Well blowout causing concerns

 

By Rechell McDonald

An Encana natural gas well experienced a blowout on September 21 and was reported by the company to Alberta Energy Regulator by 2 p.m. that day.

The well, located 18 kms west of Fox Creek, has left trace amounts of sour gas in the air following the reported blowout. As a safety precaution, roads in the area of the well were closed and hunters, trappers, and workers in the vicinity were evacuated. As of September 22, the well’s leak was still reported to be out of control, but the company’s air monitoring units having been keeping a steady appraisal of the situation.

Despite the threat of H2S, workers can still be on site safely so long as the amount of hydrogen sulfide in the air does not increase – and worker presence is necessary if there is any hope of containing the leak and regaining control of the well. There are inspectors from Alberta Energy Regulator on site, and they will remain onsite until a resolution is found. Both the Regulator and Encana are working together to determine the cause of the leak.

A mobile air detector unit has been driving around the perimeter of the site and into Fox Creek but, thus far, no H2S levels have been detected outside the 1 km radius of the blowout site.