We need to take steps NOW to make sure Canada’s methane (aka Hydrogen Sulfide gas which contains up to 90% methane) emissions are being properly regulated. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide – and its uncontrolled emissions affect everyone.
The solutions to reducing methane emissions are actually very simple – frequent leak detection and repairs, and replacing equipment that deliberately releases methane. The industry is resisting these solutions and pushing the Canadian government for weaker methane regulations. They want longer delays before regulations come into effect, as well as less frequent monitoring so that methane leaks go undetected for longer. And, they want to be paid for reducing methane emissions – so instead of polluters pay, the industry wants it to be pay-the-polluter.
Those who live in Alberta strongly agree that regulating pollutants like methane to the strictest North American standards is the right thing to do. If the province that would be most affected by these regulations feels this way, why aren’t we doing it?
Time is running out to make sure Canada’s methane emissions are strongly regulated. For the Silo, Dale Marshall. Featured image- Les Stone /Greenpeace
UPDATE March 23 2023
Ministry has focus set on wrong gas wells
It surprises most that Ontario is the birthplace to North America’s petroleum industry, with its beginnings in Lambton County in 1858.
Over the past 160-plus years, as many as 50,000 oil and gas wells have been drilled in the province. Many of the wells were drilled initially for commercial purposes but were later sold to landowners when they could no longer produce commercially-viable levels of natural gas. It may also be surprising that some farmers and rural property owners have private natural gas wells.
In Haldimand County, many properties rely on natural gas wells. These wells, which are maintained and licensed, provide gas to heat homes, barns, and shops. These wells are essential to these homeowners, farmers, and farms. Therefore I want to be clear: I support the right of rural property owners to operate a private gas well; they should be able to access and use the gas produced from their well(s) in any way they choose.
Private gas well owners have had ongoing battles since the enactment of the Oil Gas and Salt Resources Act in 1997. The latest battle license holders have is that they have received notice from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) that their license will have a final expiration date of September 13, 2032. In the Ontario Legislature last week, I called on MNRF Minister Graydon Smith to find a better way forward.
In his response, the Minister said he would conduct consultations this Spring but did not elaborate on which issues. I have so far had a very positive working relationship with Minister Smith, and we agree to stay in touch on this issue. However, I urge those affected to attend the consultations to ensure the Ministry knows these wells are vital to rural Ontario.
I also asked the Minister about legacy wells – wells that have been abandoned, are not maintained, and are far different from those mentioned earlier in the column. Southwestern Ontario is ground central for these dormant wells, with Norfolk County home to 2,634. You have likely read about the well in Norfolk County on Forestry Farm Road, which has been problematic since 2015.
The County is not equipped to handle or monitor the well, and the council fears that one more of this magnitude could financially destroy the municipality.
In my line of questioning in the House, I spoke about the unfortunate events at Wheatley in 2021, where a hydrogen sulfide leak exploded under 15 Erie Street North, the former home of the Pogue pub. Estimates to clean up after the explosion were in the ballpark of $20 million. Miraculously no life was lost, but that may not happen next time.
A recent McGill University study looked at abandoned wells, testing hydrogen sulfide and methane levels. The study concluded the methane levels were underestimated. Experts predict it’s just a matter of time until another explosion occurs — Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin, and Norfolk could be the powder keg.
It’s time the MNRF takes its focus off licensed gas wells and focuses on problematic ones. Further, the province must ask the federal government to help as this is an issue beyond Ontario’s scope. The federal government provided money to plug oil wells in western Canada, but it’s time the two governments work together to ward off a pending environmental and catastrophic disaster.
Bobbi Ann Brady is MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
Gas Well UPDATE March 20, 2023
Brady warns of ‘powder keg’ with legacy gas wells
QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady warned of the consequences of inaction while asking a question about uncapped legacy gas wells in her constituency of Haldimand-Norfolk and Southwestern Ontario and beyond.
“In Norfolk County alone there are 2,634 dormant wells — one of which has been in the news for years,” Brady said during Question Period. “The county lacks the expertise to remedy the well and little help is available to monitor the situation. Speaker, one more problem well could financially destroy the municipality.”
These wells are found across Haldimand and Norfolk and often landowners don’t know they are there until there is a problem. According to long-standing government policy, the landowner is responsible for gas wells on their property.
Brady also talked about the explosion of a legacy well in Wheatley in 2021 that levelled a building and sent seven people to hospital.
“We know in Wheatley the issue was acute with an explosion and experts predict it’s just a matter of time until another explosion occurs — the next time there could be loss of life,” she said. “This is a legacy problem, but it’s reached a breaking point. Southwestern Ontario is literally a powder keg ready to blow. Where will it be? Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Norfolk or Elgin?”
