directive 067 Feedback, Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0R4).

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The Sequoia Bankruptcy Part 2: The Appeal of the Motions to Strike and Dismiss

By: Drew Yewchuk

PDF Version: The Sequoia Bankruptcy Part 2: The Appeal of the Motions to Strike and Dismiss

Cases Commented On: PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc v Perpetual Energy Inc, 2020 ABQB 513 (CanLII); PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc v Perpetual Energy Inc, 2021 ABCA 16 (CanLII)

This is part two of a series on the litigation resulting from the bankruptcy of Sequoia. The first part covered the first application to strike, and the applications to intervene in the appeal of that decision at the Court of Appeal.

This part covers two decisions in the Sequoia bankruptcy saga: 2020 ABQB 513 (CanLII), a costs decisions at the Queen’s Bench level, and 2021 ABCA 16 (CanLII), the Court of Appeal decision overturning that costs decision and the decision to strike the majority of the Trustee’s claims.

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