Cenovus Energy says it is making steady progress in its cleanup efforts at the Rush Lake 2 Thermal Facility, following the blowout of fluids, gas and other materials which started around May 7.
Work is currently focused on the P-pad area, where final isolation, investigation, and abandonment of well P-4 are underway. Cenovus has identified P-4 as the source of the steam release to the surface. The company says the well was brought under control on July 17, allowing cleanup and remediation activities to begin.
Restart
With the extensive cleanup ongoing, Cenovus says it’s working on plans for a a safe restart of areas of the Rush Lake facility that were not affected by the incident. The plan could see a resumption of oil production by year-end.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources will have to approve.
The Rush Lake facility produces about 16,000 barrels of oil a day in production.
Winter preparation
Cleanup, winterization, and preparations for a potential restart will continue in the coming weeks. Residents in the area may notice non-production drill and service rigs, construction activity, and occasional flaring.
Incident Overview:
- Location: Approximately 80 km southeast of Lloydminster, near Payton and Maidstone, Saskatchewan
- Incident Start: May 7, 2025
- Cause: A failed well casing
- Initial Response: Cenovus deployed containment berms, injected water to control the release, and initiated air and water monitoring
- Community Impact: Residents reported a foul odor
- Air Monitoring: Cenovus and provincial officials reported that hydrogen sulfide levels were well below health-risk thresholds
Status Updates:
- July 31, 2025: Cenovus confirmed the well release was under control
- October 17, 2025: Cleanup and remediation efforts remain ongoing
