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News Release July 20, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EUB APPROVES BARRINGTON PLAN FOR SOUR GAS WELL ABANDONMENT IN SHEKILIE AREA NORTHWEST OF ZAMA LAKE

Calgary, Alberta (July 20, 2001) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) has approved a plan submitted by Barrington Petroleum Ltd. to abandon its Shekilie sour gas well that blew out June 11, 2001. The blowout was contained on July 12.

The EUB approved Barrington's proposed well site monitoring and deferred abandonment program subject to certain conditions, including continuous monitoring of wellbore pressures; a schedule of on-site inspections; well-control equipment must be kept on the lease and ready to respond to any change in the well's condition, and the company must submit a relief well drilling program to the EUB for approval by July 25, 2001.

The EUB is satisfied that the company's plan ensures the greatest degree of public, worker, and environmental safety.

The EUB also closed its Emergency Operations Centre in High Level, and stood down the incident from Level 3 Emergency status, effective July 12. There is no longer any Emergency status associated with this event.

The blowout was first reported on June 11 by a Forestry watchtower in the area. The sour gas (estimated at approximately 36% hydrogen sulphide (H2S) content) was subsequently ignited on June 22, after unfavourable wind conditions had hampered well-control efforts for several days. The gas was flowing at a rate of 7.8 million cubic feet per day.

The well (5-31-116-10W6) was originally drilled in 1983 and then suspended in 1984. It is located in a remote, unpopulated region, west of the Zama Lake oil field, approximately 32 kilometres northwest of Zama Lake. The closest settlement is Zama City, approximately 50 km to the east. There were no injuries.

Barrington made all well-control decisions in consultation with the EUB and other government agencies throughout the duration of the blowout. In keeping with standard policy, the EUB will conduct an investigation of this event.

Further information is available from 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:

Bob Curran, Senior Advisor
EUB Communications
Phone: (403) 297-3392
E-mail: bob.curran@gov.ab.ca

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NR 2001-25