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ARTICLE · 28 DECEMBER 2012

Blowout Caused By Fracking Leads To New Regulations

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On December 12, 2012, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) released a report (PDF) on the blowout of an oil well that occurred earlier this year near Innisfail, Alberta.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
David Both
David Both
A.W. (Sandy) Carpenter
A.W. (Sandy) Carpenter
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On December 12, 2012, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) released a report (PDF) on the blowout of an oil well that occurred earlier this year near Innisfail, Alberta. The report came out a week after the ERCB released draft regulations (PDF) aimed at preventing interwellbore communication during hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations – the same issue that the ERCB's concluded led to the Innisfail blowout.

The Blowout

The blowout occurred at a conventional oil well near Innisfail, Alberta. As a result of the blowout, nearly 500 barrels of oil, water and fracking fluid was released to the surface, impacting an area approximately 200 x 225 metres.

The ERCB concluded that the blowout occurred as a result of fracking operations in a neighbouring well that had inadequate separation to the conventional oil well.

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