Our Commitment Optimization Our Approach The Problem Services Our Team Get in Touch
Integrated ARO Lifecycle Management

Delivering More
Liability Reduction
Per Dollar Spent.

Abandonment Facilities Environmental Reclamation Regulatory Construction & Water Management

Operators across Western Canada face growing regulatory and financial pressure to address inactive well liabilities. Highwood acts as your single integrated ARO program manager — one accountable structure from initial assessment through reclamation certificate.

Book a Portfolio Review Our Two-Step Model
20+
Years Experience
20%
Mgmt Cost Reduction
15%
Execution Cost Savings
Multi-Year
Timeline Acceleration
AER
Dir. 020 & 088 Experts
Field operations
Field Operations & Construction
Land reclamation
Land Reclamation
Environmental stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Western Canada operations
Western Canada Operations
20+
Years Industry Experience
Single PM
One Accountable Structure
Multi-Year
Timeline Acceleration
AER
Directives 020 & 088
Our Commitment

Every Closure Dollar
Should:

Retire More Liability & Reduce Inactive Liability

Reduce Future Capital Costs & Improve LCA Scorecard Metrics

Improve Regulatory Performance

Accelerate Reclamation Timelines

Increase Shareholder Value

More Liability Reduction.  Less Overhead.  Better Results.
Typical Client Results
20%
Management Cost Reduction
15%
Execution Cost Savings
Multi-Year
Timeline Acceleration
Cost Savings & Optimization

Three Pillars of
Optimization

Every program we manage is structured around three core levers that drive more liability reduction per dollar spent.

01

Project Management
Consolidation

Eliminate Duplicate Roles

One accountable PM per scope across active sites — remove redundant oversight layers and costs.

Unified Multi-Site Coverage

Single PM spans multiple wells and facilities, cutting headcount cost without sacrificing control.

Reduced Admin Overhead

Centralized reporting and approvals cut coordination time, rework, and duplication.

02

ARO Timeline
Acceleration

Surface Land Rental Savings

Faster reclamation reduces ongoing land rental and annual lease obligations on inactive sites.

Tax & Regulatory Relief

Inactive well taxes cease sooner — direct reduction in carrying costs on non-producing assets.

Veg & Maintenance Savings

Accelerated closure eliminates recurring vegetation control and site upkeep cycles.

Inactive Liability Reduction

Faster ARO shrinks balance sheet liability and drives LCA scorecard improvements.

03

Vendor
Consolidation

Eliminate Scope Duplication

Audit vendor work orders — assign single accountability per defined work package.

Mob / Demob Optimization

Batch mobilizations across adjacent sites. One trip covers multiple locations and scopes.

Integrated Service Contracts

Bundle complementary scopes to reduce call-out rates and close coordination gaps — accelerating closure spend and timelines with every dollar spent.

Our Approach

Two-Step ARO
Delivery Model

Step 1 drives the model. Step 2 executes it — maximizing liability reduction per dollar spent.

1

Detailed Review &
Custom ARO Model

Full Asset Inventory Review

Comprehensive audit of all inactive and active sites — well status, surface agreements, regulatory standing, and estimated ARO costs per site.

Tailored ARO Financial Model

Custom model built to your company's specific asset profile — prioritized by liability exposure, timeline, and cost-per-site.

Surface & Land Cost Analysis

Identify ongoing rental, lease, and tax obligations tied to inactive assets. Quantify savings from accelerated closure.

Prioritization Matrix

Rank sites by net benefit of early abandonment — liability reduction, carrying cost savings, and regulatory risk.

→
Feeds
Into
2

Execution

PM Consolidation

Single accountable PM per scope across multiple sites. Eliminate duplicate roles and overhead — reducing PM cost 30–40%.

ARO Field Execution

Deploy abandonment programs in priority order from the Step 1 model — maximizing liability reduction per dollar spent.

