Application 1922830

Notice of Hearing
Proceeding ID 379
Ridgeback Resources Inc. and Westbrick Energy Ltd.
Near Brazeau Dam

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) will hold a public hearing for ten applications filed by Ridgeback Resources Inc. (Ridgeback) and Westbrick Energy Ltd. (Westbrick) to drill wells near the Brazeau hydroelectric facility. A complete list of the applications and map of the areas of activity are provided below. 

This notice sets out how to request to participate in the hearing. The hearing will be scheduled later or, if there are no participants, the AER may cancel the hearing and decide on the applications without further notice.

Details of the Applications
Ridgeback applied under section 2.020 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Rules to drill six horizontal wells to obtain crude oil containing no hydrogen sulphide from the Cardium Formation.

Westbrick applied under section 2.020 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Rules to drill four wells to produce natural gas containing no hydrogen sulphide from the Upper Mannville Formation.

TransAlta Corporation (TransAlta) has filed statements of concern about the well applications. It opposes well applications that involve subsurface activity near its Brazeau hydroelectric facility. The facility includes earthen dykes, a main dam, a spillway, and a powerhouse.

Where can I find information about the applications and the hearing?
To receive a copy of the hearing materials, view the materials in person, or find out more about AER procedures, contact the hearing coordinator.

Contact
Tara Wheaton, Hearing Coordinator
Alberta Energy Regulator
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 0R4
Email: Hearing.Services@aer.ca
Phone: 403-297-8288

Who are the current parties to this proceeding?
Ridgeback, Westbrick, and TransAlta are parties to this proceeding. As parties, they may participate in the hearing and do not need to submit a request to participate. However, they must confirm their intention to participate in the hearing and the nature and scope of their participation to the hearing coordinator by 4:00 p.m. on December 9, 2019.

How can I apply to participate in the hearing?
If you are not already a party to the proceeding and want to participate in the hearing, you must submit a written request to participate. Requests to participate are placed on the public record of this proceeding. Your request to participate must contain

1. a copy of your statement of concern or an explanation why you did not file one;
2. a concise statement indicating
   
   1. why and how you may be directly and adversely affected by the AER's decision on the applications, or
   2. if you will not be directly and adversely affected by a decision on the applications, explain
      • what the nature of your interest in the matter is and why you should be permitted to participate,
      • how your participation will materially assist the AER in deciding the matter that is the subject of the hearing,
      • how you have a tangible interest in the subject matter of the hearing,
      • how your participation will not unnecessarily delay the hearing, and
      • how you will not repeat or duplicate evidence presented by other parties;
3. the outcome of the applications that you advocate;
4. the nature and scope of your intended participation;
5. your contact information;
6. if you are acting on behalf of a group or association of people, the nature of your membership in the group or association; and
7. your efforts, if any, to resolve issues associated with the proceeding directly with the applicant.

Send the request to the hearing coordinator. Submissions should be PDF documents with bookmarks, page numbers (with the first page in the document being numbered page one) and optical character recognition.

Filing deadlines
December 9, 2019 - Final date to file a request to participate
December 16, 2019 - Final date for response from the applicants on any requests to participate.

Is this a public process?
Yes. Section 49 of the Rules of Practice requires that all documents and information filed for a proceeding be placed on the public record. You must not include any personal information that you do not want to appear on or are not authorized to put on the public record. You should assume that anything you submit will be available online to the public. Section 49(2) of the Rules of Practice states how to apply to the AER for an order to keep information confidential.

If my request to participate is approved, can I apply to get reimbursed for hearing-related costs?
If you are participating in a hearing, you may be eligible to have some of your costs paid. Directive 031: REDA Energy Cost Claims explains how and when to apply.

What is outside of the AER's jurisdiction?
Compensation for land use is not dealt with by the AER and should be referred to the Alberta Surface Rights Board.

Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on November 18, 2019.
ALBERTA ENERGY REGULATOR

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