NOTICE OF HEARING
APPLICATIONS NO. 1576227 AND 1578104
SWORD ENERGY INC.
MELLOWDALE FIELD

Examiners appointed by the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB/Board) will hold a public hearing of Applications No. 1576227 and 1578104 (Applications) at the Barrhead Neighborhood Inn, Highway 33, 61 Avenue, Barrhead, Alberta, commencing on August 18, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. All interveners to this proceeding must be present at the commencement of the hearing to register their appearance.

Description of the Applications

Application No. 1576227
Sword Energy Inc. (Sword) submitted an application, in accordance with Part 4 of the Pipeline Act, for approval to construct and operate a pipeline for the purpose of transporting natural gas from Legal Subdivision (LSD) 16 of Section 6, Township 61, Range 3, West of the 5th Meridian, to a pipeline tie in point at LSD 5-5-61-3W5M. The proposed pipeline would be about 1.09 kilometres (km) in length with a maximum outside diameter of 88.9 millimetres and would transport natural gas containing no hydrogen sulphide (H ₂ S). The proposed pipeline would be operated as a level- 1 pipeline.

Application No. 1578104
Sword submitted an application, in accordance with Section 2.020 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Regulations, for a licence to drill a vertical well from a surface location in LSD 16-6-61-3W5M. The purpose of the well would be to obtain gas production containing no H ₂ S from the Mannville and Upper Mannville Formations.

The proposed pipeline and well would be located about 8.2 km southwest of Neerlandia.

To obtain a copy of the Applications, contact

Sword Energy Inc.
400, 321 – 6 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3H3
Attention: Dale Guidi
Telephone: 403-303-3240
Fax: 403-232-1317

To view a copy of the Applications and documents filed in support of the Applications, contact

Requirement to File a Submission

If you have an interest in this matter and wish to make submissions or submit evidence at the hearing of the Applications, you must file submissions with respect to these Applications even if you have previously filed a submission with the Board or with Sword on these Applications. Submissions must include photocopies of all documentary evidence that you intend to present and/or rely on at the hearing (including, but not limited to, copies of expert reports) and a summary of all evidence you intend to present.

If you do not file submissions, the hearing of the Applications may be cancelled and the ERCB will continue to process and may approve the Applications without a hearing and without further notice.

How to File a Submission

Any intervening party intending to make submissions with respect to the hearing of the Applications must file on or before 4:00 p.m., August 4, 2009. Send one copy of your submission to the applicant at the name and address above and ten copies to

Rachelle Reid, Application Coordinator
Applications Branch, Facilities Applications Group
Energy Resources Conservation Board
640 - 5 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3G4

Contents of a Submission

Under Section 24(2) of the Energy Resources Conservation Board Rules of Practice (Rules of Practice), submissions must contain the following:

(a) a concise statement indicating

(i) the manner in which the intervener's rights may be directly and adversely affected by a decision of the Board on the proceeding,

(ii) the nature and scope of the intervener's intended participation,

(iii) the disposition of the proceeding that the intervener advocates, if any,

(iv) the facts the intervener proposes to show in evidence,

(v) the reasons why the intervener believes the Board should decide in the manner that the intervener advocates, and

(vi) the intervener's efforts, if any, to resolve issues associated with the proceeding directly with the applicant;

(b) the name, address in Alberta, telephone number, fax number and, if available, e-mail address of the intervener;

(c) if the intervener is represented by a representative, the name, address in Alberta, telephone number, fax number and, if available, e-mail address of the representative; and

(d) if the intervener is an unincorporated organization, the nature of the intervener's membership.

Compensation Issues

Submissions relating exclusively to compensation for land usage are not dealt with by the ERCB and should be referred to the Alberta Surface Rights Board.

Applications for Confidentiality

In accordance with Section 13 of the Rules of Practice, all documents filed in respect of this proceeding must be placed on the public record. However, any party may apply for confidentiality of information under Section 13(2). Any application under Section 13(2) that is to be considered during a public hearing of the application must be copied to the other parties to the proceeding. The Board may grant a request for confidentiality on any terms it considers appropriate, subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Questions of Constitutional Law

In accordance with Section 25 of the Rules of Practice, a person who intends to raise a question of constitutional law before the Board must give notice in accordance with Section 12 of the Administrative Procedures and Jurisdiction Act and its regulation.

For information about ERCB procedures, contact

Applications Branch, Facilities Applications Group
Attention: Rachelle Reid
Telephone: 403-355-4305
Fax: 403-297-4117
E-mail: rachelle.reid@ercb.ca  

Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on May 28, 2009.

ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD
Patricia M. Johnston, Q.C., General Counsel