View PDF version

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EUB WORKING WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES FOLLOWING SOUR GAS PIPELINE LEAK NEAR BEAVER MINES

Calgary, Alberta (November 19, 2007) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) is working closely with emergency services personnel after a sour gas pipeline leak this morning near the community of Beaver Mines, about 20 km west of Pincher Creek.

At approximately 9 a.m., a leak occurred at a sour gas pipeline licensed to Shell Canada three km west of Beaver Mines. The leak has been isolated and the line is being depressurized so it can be repaired.

As a result of the leak, several residents have either been evacuated or advised to remain in their homes as a precautionary measure within an approximately five km radius of the incident. All appropriate authorities have been notified. EUB staff and air monitoring equipment are onsite and, as is the normal practice, will conduct an investigation into the incident.

Pipeline failures in Alberta are rare.  The pipeline failure rate in Alberta was at a record low 2.2 failures per 1000 km of pipeline in 2006, down 30% since 2000 (when there were 3.3 per 1000 km).  There are 392,000 km of EUB-regulated pipeline in Alberta.

There are over 6,000 sour gas wells, approximately 250 sour gas processing plants and over 18,000 km of operating sour gas pipelines in Alberta. In 2006, over 33 percent of Alberta’s annual natural gas production was sour gas (1.6 trillion cubic feet).

The EUB ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta's energy resources and utility services take place in a manner that is fair, responsible, and in the public interest.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact:
Davis Sheremata
EUB Communications
Cell: 403-605-4216

NR2007-48