Update
Regional Emergency Operations Centre (REOC)
December 15th, 2004, 12:00 Noon
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.

You will receive updates approximately every 6 hours or as necessary throughout the day until the conclusion of the well control incident.

Public Complaints/Enquiries

• The fire was extinguished at about 7:00 p.m. on December 14, 2004.
• Between 7:00 p.m. December 14, 2004 and 11:00 a.m. December 15, 2004 the EUB received about 17 public complaints / enquiries; Acclaim received 16 public / complaint / enquiries. Some of these may be duplicate calls. 
• The majority of the calls are considered enquiries as opposed to complaints.

Air Monitoring

• There are currently 5 mobile air quality monitoring units in operation downwind of the incident.
• Extremely low ambient H2S (sour gas) levels have been detected in the range of 0 to 0.030 ppm (parts per million) from 2:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. December 15, 2004 in areas accessible to the public downwind of the incident.

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 groundwater specialist is reviewing the storage of these liquids for Acclaim.

Well Control

• On Tuesday, December 14, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. well servicing and control specialist, Safety Boss, began the process of extinguishing the fire burning at Acclaim Energy's Acheson well.
• The fire was successfully extinguished by 7:00 p.m.
• The next phase of the operation will focus on fluid management.
• Representatives of the EUB and Alberta Environment remain on site and continue to be part of the process. Once fluid management is underway, the onsite team will resume its efforts to control the flow of gas.

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