Norman Wells Oil Production Ceases After Over a Century

Imperial Oil announced on August 15 that it has ceased oil production at its Norman Wells site, marking the end of over a century of operations. The Norman Wells oilfield, discovered in 1920, had pumped an estimated 275 million barrels since its inception. According to John Hutchings, Imperial Oil's operations manager in Norman Wells, 'Production flow has been fully and safely shut in at our Norman Wells site, bringing to close over a century of operations.' The team is now focused on deactivating the site, which will continue over the coming weeks.

The closure of the oilfield will also affect natural gas production in the Northwest Territories. In 2025, the NWT's natural gas yield totalled 41 million cubic metres, a decrease of 18% from the previous year. The value of the territory's natural gas was $2.2 million in 2025.

Reclamation work on the site is not expected to begin until after 2030 and will take more than 20 years to complete. Opportunities for involvement will exist for local businesses, and employment will be offered during this time. The Town of Norman Wells has been studying the impacts of losing its largest industry and how to respond on a number of fronts.