Program
EPEX 2026 Program
The EPEX 2026 program combined focused technical blocks with dedicated trade show and networking time. Major 2026 themes included energy storage, legacy wells, and tools and technologies.
EPEX 2026 has now concluded. Thank you to the speakers, attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, and volunteers who made the program possible.
At a glance
Day 1 • June 3rd
- Block 1 — Decarbonization
- Block 2 — Salt + Hydrogen + Geology
- Trade Show Spotlight & Networking
- Networking Dinner
Day 2 • June 4th
- Breakfast
- Block 3 — Geological Storage
- Trade Show & Networking
- Block 4 — Well Service and Plugging
- Networking Luncheon and Keynote
- Core Workshop — Silurian Pinnacle Reefs of SW Ontario
- Trade Show & Networking
- Block 5 — History and Legacy
- Legacy Wells Panel
This schedule remains available as a post-conference reference.
Day 1 schedule (outline)
| Time | Session | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | Block 1 — Decarbonization | Technical talks focused on subsurface mining of horizontal galleries in salts, storage of hydrogen in horizontal galleries, and long-term storage of carbon dioxide. |
| 2:30 PM | Block 2 — Salt + Hydrogen + Geology | Technical talks focused on salt mining and hydrogen storage in porours bedrock, the alternative medium. Additional geological insights. |
| 4:00 PM | Trade Show Spotlight & Networking | Short exhibitor spotlights on the trade show floor followed by dedicated trade show time. |
| 5:00 PM | Conference Dinner | A relaxed networking dinner to connect speakers, exhibitors, and attendees. |
Day 2 schedule (outline)
| Time | Session | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast | Hot breakfast and coffee for all attendees. |
| 9:00 AM | Block 3 — Geological Storage | Geological storage, monitoring, risk, and subsurface data integration. |
| 10:00 AM | Trade Show & Networking | Trade show open with dedicated networking time, coffee and snacks from our sponsors. |
| 11:00 AM | Block 4 — Well Service and Plugging | Operational and engineering perspectives on well service, integrity, and plugging. |
| 12:00 PM | Networking Lunch | Lunch for all attendees with special presentation from keynote speaker. |
| 12:45 PM | Luncheon Keynote | Keynote address by Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Newmarket—Aurora. |
| 1:30 PM | Core Workshop — Silurian Pinnacle Reefs of SW Ontario | Hands-on technical core workshop with a modern reef model and core/log integration. |
| 2:15 PM | Trade Show & Networking | Return to the trade show floor; meet exhibitors and collaborators. |
| 2:45 PM | Block 5 — History and Legacy | Legacy wells, historical operations, and how past development affects today’s subsurface work. |
| 4:05 PM | Legacy Wells Panel | Panel discussion focused on legacy wells, risk reduction, and practical next steps. |
Core Workshop: Using the Matt Rine Pinnacle Reef Model to better understand the Petrolia East Oil Reef
What you’ll cover
- Updated geological model and nomenclature for pinnacle reef facies (Rine 2019).
- Regional cross-sections showing Niagaran/Lockport Group context prior to reef development.
- Field-scale stratigraphic and structural cross-sections linking sediment distribution to basin development.
- Core + log integration using selected SW Ontario reef cores (examples include Rosedale, Petrolia East, Warwick pools).
- Reservoir character summary (porosity, permeability, fluids, pressure, size/extent) to support exploration and storage discussions.
- Support materials for a physical 3‑D model and workshop documentation/virtual volume.
Format
The workshop used a guided narrative with time to examine core, compare to logs, and ask deeper questions than a normal 20-minute talk allows. It was followed by a walk of the core with presenter Ian Colquhoun and co-author Matt Rine.
Workshop PDFLegacy Wells: Knowledge Discussion Panel
Potential talk points:
- What is a “legacy well” in Ontario — orphaned, abandoned, undocumented, or poorly documented historic wells.
- Where legacy wells are most likely to be encountered — older oil and gas districts, farm properties, shoreline communities, and urban growth areas.
