Ontario’s New Plan to Find and Plug Abandoned Wells

The province of Ontario is investing in an initiative to find and plug all of its abandoned oil and gas wells.

Additionally, the province is providing $2.5 million to Chatham-Kent to help with the effects of a 2021 explosion that injured 20 people.

Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources, has announced that the province will give $23.6 million towards an “action plan” to reduce the dangers associated with old wells.

After hydrogen sulphide gas leaks were discovered in Wheatley, Ontario in June and July of 2021, authorities in had to call for two states of emergency and issued orders to evacuate.

Smith wrote in a statement that “this investment serves as an initial measure in our government’s action plan to confront the challenges and risks that old oil and gas wells pose to communities throughout Ontario.”

“With this funding, Chatham-Kent and other affected municipalities will be able to help keep their communities safe and prevent petroleum-related emergencies in the future.”

More than $25 million has already been spent by the province to help with the investigation, recovery, and monitoring in Chatham-Kent. Businesses and residents who were forced to evacuate their houses have also been offered financial support.

Late last year, a group of Wheatley residents and businesses filed a $100-million proposed class-action lawsuit over the explosion.

They accused the city and the company involved to investigate the cause of the gas leak of negligence.