REGINA—Saskatchewan wants the federal government to bankroll a program that would see oil and gas workers who have lost their jobs clean up abandoned and dormant wells.
Premier Brad Wall says it would help stimulate employment in the oil and gas sector and accelerate environmental cleanup of wells that are no longer capable of production.
Wall says he has pitched the proposal, which would cost Ottawa $156 million, to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“Here is a chance for us to actually put people back to work in the energy services sector and continue with the cleanup [of suspended wells], perhaps at a more accelerated rate,” Wall said.
He estimates the program would generate 1,200 jobs and speed up the decommissioning and reclamation of 1,000 non-producing wells in Saskatchewan over the next two years.
The government estimates there are more than 20,500 “suspended” wells in the province that are currently not producing, many of which are waiting to be decommissioned and reclaimed.
Work would include safe removal and disposal of old equipment, remediation of any spills, covering wells in concrete to eliminate venting of greenhouse gases such as methane, and revegetation of the land.
The federal government has indicated it is considering the proposal, Wall said. “I look forward to a favourable response.”
