Take Notice that the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB/Board) will hold a pre-hearing meeting at the offices of the Board, 640 5th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, commencing Wednesday, September 15, 2004, at 9:00 a.m.

EUB General Bulletin (GB) 2003-28: Bitumen Conservation Requirements, Athabasca Wabiskaw-McMurray established a three-phase process for the identification and curtailment of gas production associated with potentially recoverable bitumen.

• Phase 1 consisted of the issuance of an interim shut in order regarding 938 wells with provisions for temporary exemptions. Gas producers were provided an opportunity to exempt any gas zone where they possessed evidence that gas production was not associated with potentially recoverable bitumen.

• Phase 2 allowed an opportunity to challenge exemptions through an expedited review process; however, no challenges were filed with the EUB.

• Phase 3 commenced with the issuance of Report 2003-A: Athabasca Wabiskaw-McMurray Regional Geological Study, issued December 31, 2003. Following the issuance of this report on January 26, 2004, an EUB staff submission group (SSG) issued recommendations to continue or vary the produce status of gas zones within wells in GB 2003-28. The Board considered the SSG recommendations and submissions filed by parties contesting the SSG recommendations using an expedited hearing process as discussed in Decision 2004-045: Phase 3 Proceedings Under Bitumen Conservation Requirements and Applications for Approval to Produce Gas

in the Athabasca Wabiskaw-McMurray Area, May 31, 2004. This decision was accompanied by an interim order specifying the wells and intervals that were to be shut in and rescinding the Phase 1 Shut-In Order and exemption process in relation to these wells. In addition, the Board also issued an interim order specifying the wells and intervals that were to be shut in which were not considered in Decision 2004-045 as these wells were not in dispute in the interim hearing.

• The Board also issued a notice of interim hearing to review the wells with Wabiskaw-McMurray perforated intervals approved for gas production or not required to be shut in under Decision 2003-023, Chard Area and Leismer Field, Athabasca Oil Sands Area.

Phase 3 also provided for a final hearing to consider the production status for any well where a party disagrees with a previous decision. This pre-hearing meeting is to be held for the purpose of determining the scope of the hearing, the number of participants, the process to be followed, and issues to be considered at the hearing.

For information about EUB procedures contact:

Law Branch
Attention: Gary Perkins
Telephone: (403) 297-3505

Any person intending to participate in the pre-hearing meeting is requested to file, not later than September 7, 2004, a letter including any submission respecting the pre-hearing meeting.

• Provide one electronic copy of the full submission on CD in pdf format, and fifteen paper copies of the submission to

Gary Perkins, Board Counsel
14th Floor, Law Branch, EUB
640 5 Avenue SW
Calgary Alberta T2P 3G4

• Provide one electronic copy of the full submission on CD in pdf format, and three paper copies of the submission to the SSG, to

D. Larder, SSG Counsel
EUB
640 5 Avenue SW
Calgary Alberta T2P 3G4

Issued at Calgary, Alberta on June 8, 2004.

ALBERTA ENERGY AND UTILITIES BOARD

Michael J. Bruni, Q.C., General Counsel