Vendor Scope & Mob/Demob Optimization

Eliminate duplicate vendor scopes. Batch mobilizations across adjacent sites — one trip covers multiple locations.

Ongoing Reporting & Model Updates

Track actuals vs. ARO model. Update financial projections as sites complete and liabilities are retired from the balance sheet.

The Problem

The Challenge With
Traditional Closure Programs

Most operators manage ARO programs the same way they always have — multiple teams, multiple contractors, reactive short-term strategies, and Time & Materials pricing.

Multiple Contractors

Fragmented execution with no single point of accountability — no collective goal or management. Each vendor siloed from other workscopes.

Extended Timelines

Sites not certified for >10 years on average. Timelines extended due to multiple teams managing different aspects of the ARO lifecycle.

Duplicated Supervision

Multiple project managers producing overlapping deliverables — duplication in equipment workscopes on site for varying tasks.

T&M Cost Overruns

No incentive for efficiency — costs expand to fill available budget with no mechanism for shared savings or performance accountability.

Re-active Regulatory

Issues identified late drive costly rework, delays, and non-compliances with the AER — enforcement adds cost and reputational risk.

High Carrying Costs

Slow liability retirement inflates long-term balance sheet exposure — poor LCA Scorecard management, growing surface lease costs, deteriorating LMR ratios.

The Highwood Model

Single Integrated
Program Management

Replacing fragmentation with accountability — one structure, one owner, one outcome.

Traditional Model

How most operators manage ARO today

✗ Multiple contractors
✗ Multiple project managers
✗ Duplicated reporting
✗ Reactive regulatory management
✗ Time & Materials pricing
✗ Extended reclamation timelines
✗ Increased long-term carrying costs
VS

Highwood Energy Model

Single integrated program management

✓ Single integrated program manager
✓ Consolidated contractor management
✓ Unit Rate & Lump Sum contracting model
✓ Area-based closure planning & preparation
✓ Accelerated reclamation timelines
✓ CARL & liability reduction optimization
✓ Increased liability reduction per dollar spent
Integrated Services

All Phases.
One Structure.

No hand-off gaps. No accountability voids. No duplicated overhead.

ARO Program Management

Strategy · Oversight · Liability Reduction

Your single integrated program manager — building the ARO strategy, managing execution, coordinating all contractors, and tracking liability reduction through to reclamation certificate.

  • Portfolio Reviews & CARL Optimization
  • AER Trajectory Forecasting
  • Closure Planning & Budget Forecasting
  • Contractor Procurement & Management
  • LCA Scorecard Management
  • Executive & Regulatory Reporting

Abandonment & Facilities

Decommission · Remove · Close

End-to-end management of well abandonment, facility decommissioning, and pipeline programs using Unit Rate and Lump Sum contracting — area-based execution to eliminate T&M overruns.

  • Well Abandonment (ABD)
  • Facility Decommissioning
  • Pipeline Programs
  • Surface Equipment Removal
  • AER Directive 020 & 088 Compliance
  • Area-Based Execution Planning

Environmental Services

Assess · Remediate · Restore · Certify

Full-scope environmental services integrated directly into the ARO program — from initial assessment through to reclamation certificate, eliminating timeline gaps.

  • Phase 1 & 2 ESA
  • Remediation Planning & Execution
  • Reclamation Programs
  • Site Improvements & Vegetation Management
  • Detailed Site Assessment (DSA)
  • Reclamation Applications (Rec App)
  • OneStop Submissions & CARL
  • Deficiency Management

Construction Services

Plan · Execute · Supervise

Conceptual planning through field execution — integrated construction management keeping ARO programs on budget, on schedule, and fully compliant.

  • Conceptual Planning & FDP Support
  • Field Supervision & Coordination
  • Winter Access Planning
  • Contractor Procurement
  • Construction Oversight QA/QC
  • Cost Control & Schedule Management
The Full ARO Lifecycle

Six Stages. One
Accountable Partner.

