New map shows all the oil and gas spills in Sask.

[chuckChuck]

As for orphaned and abandoned wells, A good start would be if you would quit driving capital out of the industry, companies can remain in the country and profitable and clean up their own house.
https://www.jwnenergy.com/article/2019/8/drilling-underway-10mm-alberta-geothermal-project/ https://www.jwnenergy.com/article/2019/8/drilling-underway-10mm-alberta-geothermal-project/
Could also convert them to Closed loop geothermal. As is being done as a trial right next-door to me right now.

And no, I wasn't down playing, I specifically noted that It doesn't justify it. I was asking you to provide context for us. It was your link and you started the conversation, I assume you must have some opinion on the matter , And have done your research

So how does that compare to other industries, other jurisdictions? How many go unreported compared to other areas ? What is the minimum that requires reporting compared to other jurisdictions.

Is Saskatchewan's track record good or bad? Looking at a graphic with lots of dots doesn't give me any context.

The economic health of the oil industry leaves me more concerned. But a lot of the capital leaving is because of a general downturn which started while Harper was in power. There are big questions about the long term economics and sustainability of the tar sands with or without a Liberal Prime Minister. as you know Harper signed a G7 agreement that Canada would stop using fossil energy sources by the year 2100. So what's the plan between now and then to reduce fossil energy sources and clean up the mess left behind?

Increasing pipeline capacity will help, but it wont solve the problems of world supply and demand and a downturn in commodity markets. Oil has boomed and busted several times in my lifetime. The oil industry has always fought against regulations that would cut into profits even during the good times. they have at times run roughshod over landowners. They are getting better but not all of them are good corporate citizens.

The map of spills doesn't tell the whole story but it does show that leaks are common and not well reported in the media or widely known.

Lets compare the US with Canada on one issue:
From https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/opinion-sask-abandoned-oil-wells-1.5104173 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/opinion-sask-abandoned-oil-wells-1.5104173

"At the bottom of it all is the weak regulatory approach taken by western provinces that place no restrictions at all on how long companies are allowed to let oil and gas wells remain inactive.

While American states such as Texas and North Dakota have stringent rules that require operators to either restart inactive wells within 12 months or cap and reclaim the sites, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia have only progressed so far as talking about developing such requirements."

Inactive wells are frequently left untouched for years in Saskatchewan rather than cap and reclaim because it is cheaper to pay the lease than it is to spend the money to reclaim.

What happens if the company goes bankrupt or sells the lease to a fly by night company that disappears?

We are behind Texas and ND on this issue.

[chuckChuck]

Buddy in about 6 months time, 15% of Western Canadas entire daily oil production will transit my property. I wish they would put pipelines on every square inch of it.

Good for you. Line 3 I assume?

Don't plan on any tiling or deep ripping nearby or excavations or farm development of any kind near the right of way or easement.

And there are restrictions on heavy equipment driving over the line.

So your bulldoze or backhoe if you have one and maybe your semi and grain cart will have to stay off the line. If you cause a problem because of your normal farm activities you may need a lawyer.

Wet years and soft saturated ground are especially a risk.

I hope you got paid well for your damaged land and life time of responsibility and liability!

Did you read the fine print?

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Nice try Einstein!

I have oil leases and pipelines on my farm land. I deal with the oil industry 365 days a year!

So what's your experience?

Next time any of us are doubting our career choices, think of this post, and remember, it could always be worse. Somewhere near Pelly Saskatchewan, some unfortunate land man, or operator, has to deal with Chuck complaining about seeing CO2 leaks 365 days a year.

And from a previous thread, he reports having trouble with lots of oil spill, pipeline leaks, H2S leaks, and workers dying on his sites. Imagine having to put up with him all the time. With all the troubles he is having, I checked the map and expected to see a large conglomeration of spills near his home town, but surprisingly there doesn't seem to be. Did you ever take my advice and report all the dead workers yet?

[TSIPP]

I do believe the law says any more than a two litre spill must be reported.
So how many car accidents have a ruptured oil pan or fuel tank.

[chuckChuck]

A5 You showed some concern about the issues I raised with reasonable questions and then went off the deep end with lots of nonsense again. You are like Jekyll and Hyde, we are never sure who is going to show up! LOL

Was it because I raised an issue of how in comparison to the several US states our regulations are weaker and you didn't have anything intelligent to say, so you had to resort to personal attacks again?

"While American states such as Texas and North Dakota have stringent rules that require operators to either restart inactive wells within 12 months or cap and reclaim the sites, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia have only progressed so far as talking about developing such requirements."

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Back to being serious then Chuck. And thank you for making a couple of civil rational responses to myself and Jazz yesterday, that was a pleasant change.

So since we have concluded that due to stringent reporting requirements, and high compliance rate, Saskatchewan oil has too large an environmental footprint, and we need to find other cleaner sources with better environmental track records.

So have you done the research yet, which country or state has less reported spills by volume or number of incidents? What are the statistics for North Dakota, or Nigeria, or Pennsylvania, or Saudi Arabia, perhaps Venezuala, Iraq, Libya? Please let us know so we can make the environmentally responsible choice.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Back to being serious then Chuck. And thank you for making a couple of civil rational responses to myself and Jazz yesterday, that was a pleasant change.

So since we have concluded that due to stringent reporting requirements, and high compliance rate, Saskatchewan oil has too large an environmental footprint, and we need to find other cleaner sources with better environmental track records.

So have you done the research yet, which country or state has less reported spills by volume or number of incidents? What are the statistics for North Dakota, or Nigeria, or Pennsylvania, or Saudi Arabia, perhaps Venezuala, Iraq, Libya? Please let us know so we can make the environmentally responsible choice.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I do believe the law says any more than a two litre spill must be reported.
So how many car accidents have a ruptured oil pan or fuel tank.

How many hydraulic hoses do we blow in a year, or sprayer hoses, or livestock salt, or fuel or antifreeze, why aren't farmers held to the same standards?

[chuckChuck]

Anybody with a brain wants to reduce environmental contamination from every source.

Why are you are downplaying the oil industry impacts?

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Anybody with a brain wants to reduce environmental contamination from every source.

Why are you are downplaying the oil industry impacts?

No, I'm asking you how many other jurisdictions track these things and publicize them for everyone to analyze?

You consistently criticize Canadian oil and gas industry, which is arguably the most ethical, and environmentally strict in the world. When you succeed in shutting that down, demand for oil and gas are not going away, you have just committed a severe disservice to the environment worldwide.

Have you asked Saudi Arabia for their records?

[chuckChuck]

Why would we compare ourselves to Saudi Arabia when the US is next door?

I pointed out weaker regulations in Canada on suspended wells which has almost no regulations while the US requires abandonment and cleanup after 12 mos. You have not responded!


Do we compare ourselves to Nigeria and Saudi Arabia or maybe a better comparison would be several of the European producers and the United States?

And I don't have the regulations of each country at my finger tips. We would have to find an objective study to know where we fit in compared to similar jurisdictions.

Saudi Arabia is not similar!

Take a look at this study on offshore drilling regulations:

Comparing the Offshore Drilling Regulatory Regimes of the Canadian Arctic, the U.S., the U.K., Greenland and Norway Jennifer Dagg, Peggy Holroyd, Nathan Lemphers, Randy Lucas and Benjamin ThibaultChris Severson-Baker, Steve Kennett, James Leaton and Ben Wheeler

https://www.pembina.org/reports/comparing-offshore-oil-and-gas-regulations.pdf

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I know some energy regulators, and many who have worked on both sides of the border. They referred to the US as the wild west in regards to safety, environmental and quality control compared to Canada.