Decision 99-31: Northrock Resources Ltd., application to construct and operate a sour gas processing facility, associated pipelines, wellsite facilities, and an acid gas disposal scheme, Pembina Field - applications No. 1039083, 1040394, 1040831, and 1039502

Northrock Resources Ltd. submitted Applications No. 1039083, 1040394, 1040831 and 1039502 (the Applications) to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB/the Board) to obtain approval to construct and operate a new sour gas processing facility at 11-14-50-8W5M (11-14) in the Pembina field; to construct and operate various pipelines for the purpose of transporting products to and from the proposed Pembina sour natural gas processing facility; to construct and operate two single sour gas well batteries at LSD 6-14-50-8W5M (6-14) and LSD 4-3-51-8W5M (4-3) in the Pembina field; and for an acid plant disposal scheme at the 11-14 location. Having considered all the evidence, the Board was prepared to approve the Applications, subject to Northrock Resources Ltd. meeting all regulatory requirements, its commitments in the applications and at the hearing, and the Board's conditions outlined in Section 10 of the report. The Board was satisfied that there is a need for additional sour gas processing in the Pembina area and that Northrock's proposal is the most acceptable option. The proposed facility would result in: lower plant and regional sulfur emissions due to the use of the acid gas injection and minimized sour gas flaring; reduced land use and environmental impacts due to reduced transmission distances via sour gas pipelines; and timely provision of processing capacity for existing sour gas production in the area. On this basis, the Board concluded that approval of the facility would not result in unnecessary proliferation of facilities in the area