News Release June 14, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE SOUR WELL BLOWOUT IN SHEKILIE AREA NORTHWEST OF ZAMA LAKE

Calgary, Alberta (June 14, 2001) As reported on June 13, Barrington Petroleum Ltd. and the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) have responded to a sour gas well blowout in the Shekilie region west of the Zama Lake oil field, with sour gas (estimated at 2%-8% hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) content) escaping from a well that had been drilled in 1983 and then suspended in 1984. The well (5-31-116-10W6) is in a remote, unpopulated region approximately 32 kilometres northwest of Zama Lake. There were no injuries.

Well control specialists are on-site and laying matting around the wellhead. This matting is needed to support equipment on the muskeg terrain at the lease site. Crews consist of two shifts of six men each. Emergency medical personnel are also available on-site. The well is continuing to flow dry gas, and has not been ignited.

Contact has been made with all appropriate groups and agencies, including the Dene Tha Native Council in Assumption, local municipal representatives, RCMP, the Regional Health Authority, and other petroleum operators in the area. All groups are involved in receiving and sharing information on well control progress, environmental and public safety issues or concerns and air monitoring.

Currently there are two air-quality monitors in place at Assumption and Zama Lake, and two airborne units have been dispatched to monitor air quality downwind from the well. To date, none of these monitors has detected the presence of any H₂S from the site.

The EUB as the lead emergency response agency is coordinating any necessary government response to support regaining well control. There are no current estimates available as to when this may occur. For further updates, please contact Barrington Petroleum Ltd. at (403) 750-4400.

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This news release is also available on the EUB Website at http://www.ercb.ca

For further information please contact:

NR2001-14