Update
Regional Emergency Operations Centre (REOC)
December 16th, 2004, 12:00 a.m.
Acheson Well Control Incident West of Edmonton

This update is intended to provide you with the latest information about the above incident from the REOC Centre located at the Alberta Energy Utilities Board (EUB) St. Albert Field Centre. The Acclaim Energy Trust well control incident is located west of the City of Edmonton.

PLEASE NOTE:
Acclaim Energy, following thorough discussions and technical review with the EUB and REOC members including Alberta Environment, initiated a controlled ignition of the Acheson well.

There are 14 air monitors currently in place and will record and report levels of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) being emitted. SO₂ is produced when H₂S is burned.

Public Complaints/Enquiries

• Between 12:00 p.m. December 15 to 12:00 a.m. December 16, the EUB received about 8 public complaints / enquiries; Acclaim received 6 public complaints / enquiries. Some of these may be duplicate calls.
• The majority of the calls are considered enquiries as opposed to complaints.

Air Monitoring

•  Ambient H₂S (sour gas) levels have been detected in the range of 0 to 0.015 ppm (parts per million) from 12:00 p.m., December 15, 2004 to 12:00 a.m. December 16.

Produced Fluid Storage/Disposal 

• The well is producing salt water and some hydrocarbons which are being directed to earthen pits at the site.
• The fluid is being recovered and trucked to suitable, approved disposal sites.
• A groundwater specialist is reviewing the storage of these liquids for Acclaim.

The REOC was opened on Monday December 13, 2004 and will continue to be operational until the conclusion of the well control incident.

REOC Representatives