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ARTICLE · 18 JUNE 2020

Alberta Orphan Well Association Granted Expanded Powers To Operate Wells, Facilities, Pipelines

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On June 15, 2020, the Government of Alberta proclaimed Bill 12, Liabilities Management Statutes Amendment Act 2020 (Bill 12). Bill 12 significantly expands the powers of the Orphan Well Association (OWA) and addresses certain liability ...

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Scott Birse
Scott Birse
Dufferin Harper
Dufferin Harper
Katie Slipp
Katie Slipp
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On June 15, 2020, the Government of Alberta proclaimed Bill 12, Liabilities Management Statutes Amendment Act 2020 (Bill 12). Bill 12 significantly expands the powers of the Orphan Well Association (OWA) and addresses certain liability issues associated with wells, well sites and other facilities through amendments to the Oil and Gas Conservation Act and the Pipeline Act.

The OWA is an independent non-profit organization that operates under authority from the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and is primarily funded through annual Orphan Well Fund (Fund) levies paid by the upstream oil and gas industry. The OWA was originally mandated to oversee closure activities for oil and gas assets where no party was otherwise legally responsible and/or financially able to do so, hence the reference to "orphan."

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