Alberta’s Energy Regulator Shuts Down 16 Oil Facilities

Alberta’s Energy Regulator (AER) has shut down 16 oil field sites in Alberta because they are noncompliant.

All of the sites are operated by Murphy Oil Company Ltd. and were found to be noncompliant with requirements to capture and flare, incinerate, or conserve all casing gas and tank-top gasses in accordance with AER. Inspection teams did a sweep of 71 sites in the Peace River area from June 15^th to 19^th and shut sites that did not meet requirements. The Murphy Oil Company sites have been shut in or partially shut in as a result. The AER directed Murphy to conduct inspections on remaining sites. The company shut in or partially shut in an additional 17 sites that were venting casing or tank-top gas.

Location of the closures (Photo Credit: Google Maps)

“Albertans expect the AER to protect public safety and the environment and to make sure operators follow the rules,” said AER president and CEO Jim Ellis. “The AER is committed to continued action in Peace River and ensuring all our requirements are met. When they are not, we will take enforcement action as we have demonstrated with these recent compliance sweeps.”

The AER is conducting an investigation into the noncompliances. All sites will remain shut in or partially shut in until the AER approves the operator’s action plan to achieve compliance. The AER has conducted six sets of targeted compliance sweeps since June 2014, inspecting 834 sites in the Peace River area.

Locations of the closed oil facilities include Northern Sunrise County located north of Slave Lake.