News Release 2 November 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EUB RELEASES DECISION ON PETRO-CANADA GAS PLANT EXPANSION NEAR RIMBEY

Calgary, Alberta (2 November 1999) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) today issued Decision Report 99-27, approving with conditions an application by Petro-Canada Oil & Gas for the addition of two new compressors at the existing Wilson Creek sour gas processing facility located at 1-29-43-4W5, and for construction of a new sour gas compressor station located at 3-19-43-4 W5M. The application was considered at a public hearing at the Last West Hall, Rimbey, Alberta, commencing on 7 April 1999. The hearing was adjourned on 9 April 1999, re-opened on 15 June 1999 and completed on 16 June 1999. Final written argument was completed on 12 July 1999.

The Board believes the issues concerning the applications to include: need for and location of the compressors, the need for sulphur recovery at the Wilson Creek plant, emissions and noise.

Having carefully considered all of the evidence, the Board is prepared to issue approvals for the three compressors, subject to the following conditions:

• Petro-Canada will proceed with its commitment to local landowners to install and commission a sulphur recovery unit within 16 months of the date of this decision report. The sulphur recovery capability of the facility will meet guidelines defined in IL 88-13 for new sour gas plants based on either the current or an acceptable revised maximum daily inlet sulphur rate.
• Continuous-vent gas streams, including glycol regenerator, produced-water tank and hydrocarbon condensate tank vents, at both the 3-19 compressor site and the Wilson Creek plant site will be burned in a flare or incinerator.
• Flare stacks at the 3-19 compressor site will be equipped with a suitable pilot and automatic igniter.
• The Wilson Creek plant flare system will be equipped with a suitable pilot, as well as an automatic igniter and/or flame failure detection system.
• Petro-Canada will implement local ambient air quality monitoring and sound level monitoring consistent with its commitments to local landowners and regulatory requirements.

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Copies of this news release and Decision Report 99-27 are available on the EUB web site at http://www.ercb.ca

For further information please contact:

Greg Gilbertson, Senior Advisor
EUB Communications
Tel: (403) 297-3648
Fax: (403) 297-3757

NR 99-21