- How legacy wells are discovered — historical records/maps, drilling records, landowner reports, excavation surprises, and seeps.
- Emergency response planning — preparation, multi-agency coordination, and public communication.
- Well plugging / decommissioning approaches — typical plugging barriers, strategies, and challenges with damaged or unknown well construction.
- Regulatory roles and responsibilities — landowner considerations, municipal roles, provincial oversight, and plugging assistance.
- Future priorities for Ontario
Format
A panel of knowledgeable industry members brought real experience in dealing with legacy wells, with potential involvement from regulators.
Each participant will make a short presentation followed by a discussion with questions from attendees.
This event was live only; presentations and discussion will not be available in the video volume.
Day 1 Speakers
| Time | Speaker | Talk |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | Mark Emery Manager, Regional Operations Division, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources |
Carbon Storage Implementation in Ontario |
| 1:20 PM | Ian Colquhoun, PhD, P.Geo. 2289745 Ontario Ltd., President |
Mapping Sarnia-Lambton's Salina Salt Geology for Design of H2 Storage Galleries |
| 2:30 PM | Blair Rogers Rogers Eastern Oilfield Consulting Ltd., P.Eng., PMP |
Canadian Modern (Heavy) Oil Exploration: Making Money without the Hot Air |
| 2:50 PM | Wayne McConnell Plant Manager |
Compass Minerals in Goderich Ontario |
| 3:10 PM | D. Randy Blood DRB Geological Consulting/DRB Mudstone Research Lab, Principal |
The Search for the Upper Kellwasser Event in the Chatham Sag: Geochemical Constraints from the Appalachian Basin Point Gratiot Bed |
Day 2 Speakers
| Time | Speaker | Talk |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Steven Pardy Manager Underground Storage and Transmission Planning, Enbridge Gas Inc. |
Underground Natural Gas Storage in Ontario |
| 9:20 AM | Rhonda Ovenden P.Eng., Director of Operations, Hydrostor Inc. |
Hydrostor: Long Duration Energy Storage Utilizing Underground Rock Caverns |
| 9:40 AM | Dave Thompson President, Northern Cross Energy Limited |
Storage of Hydrogen in Depleted Natural Gas Reservoirs |
| 11:00 AM | Doug Kozak Technical Sales Representative, Weatherford Wireline |
Downhole Wireline Logging Diagnostics for Gas and Fluid Migration |
| 11:20 AM | Chris Morgan VP Business Development, GOWell |
Novel technologies for multi-string well integrity evaluation: New Physics for Old Challenges |
| 11:40 AM | Frank Kuri P. Eng., Lagasco Inc. |
A Century of Offshore Drilling on Lake Erie |
| 12:45 PM | Dawn Gallagher Murphy Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Newmarket—Aurora |
Luncheon keynote address |
| 1:30 PM | Ian Colquhoun, PhD, P.Geo. 2289745 Ontario Ltd., President |
Using the Matt Rine Pinnacle Reef Model to better understand the Petrolia East Oil Reef |
| 2:45 PM | Christina Sydorko Educational Programs Coordinator, Oil Museum of Canada |
Educating the next generation: Lessons from the Oil Museum of Canada |
| 3:05 PM | Mary Baxter PhD Candidate, Western University History Department |
The Early Years of Oil and Gas Extraction in the Great Lakes |
| 3:25 PM | Jug Manocha P.Eng., Special Projects Engineer |
Experience Dealing with Wells Part I |
| 3:35 PM | Ben Barnes President, Double B Well Services |
Experience Dealing with Wells Part II |
| 3:45 PM | Danielle Douglas and Robert Shaw Ministry of Natural Resources |
Ontario's Abandoned Works Program (AWP) |
| 4:05 PM | Jug Manocha, Ben Barnes, Scott Lewis, Mike Dorland | Legacy Wells Panel |
Downloads
Look for announcements on EPEX 2027 in late-summer. To present, suggest a topic, or provide feedback, share your interest in EPEX 2027.