Orphan wells are wells that have not been properly abandoned and whose operators are defunct or insolvent. In Alberta, orphan wells fall under the responsibility of the Orphan Well Association, which works under the authority of the ERCB.

The Orphan Well Association is financed through a levy, called the Orphan Well Fund, charged by the ERCB to companies with wells and facilities. In fiscal 2007, the ERCB's predecessor (the EUB) collected $12 million through this levy, specifically to properly abandon wells and reclaim the well sites.

Any reclamation work involved at an orphan well site falls under the authority of Alberta Environment.

Click here for more information about the Orphan Well Association.