National Energy Board to Review Northern Drilling Policy

CALGARY , Feb. 5 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (NEB) will hold a written hearing to review its policy on same season relief well capability for oil and gas drilling operations in the Beaufort Sea.

Same season relief well capability is the ability to drill a relief well in the same season in which the original well was drilled. The practice is intended to help control a blowout and reduce the impact of hydrocarbons being released into the Arctic Ocean. The NEB regulates these drilling activities under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act.

Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited (Imperial) applied to the NEB on 23 October 2009 for an advance ruling on its plan for well control for future drilling in the Beaufort Sea. However, the NEB cannot predetermine whether, or on what terms, it will grant an approval to drill a well. Therefore, the NEB has decided to conduct a generic review of its policy for same season relief well capability calling it "an issue of significant public concern."

"The NEB believes that gathering more information about this issue, including the views of the public, will be beneficial to both potential applicants and to the National Energy Board when deciding whether or not to require same season relief well capability," said presiding Panel Member Georgette Habib .

Anyone who is interested in taking part in the written hearing must register as a participant no later than 22 February, 2010 . A technical conference for participants is planned for early in the proceeding. More information on this hearing process can be found online at www.neb-one.gc.ca.

Once the hearing wraps up, the presiding Panel Member will report to the NEB with recommendations on same season relief well capability in the Beaufort Sea.

The NEB is an independent federal agency that regulates several parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to promote safety and security, environmental protection, and efficient energy infrastructure and markets in the Canadian public interest, within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade.

Please visit the NEB Web site for general information about the hearing process and how you can participate effectively.

This news release and the Hearing Order are also available on the Board's Internet site under What's New!

    
    For a copy of the National Energy Board Library
    Hearing Order MH-1-2010: Ground Floor
    444 Seventh Avenue SW
    Calgary, Alberta
    T2P 0X8
    Telephone: [phone]
    Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
    

For further information: Sarah Kiley, [email protected], Communications Officer, Telephone: [phone], TTY (teletype): 1-800-632-1663