By Red Deer Advocate Staff
A flash fire at a well site sent flames shooting into the air after noon Dec. 2 at a site operated by Calgary-based Bonavista Energy Trust about six kilometres northwest of Rimbey.
“There was construction work and well testing going on at that site. It appears that some of the workers ignited some vapours and there was a fire inside one of the open tanks,” said Harold Gold, a regulatory and compliance technologist with Bonavista.
The natural gas vapours did not contain hydrogen sulphide and there was no danger to the public or workers on site.
“We notified the surrounding residents of the situation there but because it’s not a sour gas situation there’s no further risk to anybody in the area.”
Damage was contained to the 250-barrel tank, which was provided by the company doing work at the site.
“Bonavista activated its emergency response plan immediately after the incident occurred,” he said. “All government agencies were notified as well as residences in the area.
Rimbey Fire Department and an oilfield firefighting unit from HSE Integrated were also on scene to deal with incident.
Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board spokesman Davis Sheremata said they were notified of the incident and are continuing to monitor the situation.
Workplace Health and Safety has been notified.