NOTICE OF PREHEARING MEETING
ApplicationS 1276521 AND 1276489
ApplicationS for a licenCe TO DRILL A SOUR NATURAL GAS WELL,
COMPULSoRY POOLING AND SPECIAL well SPACING orders
POLARIS RESOURCES LTD.
LIVINGSTONE FIELD
Take Notice that Polaris Resources Ltd. (Polaris) has applied to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) for a licence to drill a vertical level-3 critical sour gas well, for an order to establish a special drilling spacing unit (DSU), and for an order prescribing that all tracts within the special DSU be operated as a unit for the production of gas from all zones below the top of the Mississippian System. A descriptive summary of the applications is included below.
Further Take Notice that the EUB has determined that there are a number of unresolved concerns expressed by local residents respecting the applications and is prepared to consider the applications and the related issues and concerns at a public hearing.
Therefore the EUB will hold a prehearing meeting in relation to the above applications at the Maycroft Community Centre, Maycroft, Alberta, on Wednesday, April 16, 2003, commencing at 1:00 p.m. The matters to be considered include, but would not be limited to:
- establishing the scope and purpose of the hearing, including relevant issues to be examined;
- establishing the timing and location of the public hearing;
- identifying the procedures to be used in the hearing;
- identifying the participants and their roles in the hearing;
- discussing the funding of the participants; and
- any other matters as necessary.
The hearing date is tentatively scheduled to start either June 10 or June 17, 2003 and is anticipated to take two weeks. The EUB will hear submissions respecting the timing of the hearing at the prehearing meeting and will confirm the actual hearing dates afterwards.
Further Take Notice that this prehearing meeting is not being convened to hear evidence or argument pertaining to the merits of these applications or objections. It is to obtain parties' views on the topics listed above. Parties will be given an opportunity to present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and make arguments regarding the merits of the applications at the public hearing of these applications.
Application 1276521
Polaris has applied to the EUB pursuant to Section 2.020 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Regulations (the Regulations) for a licence to drill a vertical level-3 critical sour gas well from a surface location in Legal Subdivision (LSD) 11 of Section 32, Township 10, Range 2, West of the 5th Meridian. The maximum hydrogen sulphide (H2S) content would be approximately 287.6 moles per kilomole (28.76 per cent), the cumulative drilling H2S release rate would be 11.30 cubic metres per second (m3/s), the producing release rate would be 3.06 m3/s, and the corresponding emergency planning zone would be 13.54 kilometres (km). The purpose of the well is to obtain gas production from the Palliser formation. The proposed well would be located approximately 32 km north of the Hamlet of Lundbreck.
Application No. 1276489
Polaris has applied to the EUB pursuant to Section 4.040 of the Regulations for an order to establish a special DSU comprised of Sections 32 and 33 of Township 10, Range 2, West of the 5th Meridian, with the target area being within the DSU and having sides 300 metres from and parallel to the sides of the DSU, for the production of gas from all zones below the top of the Mississippian System.
Polaris has also applied pursuant to Section 80 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Act (the Act) for an order prescribing that all tracts within the special DSU comprising Sections 32 and 33 of Township 10, Range 2, West of the 5th Meridian, be operated as a unit for the production of gas from all zones below the top of the Mississippian System, through a well to be drilled in LSD 11-32-10-2 W5M.
The applicant is requesting, among other things, that costs and revenues under the pooling order be allocated on a tract area basis, and that it be named the operator of the subject well. The applicant has also requested that the maximum penalty allowed under the Act be applied to a tract's share of the costs of drilling and completing the well if the tract owner does not pay its share of those costs within 30 days of the later of the pooling order being issued, the tract owner being given written notice of its share of costs, and the well in question being placed on production.
Additional Information
To obtain additional information or a copy of the applications contact:
Polaris Resources Ltd.
c/o Fire Creek Resources Ltd.
514 – 10th Street NW
Calgary Alberta T2N 1W3
Attention: Orville Cole
Telephone: 1-866-654-0505
Fax: (403) 234-9195
Alberta Energy and Utilities Board
Information Services
640 – 5th Avenue SW, Main Floor
Calgary Alberta T2P 3G4
Paul Forbes, Application Coordinator
Applications Branch, Facilities Applications
Alberta Energy and Utilities Board
640 – 5th Avenue SW
Calgary Alberta T2P 3G4
Fax: (403) 297-4117
Telephone: (403) 297-3199
E-mail: paul.forbes@gov.ab.ca
Filing of Submissions Respecting the Prehearing Meeting
It is not necessary to file any written submissions prior to the prehearing meeting. Submissions may be made verbally at the prehearing meeting. However, if any person wishes to file a written submission at the prehearing meeting, please provide a minimum of 15 copies of the complete submission to EUB staff and one copy to Polaris.
Further, any party wishing to file a written submission prior to the prehearing meeting should do so prior to April 11, 2003. One copy of the submission is to be sent to Polaris and one copy to Paul Forbes, Application Coordinator at the addresses noted above.
Note: Any statements filed regarding these applications are public records, which are accessible by the public.
Issued at Calgary, Alberta on April 1, 2003.
ALBERTA ENERGY AND UTILITIES BOARD
Michael J. Bruni, Q.C., General Counsel
