Nearly a year after AER orders Obsidian Energy to come up with a plan *in 15 days* to mitigate its massive earthquakes, the company reportedly still refuses to address Woodland Cree First Nation’s concerns or meet with them. Where’s the self-regulator? Oh right, Obsidian regulates itself, does what it wants, impacted neighbours be damned.

…. On February 7, 2024, the AER, pursuant to our regulatory appeal of the Order, scheduled a hearing to commence on November 27, 2024, to review the Order and whether it should be confirmed, varied, suspended or revoked. …

Obsidian Energy sets record straight regarding Woodland Cree First Nation misleading statements by BOE Report, Feb 13, 2024

First Nation sends notice of opposition over drilling plans in northern Alberta, Obsidian Energy plans to increase production by 12% this year by Nia Williams, Thomson Reuters, Feb 14, 2024, CBC

A First Nation in northern Alberta says it has told the Alberta Energy Regulator that oil and gas producer Obsidian Energy cannot proceed with plans to expand drilling on its territory due to concerns about earthquakes.

The Woodland Cree First Nation criticized Obsidian earlier this week for failing to address the Indigenous community’s concerns about a series of earthquakes that regulators found were caused by the company’s wastewater disposal.

Calgary-based Obsidian produces roughly 31,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. About 20 per cent of output comes from the company’s Peace River assets in northern Alberta, some of which are located within Woodland Cree territory.

Obsidian plans to increase production by 12 per cent this year and focus most of its drilling program on the Peace River region, according to a company presentation.

“CEO Stephen Loukas and Obsidian have not met the basic legal requirements necessary to proceed with development on our territory,” Woodland Cree Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom said in a statement.

In recent days, Woodland Cree community members have started establishing “monitoring camps” across their territory to safeguard their land from Obsidian oil development that the Nation has not authorized, the statement said.

Obsidian appealed the regulatory order issued last year that found it was at fault for the earthquakes.Ya, sure, earthquakers always say they didn’t do it. BUT, Obsidian also stated publicly they heeded the order, contradicting themselves.

In a statement released late Tuesday, Obsidian CEO Loukas said negotiations that started last year over a new economic relationship agreement with the Woodland Cree had broken down.

“We have unfortunately reached a negotiating impasse with WCFN’s senior leadership,” Loukas said.

Obsidian can use existing regulatory processes to obtain the permits and licenses needed to execute its three-year Peace River growth plan and accelerate growth in other Peace River locations, he added.Nasty and typical of oil and gas profit rapers and quakers in Canada.

First Nation urges Obsidian Energy to address northern Alta. quake concerns by Nia Williams, Reuters, Feb. 13, 2024, CTV News

An Indigenous community in Alberta on Monday criticized Obsidian Energy OBE.TO for failing to address ongoing concerns about its operations after regulators said the Canadian oil and gas producer was responsible for a series of earthquakes.

The quakes, including one with a local magnitude of 5.6, took place over nearly four months in the territory of the Woodland Cree First Nation in northern Alberta between November 2022 and March 2023.

In March the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) found that Obsidian caused the series of seismic events by disposing of industrial wastewater underground, and gave the company 15 days to produce a mitigation plan.

However, chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom said Obsidian had refused to “meaningfully meet or work” with Woodland Cree First Nation to address their concerns since then. Lack of collaboration with First Nations could put oil and gas development at risk more widely, he said.

“This calls into question the company and underlines the need for their executives to come to the table and address the concerns of rights holders in the region,” Laboucan-Avirom said in a statement.

Obsidian did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Calgary-based company produces around 32,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and operates primarily in the Peace, Cardium and Viking plays in Alberta.

Refer also to:

2023: Another AER agent not to trust: Industry rep at AGS, Rebecca Salvage, quickly blamed nature for 5.6M biggest (industry induced) earthquake in Alberta’s history; includes snide “comments” and big winded promises by Obsidian, quake-maker

2023: Gong Show! Oil and gas industry self-regulator, AER, after blaming nature, “regulates” Obsidian Energy *only* because researchers make their study public on the 2022 damaging, record-breaking 5.6M industry-induced earthquake at Peace River, and media, including Tyee, reported on it. Corrupt AER cowards led by just another scandal-ridden old white “dickhead.” Obsidian shares fell 4% by morning.

And here’s why industry’s self-regulator, AER, doesn’t regulate unless publicly pressured to:

Obsidian shares fall after Alberta’s energy regulator says company caused seismic events March 24, 2023 6:30 AM, The Globe and Mail

2019: Another Alberta Frac Incident? 400,000-litre spill by Obsidian Energy near Drayton Valley, private land and wetland impacted