Springbank to see new drill sites this fall by Derek Clouthier, September 12, 2012, The Cochrane Eagle
Two new drilling sites have been approved in north Springbank, tapping into the area’s popular Cardium zone formation. The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) granted the licences to the Calgary company Bernum Petroleum, who will be the operator for the two new wells. Birch Lake Energy, also a Calgary company, is a significant partner as well. “Bernum will drill its first well in north Springbank in the fall of 2012,” Bernum CEO and chairman Marshall Abbott indicated in an email, “and anticipates drilling and completion to be finalized before the end of the year.”
Addressing persistent concerns some area residents have had over the issue of hydraulic fracturing, ‘fracking,’ Marshall said his company has made several attempts to ensure people receive accurate information about the process of oil and gas extraction. … To protect ground-water resources – perhaps the most litigious issue surrounding fracking – Bernum uses a protective casing for their wellbore, which consists of a high-strength steel pipe cemented into place, to prevent any oil, gas or frack-fluid flowback from finding its way into the water table. Marshall said Bernum has drilled and completed over 200 wells using hydraulic fracturing in their experience, and that within the north Lochend area, approximately 60 have been drilled to date. “According to the ERCB,” Marshall stated, “over 171,000 wells have been drilled in Alberta with no documented cases of water contamination in relation to hydraulic fracturing.” Cochrane, north Springbank and Roxana are the three primary areas of operation for Bernum. The company recently made a financial contribution to the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, which Marshall said was to keep a balance between future growth of the area and the preservation of its lands. “Bernum is a reputable company that conducts all aspects of its operations with the highest level of integrity and honesty,” said Marshall. [Emphasis added]
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