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Leaking abandoned gas well means downtown building will need to go

Feb 7, 2018 | 3:44 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT – A business in downtown Medicine Hat may be demolished later this year because of a leaking abandoned gas well.

City Council will have to approve the proposal to demolish the Hitch’n Post Saloon, known to long-time Hatters the former Ming Tree Restaurant.

The business has been closed for some time. The building was purchased by the Orphan Well Association, while the city agreed to accept ownership of the land title.

The original well is located underneath the rear side of the building and the OWA said it’s been leaking methane gas for several years, though the risk to the public is considered low.

“There’s small volume of gas leaking around the well so we’re really keen to be able to address and look after it,” said Pat Payne, operations director for the Orphan Well Association.

Before it was the Hitch’n Post, the site was the home of the former Ming Tree restaurant, but the original well is thought to have been drilled in the 1890’s to supply gas to the American Hotel.

According to the OWA, there were past attempts to abandon the well. The data collected over the years has led experts to believe it’s unlikely they’ll be able to repair the leak successfully to properly abandon the well.

In order to ensure public health and safety, the OWA said it will install an enhanced Soil Gas Management System which would be monitored by the City.

Energy exploration has been taking place in Medicine Hat for more than a century and the Orphan Well Association said there are currently 95 abandoned wells within the city limits. There are 113 including Redcliff and Dunmore.

“There are other leaking wells in Medicine Hat,” said Payne. “But, this is the one in particular that the Orphan Well Association has been given the care and custody of by the Alberta Energy Regulator.”

The OWA has over 1,700 wells to properly abandon across Alberta, there’s another 1,000 or more expected to be added to that list.

Payne said this is one of the most challenging and unique wells they’ve had to deal with.

“This is the first time there’s been a building, that we know of, on top of a leaking historical well, [at least] one that we’ve been given the responsibility to look after,” said Payne.

The OWA, the City and the Alberta Energy Regulator are working together to find a shared solution to the well’s historical problems.

If the proposal gets the green light from City Council, the city will be removing the existing building on the site.

The OWA will then undertake activities to pinpoint the well location and manage the methane leaks.

The proposal is expected to go before council on February 20th.