http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=60001d0f-9 c02-4076-8dfa-605fd21c3317 Sour gas keeps families away Many evacuees return as crews struggle to get leaking well under control KAREN KLEISS CanWest News Service Tuesday, December 14, 2004 At least 80 people who live near a leaking sour gas well west of Edmonton were forced to spend yet another night away from home last night as crews struggled to get the well under control. Most of the 800 people evacuated on Sunday were allowed to return home by yesterday afternoon. The well is just north of the Enoch First Nation reserve. Officials still don't know why the blowout happened and the well was still bubbling out of control last night. Emissions tests yesterday evening showed air levels of toxic hydrogen sulfide ranging from zero to 0.0035 per cent, or 35 parts per million, said Acclaim Energy vice-president Brent Defosse. At that level, sensitive people may experience nausea and headaches after prolonged exposure. Though the risk is low, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board upgraded the emergency from level 1 to 2 yesterday and police blocked access to the site all day. Electrical crews disabled power in the immediate area to prevent sparks from starting a fire. Yesterday afternoon the well remained a churning pit of bubbling mud, water, ice and gas. On-site officials estimate it is leaking roughly one million cubic feet of gas per day, enough to fuel seven typical households for a year. "The biggest challenge for us right now is just dealing with the fluid that is coming out of the well, and getting to a point where we can actually conduct well-control operations," Defosse said. Edmonton Journal --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.797 / Virus Database: 541 - Release Date: 11/15/2004
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