Oil and Gas - Alberta Wilderness Association

Prairie Bluff, Castle (N. Douglas)

Moose Mountain well, Kananaskis (N. Douglas)

According to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, oil and gas well reclamation is progressing at a much slower rate than well abandonment. This is resulting in a buildup of uncertified wells. On average, between 2002 and 2011, 14,227 wells were drilled per year, 4,111 were abandoned and 1,682 certified. This indicates that over the last 10 years, the certification rate has been approximately 40.9 per cent of the abandonment rate (Oil and Gas Reclamation, Alberta ESRD, March 2012)

Position

Alberta Wilderness Association believes that hydrocarbon exploration and development should be regulated in a manner that is consistent with the maintenance of wilderness values. There is a fundamental need for the maintenance of wilderness that is free of industrial incursion. Outside of such areas, exploration and development must be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.

2020

In February, AWA learned that Alberta-based Seven Generations Energy was the first Canadian natural gas producer to receive Equitable Origins’ (EO) certification to the EO100 standard. AWA has since engaged with Equitable Origins certifiers to support a sound application of the biodiversity provisions of their oil and gas certification, which we believe could help improve energy industry land-use practices. Since June, AWA has engaged directly with Seven Generations Energy around biodiversity concerns and opportunities in its Kakwa region lease holdings.

In early April, AWA voiced concerns about Alberta’s March 31 decision to suspend most energy industry environmental compliance reporting requirements. We were unconvinced that this was a pandemic safety-related measure since all data gathering and record-keeping requirements remained. We joined First Nations and other ENGOs in raising concerns when Alberta further suspended most environmental monitoring requirements in late April and early May; this occurred at a time when other economic activities were re-opening with pandemic safety measures in place. Although reporting and monitoring resumed in July 2020, AWA remains concerned about the interruption of compliance reporting and loss of data collection without transparent justification.

December 19, 2025

Joint News Release: Alberta’s caribou get another lump of coal in their stockings

Amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton | Moh’kinstsis/Calgary, AB | The Government of Alberta has continued their holiday tradition of…

November 28, 2025

Joint Statement: Canada and Alberta join forces to trample Indigenous Rights and weaken environmental protections in return for fossil fuel expansion, while ignoring cleanup problem

Joint Statement: Canada and Alberta join forces to trample Indigenous Rights and weaken environmental protections…

November 20, 2025

C4RE News Release: Supermajority of Albertans want oil and gas companies to cover costs of well cleanup, unpaid municipal taxes and landowner rents

New Poll: Supermajority of Albertans want oil and gas companies to cover costs of well…

October 3, 2025

Adventures for Wilderness, Cochrane North Field Trip; Geology, Glaciation, Oil Wells Technology, and the Impact of Gravel Mining on the Environment – September 13, 2025

Text by Pamela Narvaez-Torres and Tako Koning, photos by Pamela Narvaez-Torres Led by Tako Koning…

October 1, 2025

Joint Statement: Appointing an oil executive as new CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator shatters any hope for a fair and effective oversight of the industry

Joint statement by Keepers of the Water, Environmental Defence and Alberta Wilderness Association on the…

Oil and gas activity can have a wide range of impacts on natural ecosystems, from the initial exploration stage, through development, production and decommissioning of infrastructure.

Position

2020

Joint News Release: Alberta’s caribou get another lump of coal in their stockings

Joint Statement: Canada and Alberta join forces to trample Indigenous Rights and weaken environmental protections in return for fossil fuel expansion, while ignoring cleanup problem

C4RE News Release: Supermajority of Albertans want oil and gas companies to cover costs of well cleanup, unpaid municipal taxes and landowner rents

Adventures for Wilderness, Cochrane North Field Trip; Geology, Glaciation, Oil Wells Technology, and the Impact of Gravel Mining on the Environment – September 13, 2025

Clean Up Your Mess Virtual and In-Person Town Halls

To Protect or Not?

AER Refuses to Reconsider Weak Penalty for Kearl Mine Tailings spill

Adventure for Wilderness, Cochrane North Field Trip – June 7, 2025

Engagement Guide for the Upper Smoky Sub-regional Plan Survey

AWA Statement on the Government of Alberta’s Draft Mature Asset Strategy

Joint Letter to NDP Leader and MLAs Re: Public inquiry into the Alberta Energy Regulator

Joint Statement: Appointing an oil executive as new CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator shatters any hope for a fair and effective oversight of the industry