In Alberta, mature oil and gas fields and wells continue to be abandoned at record speed. Often called mature assets, they continually look more and more like liabilities for many farmers. When an operator abandons a site, municipal taxes and surface leases go unpaid, which can be financially damaging for rural communities and landowners.

Two acres of James Molnar’s 800-acre family farm near Barnwell cause him continuous headaches. Just a short distance from his house, these troublesome acres contain an old oil well site. Its lingering traces of asphalt and oil prevent Molnar from planting the lot with high-value Taber corn or the tomatoes, pumpkins and other market vegetables he farms. Doing so would violate the exacting standards of the grocery stores he supplies.