DECOMMISSIONING AND RECLAMATION

When an asset reaches its end of life, we begin our decommission and reclamation process according to our standard procedures. Decommissioning begins by abandoning the wellbore and removing facilities and other equipment on the site. Site closure includes reviewing the site’s operational history, identifying and addressing any potential concerns, wastes or hazardous materials, and reclaiming disturbed land to productive and sustainable uses.

We take a collaborative approach to remediate and reclaim the land disturbed by our operations to make sure our remediation plan aligns with landowner/stakeholder expectations for future use.  Where possible in our operating areas, we have developed joint venture and Indigenous partnerships in our site closures.

Decommissioning* (also known as abandonment): The process of changing a once active well (one that will no longer produce oil or natural gas), to a state where it can be left indefinitely. All equipment that was used to produce oil and gas is removed and work is completed on the well to ensure that it will not cause harm to any environmental or human surroundings.

Reclamation*: Reclamation: The process of restoring the surface area of a wellsite, access road or related facility. 

*definitions provided by Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

In 2022, Ovintiv reclaimed 309 acres of land across our operating areas, which is equivalent to 282 football fields.

From Reclamation to Recreation

In October 2022, Ovintiv received a reclamation certificate validating the remediation of the former Morley Gas Plant evaporation pond in Alberta. It has been redeveloped as a baseball diamond for the Stoney Nakoda Nation.  A long-term, legacy project, the former gas plant site and buildings will be used as a field administration location by the Stoney Tribal Administration and the reclaimed evaporation pond area will be a place for family and friends to gather and play ball, as envisioned by Nation leadership in partnership with our Ovintiv field team. 

Decommissioning

Utilizing Ecological Practices

A critical part of oil and gas development is remediating and reclaiming the temporary disturbances such as pipeline right-of-ways, pad sites and other ancillary sites that occur in the normal course of drilling, completing and producing wells. On provincial land in British Columbia, we are shifting away from agriculture-based restoration to ecological-based restoration in ecologically sensitive areas. This means maintaining coarse woody debris, active reforestation and limited seeding of crop species in order to encourage the return of native species and forest-like conditions. These practices better align the restoration with Indigenous community needs and interests as well as stakeholder and community expectations of wildlife and habitat restoration and the protection of sensitive areas.