Oil company's decision not to drill well near school elates community

Residents of Tomahawk, a hamlet southwest of Edmonton, are elated that an oil company will not be drilling a sour oil well near the local school.

In a letter to the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board, a lawyer for West Energy said the company is withdrawing its application to drill within three kilometres of Tomahawk School, stating the chances of the well becoming commercially successful are very low.

The letter also states recent drilling by Highpine Energy was considered a failure since an exploratory well encountered water, rather than hydrocarbons. West Energy was to drill next to the Highpine well.

Cheryl and Tim Losey live a few kilometres from the proposed drill site and were preparing to challenge the application at a public hearing slated for March 10.

Cheryl Losey said they're relieved by West Energy's decision to withdraw its application, but also disappointed. "At this point it seems that's the only way the government is forced to listen to you, respond to you and take your concerns seriously," she said.

"My husband and I had spent many, many hours already preparing for this hearing, mentally, physically, and let me tell you it's a gruelling process and so you know you're ready to go to battle," Losey said.

Parents of children who attend Tomahawk School had raised concerns the wells, within three kilometres of the school, were too close to the 130 students from kindergarten to Grade 9, saying an accident could release toxic gas.

"Hopefully we've seen the last of West Energy but I'm not holding my breath," said Anita Berger, who has two children at Tomahawk School. "They may be taking a step back and re-assessing and eventually will drill," she said.

Highpine Energy will continue drilling exploratory wells in an area two to eight kilometres from Tomahawk School, Berger said, while she and other residents wait for their appeal to be heard on April 21.