I am very familiar with the Ontario well files and historical records and perform historical well searches for property transfers or curious landowners.
Southern Ontario has a long history of oil and natural gas development, beginning with the discovery of North America’s first commercial oil well in 1858. Over the late 1800s and early 1900s, thousands of wells were drilled before modern record-keeping and regulatory standards existed. As a result, many historical wells may not appear in government well files, published maps, property title, or municipal records today.
Many historical wells were never properly plugged, and in these cases the responsibility for plugging may fall to the current landowner. However, historical research can sometimes identify a past operator or successor entity that may be held responsible for the plugging costs instead.
A Title Search can uncover hidden truths about the property such as liens or mortgages or petroleum leases registered on title but may have nothing documenting whether any petroleum (oil and/or natural gas) wells were drilled.