Update
Regional Emergency Operations Centre (REOC)
December 16th, 2004, 6:00 a.m.
Acheson Well Control Incident West of Edmonton

This update is intended to provide you with the latest information about the above incident from the REOC Centre located at the Alberta Energy Utilities Board (EUB) St. Albert Field Centre. The Acclaim Energy Trust well control incident is located west of the City of Edmonton.

PLEASE NOTE:
Acclaim Energy, following thorough discussions and technical review with the EUB and REOC members including Alberta Environment, initiated a controlled ignition of the Acheson well at 00:15 on December 16, 2004. The well was ignited to mitigate risk to workers at the site and to address public concerns about H₂S emissions.

Public Complaints/Enquiries

• Between 12:00 a.m. December 16 and 6:00 a.m. December 16, 2004, there have been no public / complaints / enquiries received at the REOC.
• Area residents who have any health-related questions are being encouraged to call the Capital Health Authority at their 24-hour health line at 780-408-5465.

Well Control

• Acclaim is pursuing multiple options with respect to well control.
• Acclaim is preparing the site for 2 possible relief well locations.
• Acclaim has posted an 'Evacuee's Update' and a press release on the website (http://www.acclaimtrust.com/) at 10:50 p.m. on December 15, 2004.
• Acclaim indicates it could take as long as 2 weeks to bring the well fully under control.

Air Monitoring

• There are currently 8 stationary and 5 mobile for a total of 13 ambient air quality monitors. 
• Ambient H₂S (sour gas) levels have been detected in the range of 0 to 0.005 ppm (parts per million) from 12:00 a.m., December 16, 2004 to 6:00 a.m. December 16, 2004 (since re-ignition of the well)
• Ambient SO₂ levels have been detected in the range of 0 to 0.001 ppm during the same period.

Produced Fluid Storage/Disposal 

• The well is producing salt water and some hydrocarbons which are being directed to earthen pits at the site.
• The fluid is being recovered and trucked to suitable, approved disposal sites.
• A soil and groundwater specialist is reviewing the storage of these liquids for Acclaim.

The REOC was opened on Monday December 13, 2004 and will continue to be operational until the conclusion of the well control incident.

REOC Representatives