Manitoba's Orphan Well Landscape: A Model for Effective Regulation

Manitoba is an outlier among western provinces when it comes to orphan oil and gas wells, with a significantly smaller number of abandoned sites compared to its neighbors. According to experts, this can be attributed to several factors, including Manitoba's relatively small oil industry, effective regulation, and a lack of robust oversight.

The province's petroleum branch has only been compiling and sharing orphan-well data for the past five years, with a 2025 inventory listing 31 well sites without a legally or financially responsible owner. This makes up less than one percent of the approximately 4,000 wells currently producing oil in Manitoba.

Experts point to Alberta's experience as an example of what can go wrong if not addressed properly. With over 7,300 orphan wells and an estimated clean-up cost of $1.66 billion, Alberta's situation is a cautionary tale for other provinces. The Pembina Institute has recommended increasing the orphan-well levy, enacting an escalating inactive-well fee, and introducing strict timelines for cleanup to address this issue.

Manitoba's unique regulatory environment has contributed to its relatively low number of orphan wells. Operators must submit an application to suspend drilling at a well site, with suspensions valid for up to three years before requiring an extension. This policy has helped keep inactive drilling sites to a minimum.