ERCB Approves Shell Waterton Applications With Conditions

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - May 28, 2013) - The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) has issued Decision 2013 ABERCB 009, which approves, with conditions, Shell Canada Limited's applications to construct and operate two pipelines and a single gas well battery in the Beaver Mines area of southern Alberta.

The approved pipelines are approximately 1.2 km in length and are required by Shell to produce the company's existing Waterton 68 well approved by the ERCB in 2011.

The ERCB held a hearing in Pincher Creek from March 12 to 15, 2013, to consider the applications and any concerns raised by interveners. In approving the applications, the Board was satisfied that Shell had demonstrated it had met the conditions previously imposed by the Board as part of the approval of the Waterton 68 well and could operate the existing pipeline system and the new pipelines safely.

The ERCB imposed four conditions on the project approval:

• Shell must continue to conduct internal pipeline corrosion monitoring of Shell's existing Carbondale pipeline system once every six months using a monitoring tool prescribed by the ERCB.
• Shell must implement nine recommendations identified in a report submitted as evidence during the course of the hearing. The nine recommendations are related to air quality monitoring in the Screwdriver Creek Valley.
• Shell must revise its emergency response plan prior to the startup of the pipelines and facility.
• Shell must conduct a blind major emergency response plan exercise, designed by an independent third party, prior to the pipeline operations to further test its emergency response capability.

The ERCB is Alberta's primary energy regulator. For almost 75 years we have been committed to our mission: to ensure that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta's energy resources occur in a fair and responsible manner that takes into account public safety, environmental protection, and resource conservation.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The ERCB has approved Shell Canada's applications to construct and operate two pipelines and one single gas well battery in the Beaver Mines area of southern Alberta. The ERCB has applied four conditions to the approval, including additional monitoring for hydrogen sulphide emissions.