Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Sixteen “active” oil wells in the Gaspé Peninsula are targeted for permanent closure according to Quebec’s Ministry of Energy.

In the wake of the Court of Appeal’s decision forcing companies to close their wells pending a substantive decision on the constitutionality of the law that ended hydrocarbon exploitation and exploration in 2022. The Ministry clarified that none of the 16 wells are currently in production.

According to the map provided by the ministry in response to a request from SPEC, the majority of these wells are located in the immediate vicinity of Gaspé, namely the former Galt site on the western edge of the town, with a total of seven.

Three are located in Haldimand, one in Anse-à-Brillant, four in the Colline-des-Basques sector in the unorganized territory of Côte-de-Gaspé, and one near Saint-Elzéar.

All 16 wells fall under the Act to end hydrocarbon or underground reservoir exploration, hydrocarbon production, and brine exploration, and are slated for permanent closure.

Following the Court of Appeal’s May 22 decision, the ministry has stated that it will resume its monitoring and require those responsible for the wells to proceed with their permanent closure.
According to the ministry, these 16 wells do not pose a risk.

However, contaminants have been detected at three well sites based on the results of hydrogeological studies commissioned by the department.

Since the companies have not yet been notified, the ministry has not specified their exact geographical position.

However, according to the ministry, no surface waterways are connected to the water table and no drinking water extraction sites for human consumption or food processing are located within a radius of at least one kilometre.

The 16 wells have been subject to a closure plan, and those with detected contaminants will have to take these results into account and revise their closure plans, if necessary, to ensure long-term environmental protection and well integrity.

The law that ended hydrocarbon operations provides for a compensation program for revoked license holders, under which the government can reimburse up to 75% of the costs associated with approved closure work.

To date, no compensation claims have been filed by those responsible for these wells.
After the wells are permanently closed, the sites will be monitored by the Department.