The minister answered that his ministry asked the federal government about this in 2020 and 2022 but there were no federal dollars like in other jurisdictions.
In her supplementary question, Brady emphasized she is not talking about the still-operating small natural gas wells used by farmers.
“The latter group are not a problem, but yet they received a letter stating there will be no extension to any well licensed under the private natural gas policy after September 2032,” she said. “Speaker, I hope the ministry can find a more positive way forward for my farmers and families, especially in Haldimand County who rely on these wells, and at the same time, take action on the problematic legacy wells.”
Brady pointed to a recent McGill University Study on abandoned gas wells, which included Norfolk County, and concluded methane levels from leaking wells had been underestimated. Methane is a greenhouse gas, and hydrogen sulfide, which causes the rotten egg smell associated with leaking wells, is toxic.
“This problem is bigger than the Province of Ontario,” Brady said. “The federal government provided money to plug oil wells in western Canada, but none to Ontario. Speaker, I’m asking if this government will put pressure on the federal government to ward off a pending environmental and catastrophic disaster?”
Graydon assured the government will continue to ask the federal government for support.
Interviewed later, Brady said, “I’m glad the government is going to continue to pressure the federal government, but it’s time to turn up the heat. We need action sooner than later.”
For more information, contact MPP Bobbi Ann Brady at babrady-co@ola.org or 519-428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629 Please mention The Silo when contacting.
No government compensation for losses associated with Municipality of Norfolk gas well leak
QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett was told home owners displaced due to a gas leak won’t be receiving compensation for property damage and any long-term health effects from the province.
On Wednesday, Barrett asked Natural Resources and Forestry Minister Kathryn McGarry about the situation of Ian and Kim Grant, who have been struggling with hydrogen sulphide leaking from an abandoned gas well. It caused their evacuation, along with five other families, in late August.
The Grants, who run a home-based business, are looking for compensation to cover business losses, damage to equipment and displacement from their home. Barrett first brought up the matter during Question Period that day, but was not satisfied with the answer he received.
As a result, Barrett was given the opportunity to raise further questions of the minister during the evening session.
“Will Norfolk County be compensated for their municipal time and resources to deal with this,” he said. “Will the Grants, Ian and Kim, be compensated by the province for loss of business, damage to their property and equipment? And I raise the issue of any long-term health impact on this couple. Again, we ask what the MNRF is doing to ensure this situation doesn’t keep occurring as it has for so long over the number of years.”
McGarry answered that emergency management is the responsibility of the municipality and there was a program for landowners to pay for the cost of well capping.
“I understand the Grants had requested compensation for their situation, particularly cost-recovery for the business in the area, but unfortunately, Speaker, my ministry is not able to pay for municipal costs or the economic losses,” the Minister said.
For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org Please mention The Silo when contacting.
HANSARD
Mr. Toby Barrett: Thank you, Speaker. I appreciate this extra time to expand on some questions that I previously raised with respect to compensation for natural gas well damage down in Norfolk County.
It was back in September 2015 that I met with Ian and Kim Grant from my constituency. They run a home decor business out of their residence in the Silver Hill area. In March 2015, the Grants were notified that a Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry natural gas relief well along Big Creek had been capped. The Grants were advised that this relief well was releasing toxic water with high levels of hydrogen sulphide into Big Creek and had to be capped.
I’m told that this well had been capped back in the 1960s, with other developments that caused them to reopen the well at some time in the past. I feel that MNRF believed that further issues could potentially occur.
My office contacted the minister’s office and contacted the petroleum operations office. MNRF was aware of the situation and assured my office and assured the Grants that they would be monitoring pressure buildup. In June of this year, the well located on the Grants’ property—this is another well—plus another well in the area began to spew heavy amounts of hydrogen sulphide into the air, and sulphur water spilled onto their property and into Big Creek.
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As a result of an action by the MNRF, in my view, the Grants, along with five other families in the area, were ordered by the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit to vacate their primary residences on August 18, 2017, due to the fluctuating, unpredictable concentrations of hydrogen sulphide. As well, another 16 families in the area were put on alert. There was an order from Dr. Malcolm Lock, our acting medical officer of health, and I’ll quote from the order: “The medical officer of health for Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit has determined that the fluctuating and unpredictable concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas … which are escaping from an abandoned gas well, have been measured in the ambient air to reach levels above what is considered safe for human health.”
As of today, both wells have been capped but, again, only after the county stepped in and the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit stepped in and called on the government to do something.
