Blast at Alberta oil site seriously injures five employees

An explosion at an energy site northwest of Calgary has injured five workers, and RCMP say the resulting fire could burn for days.

Cpl. Gina Slaney said the five were part of a crew that was drilling on a lease site at a field north of Cochrane, Alta., on Monday afternoon when it's believed they hit a gas pocket, triggering a large explosion.

Slaney said three of the workers were seriously injured and two were very seriously injured, and they've all been transported to hospitals in Calgary.

She said flames continued to shoot into the air on Monday and that it is anticipated the fire will burn for at least a week, but she said the area is isolated and no evacuation is underway.

Occupational Health and Safety is investigating, she said.

HWN Energy Ltd. confirmed in an email that a "well control incident" occurred approximately eight km north of Cochrane, and that the five who were injured were contractors.

"We understand the concerns of the local community, and we want to assure the public that we are taking every possible measure to manage this incident effectively," the company's email late Monday stated.

"At this time, there is no immediate threat to nearby residents, and air quality monitoring is being conducted as a precaution."

The statement said that as a precautionary measure, the company evacuated non-essential personnel from the immediate area and established an exclusion zone around the site.

The exact cause of the incident wasn't yet known, the statement said, adding that emergency services, officials and emergency response teams were immediately activated.

It said the company has mobilized experts and specialized equipment to restore control of the well, while also protecting the public and environment.

An Alberta Energy Regulator spokesman said the incident happened at a sweet gas well.

The AER said in a statement it is monitoring HWN Energy’s response to a release of sweet gas and a fire at the site.

"We will maintain a presence on-site and continue ongoing communication with HWN to ensure that public safety and environmental protection are upheld, and that all regulatory requirements are met," the regulator's statement said.

The AER statement further said that emergency response teams and local authorities, including Occupational Health and Safety, are present at the site.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2024.