Province provides $7.8 million to address old gas wells
Undetected gas wells have already caused death and destruction in the area.
Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris at the Essex County Civic and Education Centre in Essex. He was joined by county Warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald, Essex MPP Anthony Leardi and EMS and fire department officials from across Essex County.
The Ontario government is providing $7.8 million to help municipalities deal with abandoned, and potentially deadly, oil and gas wells, many of which are located in Southwestern Ontario.
Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris made the announcement Tuesday at the Essex County Civic and Education Centre in Essex. He was joined by county Warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald, Essex MPP Anthony Leardi and EMS and fire department officials from across Essex County.
The funding comes as abandoned wells have already been linked to deadly explosions in the region, including a fatal 2020 blast in Lakeshore and the 2021 Wheatley explosion that injured dozens.
Describing abandoned wells, often called “legacy wells,” as “a very difficult situation that has arisen over the last few decades here in Southwestern Ontario,” Harris said there are about 27,000 abandoned wells across the province, most of which are more than 100 years old.
About 3,500 of those wells are active and producing, including some wells under Lake Erie.
The new money, together with other funds provided earlier this year for a total of $10.8 million, will help municipalities and emergency responders attend specialist training, conduct full scale exercises and purchase specialized equipment to deal with abandoned wells, said Amherstburg Fire Chief Michael Mi.
The funds “allow us to develop standard operating procedures, enhance training and preparedness, and maintain specialized equipment, and strengthen our ability to protect our citizens,” Mi said.
Essex County has already received $1.2 million over the last three years to work on decontamination and gas detection equipment, conduct health safety and emergency management training, to update emergency response plans and develop public awareness.
“This investment is about taking proactive steps to prevent oil and gas related issues before they happen and make sure communities have the support they need to be able to address these long term,” Harris said.
Undetected gas wells have already caused death and destruction in the area.
On July 12, 2020, a blast obliterated a Marentette Beach home, killing Dave and Dianne Nadalin, who were inside the residence. Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal determined the explosion was triggered by the ignition of a vapour buildup inside the home. A definitive source of the vapour was never identified.
On Aug. 26, 2021, a hydrogen sulfide gas explosion ripped into downtown Wheatley, resulting in 20 injuries and causing extensive damage to surrounding buildings.
The gas had migrated from a nearby “legacy” gas well through an underground water reservoir. It passed through an undocumented water well and accumulated in the basement of a building that was destroyed by the explosion.
