Update on Action Plans for the Historic Well and Open House Notification
Background
The Orphan Well Association (OWA) has been directed by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) to address concerns with a leaking historic gas well located in the 4500 block between 45th and 46th Avenue within the Town of Bonnyville. The well was drilled by the now defunct licensee Trican Petro-Chemical Corporation in 1954. As the company has not been in existence since the 1960’s, the AER designated the well as an “orphan” and directed the OWA to decommission the well. The OWA wants to ensure nearby residents and other stakeholders are informed of our ongoing safety efforts, and the pending repair and decommissioning plans for the well.
In June 2024, the well, which was previously decommissioned to the standard of the day, was found to be leaking minor volumes of sweet natural gas (mostly methane). In response, the wellbore was located and excavated, and a monitoring and mitigation program was implemented to regularly check gas levels in the vicinity of the wellbore.
Safety Remains our Priority
The OWA continues to monitor methane levels in soils and homes in proximity to the well on a weekly basis. Mitigation systems have been installed in eight homes that safely capture any methane and vent it to atmosphere. These systems are working as designed and along with other monitoring and detection systems are ensuring all homes and areas around the well remain safe.
Homes to be Removed
In the next few months (June/July 2025) two single family homes on 46th Avenue and one duplex unit located within the Millenium Estates development will be demolished to make space to properly decommission the well. The OWA purchased these homes and have been working closely with the Town of Bonnyville to secure all permits and ensure these homes are taken down safely.
Once the homes have been removed, additional material will be brought to the site to prepare an adequate pad area for positioning of a drilling rig.
Well Repair in Summer 2025
The OWA plans to move a drilling rig to location in July or August of 2025 to decommission the well. It is anticipated that the rig will need to operate 24 hours per day for 2-3 days to complete the necessary work. As such there will be some unavoidable noise and light impacts to households in the immediate vicinity of the well, but we are endeavoring to minimize impacts as much as possible.
A drilling rig is a very large piece of equipment and moving it to the location will take over 20 truckloads. The Town of Bonnyville has outlined a preferred access route for the rig move that will see the trucks travel to the site from the north via 46th Street and then enter the site from the west on 46th Avenue. During the rig move traffic control measures will be implemented along 46th Avenue and some localized parking restrictions are anticipated.
Post Well Repair
After the well has been decommissioned, monitoring must be performed to ensure that all methane has been eliminated from the soil surrounding the well. The duration of the monitoring is not known and can vary based on site-specific conditions.
During monitoring the wellhead will remain in place and the site will be secured through the installation of a fence. Once monitoring has confirmed the dissipation of methane, the well will cutoff below grade and the site recontoured and landscaped to Town of Bonnyville specifications.
Open House
The OWA understands that moving a drilling rig into a neighbourhood is not a common occurrence and there are likely many questions that residents have. To ensure effective and open communication, the OWA will be holding an open house in Bonnyville on June 12th, 2025 from 5:00-8:30 pm at the Bonnyville Seniors Centre (Pioneer Hall). During the evening two formal presentations will be made by the OWA (at 5:30 and again at 7:30). In between these presentations, OWA personnel will be available for questions along with representatives from the AER and the Town of Bonnyville. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.
Thanks
The OWA would like to recognize the Town of Bonnyville, the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority, the AER, and Alberta Health Services for their cooperation and assistance in helping us develop the mitigation and decommissioning plans for this well.
Stay Up-To-Date –Get the most up-to-date information on the project from our website http://www.orphanwell.ca/community/
Questions? – If you have questions about this project; please email the Orphan Well Association at .