News Release June 5, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EUB CONDITIONALLY APPROVES GULF APPLICATIONS IN VULCAN FIELD
Calgary, Alberta (June 5, 2001) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (the Board) today issued Decision 2001-48 conditionally approving applications for three natural gas wells and associated pipelines to be located several kilometres southeast of Vulcan, Alberta. The Board had suspended the well licenses in September 2000 due to an outstanding objection from an adjacent land owner. The licences, which had been previously issued to Crestar Energy Inc. (Crestar), were carefully reviewed and reinstated by the Board after a public hearing. The proposed pipelines to tie in the production from these wells to an existing facility in the area were also considered and approved by the Board. Although Crestar was responsible for the activities surrounding these applications initially, in February 2001, Crestar advised that it had amalgamated with Gulf Canada Resources Limited (Gulf) and therefore Gulf became the proponent of the applications.
The licences and applications were considered at a public hearing held March 6 to March 8, 2001, in High River, Alberta. The Board considered objections from two area resident families who raised health related and operational concerns. Having carefully considered the evidence, the Board concluded that Gulf has demonstrated a need for the wells and pipelines and that the associated impacts of the applications can be properly addressed and mitigated. The Board considers that the wells can be drilled and operated safely and that the applied-for pipelines can be constructed and operated safely. However, the Board has stipulated a number of conditions associated with its approval. Among other things, the Board will require Gulf to
- conduct well testing into a gas gathering system, and limit flaring at the well surface locations to that necessary for well completion and clean-up;
- implement procedures and employ appropriate equipment to prevent off-site odours that may result from pipeline maintenance operations; and
- submit to the Board a summary and performance evaluation of Gulf's operations management system, which will include a professional, third-party evaluation of Gulf's Vulcan area operations management system and field-level implementation effectiveness.
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This news release and Decision 2001-48 are available on the EUB web site at http://www.ercb.ca
For more information, please contact:
Dave Morris, EUB Communications
Tel. 403-297-7470
Fax 403-297-3757
E-mail: mailto:david.morris@gov.ab.ca
NR2001-12