From first portfolio review to final reclamation certificate — every stage managed, every deliverable owned.

1

Portfolio Strategy & Liability Mgmt

CARL, AER trajectory, multi-year planning, LCA management

Closure Roadmap & Spend Strategy
2

Program Development & Procurement

Scope, Unit Rate RFPs, vendor selection, area-based planning

Qualified Contractors Under Contract
3

Technical Assessments

Phase 1 & 2 ESA, groundwater, wetland & wildlife surveys

Signed Reports & OneStop
4

Abandonment & Decommissioning

Well ABD, Dir. 020 & 088, facility decommission, pipeline

Assets Retired Safely
5

Remediation & Reclamation

Restoration, vegetation, DSA, Rec App, landowner engagement

Sites Advanced to Certification
6

Certification & Closure

Rec certs, OneStop, deficiency mgmt, CARL, liability tracking

Certified Liability Reduction
Specialized Field Teams

Protecting Alberta's
Landscapes

Dedicated specialist teams integrated into every program — eliminating external coordination delays.

Wetland Team

Assess · Manage · Restore

Science-based assessments and restoration meeting AER requirements.

  • Wetland Assessments & Delineation
  • Impact Assessments
  • Restoration Planning
  • Compensation Planning
  • Regulatory Applications
  • Monitoring & Reporting

Watercourse Crossing

Inventory · Assess · Remediate

Full lifecycle AB WCP program management — inventory through regulatory reporting.

  • Crossing Inventories
  • Risk Assessment & Prioritization
  • Field Assessments & Inspections
  • Fish Habitat Assessments
  • Remediation Planning
  • Regulatory Reporting (AB WCP)

Wildlife Team

Survey · Protect · Conserve

Practical wildlife solutions minimizing impacts and ensuring regulatory compliance.

  • Wildlife Surveys & Monitoring
  • Species at Risk Assessments
  • Wildlife Habitat Assessments
  • Wildlife Management Plans
  • Mitigation & Impact Avoidance
  • Timing Restrictions & Buffers

Construction Services

Plan · Execute · Supervise

Conceptual planning through field execution — safe, efficient, compliant site delivery.

  • Conceptual Planning & FDP Support
  • Field Supervision & Coordination
  • Winter Access Planning
  • Construction Oversight QA/QC
  • Cost Control
  • Schedule Management
Your Dedicated Highwood Team

One Point of Contact.
Full Spectrum of Expertise.

A client-first approach from assessment through reclamation certificate — one accountable structure, no gaps.

Dedicated Project Manager

Your single point of contact & accountability

Abandonment Expert

Well abandonment design and execution — regulatory compliance, sequencing, and cost optimization.

Facilities Expert

Facilities decommissioning, scope definition, and coordinated removal planning.

Env / Reclamation Expert

Environmental assessment, remediation planning, and reclamation certificate management. Wetland and Watercourse support also available.

Senior Field Supervision

On-the-ground execution oversight — streamlining field activities with a client-first mindset.

More Liability Reduction.  Less Overhead.  Better Results.
Work in the Field

ARO Work Across
Western Canada

From well abandonment and facility decommissioning to land reclamation and environmental restoration.

Field operations
Field Operations & Construction
Reclaimed landscape
Land Reclamation & Restoration
Alberta landscape
Alberta Operations
Environmental restoration
Environmental Stewardship
Western Canada field
Western Canada Field Work
We Support Clients Across Multiple Sectors
⛽ Oil & Gas Operators
🏛️ Municipalities
🌲 Forestry
🔧 Pipeline Operators
🤝 Indigenous Groups
Get Started

Book a Portfolio
Review

Let's look at your inactive well portfolio and identify where Highwood can deliver more liability reduction per dollar spent.

Whether you need a full ARO program assessment, an integrated program manager, or specialized environmental and construction services — reach out and we'll get back to you promptly.

info@highwoodenergy.com

We typically respond within one business day.