Plugging two abandoned gas wells expected to cost more than $900,000

More than $800,000 has been spent so far plugging two of Norfolk County’s abandoned gas wells.

But that figure is expected to rise because work on the two wells – one at 2 Silver Hill Side Road and the other at Forestry Farm Road – is continuing. The projects are being funded through the ministry’s Abandoned Works Program (AWP).

“The complexity of AWP projects can vary significantly,” James Tinajero, ministry’s team lead, media relations, said in an e-mail exchange. “Factors such as the age and location of the well, as well as site conditions can impact the complexity of projects.”

Tinjaro said work at the Forestry Farm Road site began in the fall of 2022 and is ongoing. The estimated time frame for completion is not known at this time given the complexity of the project.

To date, the project has cost $543,000.

Work on the Silver Hill project began in January 2023 and is expected to be completed this summer at a cost of about $400,000 bring the cost of plugging the two wells to at least $943,000. So far, $285,000 has been spent on the site.

Tom Edwards, a former Norfolk County resident, was ordered by the natural resources and forestry ministry to cap and seal the Silver Hill well in January 2020. At the time, the well was spewing large amounts of hydrogen sulphide gas and methane among other toxic materials .

But Edwards successfully argued the problems at his Silver Hill property were the result of the ministry capping a relief well along the banks of Big Creek on North Walsingham Road 10 in 2015.

When Edwards purchased the property in May 2020, the pool of water coming from the well was about eight inches in diameter or about the size of a hula hoop. A sinkhole made the pool bigger and then the embankment, where the well, was located collapsed.

Fixing the problem then became more complicated and required extensive remediation.

Edwards, now a resident of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Is in the process of selling the property with the deal set to close imminently.

“The problem is much bigger and more expensive than first thought, way more expensive,” Edwards said. “That’s what I was trying to get the province to understand.

“No one really knows how expensive it could be and no one really knows the extent of the problem.”

Norfolk Amy Martin acknowledged the difficulties in capping some abandoned wells.

“We know that the Forestry Farm Road well is difficult to plug and so that will have additional expenditures associated with it,” Martin said. “But I take comfort in the fact that we have the help of the province.

“They have been very responsive and they have the expertise to help us.”

It’s not a great situation but it’s a lot better than it was when wells would erupt and provincial assistance wasn’t available, she said.

There are 2,634 old gas wells in Norfolk and Martin agreed that capping them will cost a lot of money.

However, she said some wells aren’t as problematic as others and provincial support is available.

Graydon Smith, Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, in early June announced a $23.6 million program to identify and plug old gas wells across the province. The announcement included $7.5 million for eligible communities to reduce risks and increase emergency preparedness.

As well, the announcement includes a doubling of the funding for the abandoned works program.

Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady praised Smith for the work he has done on abandoned gas wells.

But she acknowledged that solving the problem will be expensive and that, she said, is the result of too much dithering by the province over several years.

“It’s frustrating and I’m not blaming this current government because this has been an issue under previous governments,” Brady said. “They turned a blind eye to the problem of abandoned gas wells and then spent too much dithering and debating about what should be done.”

Still, Brady praised Smith’s actions on abandoned gas wells.

“I give him top marks,” Brady said. “I brought this to his attention soon after he was appointed minister and he listened and I’m heartened by the fact that he’s taking this issue seriously, he’s taking the tours and he’s talking to people.

“It’s about time someone took the bull by the horns of this issue.”

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