Drilling operation nothing to worry about

I am responding to the front page story, Saturday, Feb. 9, regarding the oil well drilling operation in west Lethbridge.

First, I am not an employee, owner or in any way an industry person. I am just an old retired guy who enjoys a quality of life that is in part a product of the affluence of this province created by the oil and gas industry and others, including agriculture.

Second, I can assure you that no fracking operations were initiated or completed in the period of time from when the rig moved to location and went vertical to when it went horizontal and left the location.

Third, there was no conspiracy by the company, government, or regulator to drill this well. They would have covered all of the steps required to have the regulator’s approval to proceed. They did not sneak in under the cover of darkness or any other underhanded actions to drill this well.

Fourth, this new well was drilled beside existing wells that have probably been there for a number of years. I know those existing wells would have been, drilled, completed and fracked prior to being placed into production. What have been the problems caused to the city, residents or infrastructure since inception? How many city residents even knew these wells existed prior to this latest drilling operation?

Fifth, well drilling, completion and production operations within or very near urban populations is not new. I could name you many, but because of space the one in recognizable distance from Lethbridge is Taber, where wells of this same type have existed for years.

I could go on a talk about the protection of the ground water and how that is accomplished, the prevention of drilling and frack fluid losses from the well bore and all of the procedures taken to make these operations safe, but the paper will not allow me a whole page.

If I lived over there, would I be concerned for my safety? No. Am I concerned for the safety of my grandchildren going to schools close to these types of operations? No.

Am I more concerned that some pervert may cause me or my grandchildren harm by some deviant action in this new era of change in criminality and drug consumption. Probably.

Keith Rieder

Coaldale