Norfolk County Mayor Charlie Luke wrote an urgent letter on August 31 to the Premier and to the minister, and I quote, “The MNRF is not fulfilling its statutory obligations to the residents of Norfolk county. The MNRF is not sharing data in any forthright manner and taking a narrow legalistic approach with respect to both expenditures and public safety in relation to well number T008725. Section 7.0.1 of the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act provides an MNRF inspector with the authority to order a well to be capped where it poses a hazard to the public or environment. Inexplicably, this has not occurred, notwithstanding the fact six residences have been ordered evacuated by the medical officer of health.”
That’s the end of that letter, August 31.
It’s certainly been covered by local media. Norfolk Today had an article titled, “Gas Leak Causes Nightmare of a Situation for Local Family.” That was September 23. In the Simcoe Reformer, August 28, I quote, “Evacuation Of Homes Could Prove Lengthy.” The people who were evacuated didn’t return for something like 133 days. I’ll have to check the number on that. That’s quite a long time, obviously. The Spectator covered this.
Again, to summarize my questions earlier: Will Norfolk county be compensated for their municipal time and resources to deal with this? Will the Grants, Ian and Kim, be compensated by the province for loss of business, damage to their property and equipment? And I raise the issue of any long-term health impact on this couple. Again, we ask what the MNRF is doing to ensure this situation doesn’t keep occurring as it has for so long over the number of years.
We know there’s a precedent for compensation in situations like this, and again, if it’s required, we request that compensation be forthcoming.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry has five minutes.
Hon. Kathryn McGarry: Thank you, Speaker. It’s my pleasure to rise this evening and discuss the member from Haldimand–Norfolk’s concern that he raised earlier today. I would like to reiterate that public health and safety is extremely important to our government. Any time a family is evacuated from their home or impacted by situations that are beyond their control, it can be extremely distressing, and I certainly understand that.
This is one of the reasons why my ministry has taken steps to solve these problems related to the management of petroleum gas wells in our province. In the coming months, my ministry will be reaching out to municipalities to discuss planning and emergency management scenarios related to petroleum hazards and risks. The education and outreach work will help clarify roles and responsibilities, and it will also allow the municipalities, whose main responsibility it is, to plan ahead by better understanding these risks.
However, that was still not enough for my ministry. More research does need to be done before we take a course of action, which is why we have also assembled a multi-ministry technical team to help us better understand the geology and subsurface gases in southwestern Ontario.
Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, municipalities are responsible for emergency management within their geographic areas. The Ontario government is responsible for emergency management on crown land and unorganized municipalities.
There have been incidents involving leaking or old petroleum wells, improperly abandoned wells or contaminated water wells in southwestern Ontario, located in the Norfolk, Leamington, Port Burwell and Big Creek areas. If a leak occurs, the local municipality can choose to initiate an emergency, the local health unit can issue evacuation orders, and our ministry can provide technical advice to support the municipality and the health unit. In all petroleum-related situations, my ministry works with the municipality and the local health unit by providing technical advice and support.
So I’d like to reiterate, once again, that it’s the local municipal government that has the primary responsibility for incident and emergency management. However, in certain circumstances my ministry can assist landowners, through our Abandoned Works Program, for high-priority wells. This is something I want to elaborate more on.
The Abandoned Works Program is meant to assist landowners with costs associated with legacy wells on their property that they were not commercially responsible for. MNRF treats each request on a case-by-case basis, and in limited cases assists the landowner with the costs of plugging a leaking well. These decisions are made based on the risks to public safety and degree of environmental contamination. However, let me be clear: The landowner is ultimately responsible for wells on their private property.
In the situation referenced earlier, my ministry came in under the Abandoned Works Program and capped the well in question. I’m happy to explain the steps.
In 2015, three visits by my ministry indicated that H2S readings varied between 0 and 17 parts per million, depending on weather conditions and measurement distances.
On July 18, 2016, I sent Mr. Grant and the member’s office a letter and a report from Matrix.
In July 2017, Mr. Grant informed the MOECC of a change in the status of his well.
An inspector was sent to reassess the site on July 26, 2017, and as a result of that visit, the Grants were notified the next day that MNRF would immediately start the process to plug the well under the Abandoned Works Program.
Under this program, the first step in the process of plugging the well includes tendering the project with qualified vendors and the creation of a contract between the landowner and the contractor.
I want to highlight the fact that my ministry expedited the tendering process significantly in this situation, and the cost associated was $200,000. Speaker, we can all agree that’s a lot of money, so let’s be clear here: Without this program, Ian and Kim Grant, the private landowners, would have normally been responsible for those costs.
I understand the Grants had requested compensation for their situation, particularly cost-recovery for the business in the area, but unfortunately, Speaker, my ministry is not able to pay for municipal costs or the economic losses. However, we did step forward, we saved the landowner over $200,000, and we have capped the well, so that their health and safety will be assured from there forward.