The 31 August 2026 edition of AER Directive 011 changed no cost values. It changed who answers for the number. Here is what the new edition says, how the AER builds a well’s estimated liability, and the records that move it: well scenarios, cementing data, multiwell pads, abandonment reports and CARL.
AER Deemed Liability vs Actual Cost: Why the Numbers Never Match
The AER uses standardized formulas to estimate well cleanup costs. These numbers consistently underestimate actual abandonment and reclamation costs. Here is how big the gap is, why it exists, and how to calculate your true liability exposure.