| Despite the widespread opposition to Compton’s application, sour gas wells around Calgary are nothing new.
Compton has had two sour gas wells in the vicinity of where they want to drill the proposed six wells since 1984. EUB spokesperson Brenda Poole Bellows says there are a total of 83 sour gas wells currently in production within 10 kilometres of Calgary’s city limits, 10 of which are actually within the city of Calgary. Bellows says Calgary sits on a large pool of gas and as the city grows it’s "sprawling closer and closer to where the wells exist."
"The numbers put (Compton’s application) in perspective," says Bellows. "These wells have been operating safely for many years."
The new wells would allow Compton to deplete its natural gas reserves in the area in the next 15 years rather than 50 to 60 years with just the two existing wells. The company promises it would then decommission the wells and the nearby pipeline and that would allow Calgary to grow into the area more quickly. |
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