The Alberta Energy Regulator has set a date of May 1 to begin a written hearing on the Fort McKay First Nation and Fort McKay Metis Community Association’s appeal to confirm, vary, suspend or revoke the regulator’s decision to issue 16 well licences to Prosper Petroleum Ltd.

The disputed licences are for oilsands exploration wells for Prosper’s Rigel oilsands project, a proposed 10,000 bbl-per-day SAGD operation about 100 kilometres northwest of Fort McMurray (DOB, Nov. 12, 2013).

The wells would be located on Prosper’s leases within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on Sections 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 33-96-17W4M.

Meanwhile, the private company formally requested an extension to the wells’ licences, which were due to expire between Feb. 11 and March 26 this year.

Prosper and Fort McKay were to engage in an Alternative Dispute Resolution on Jan. 20 and 21.

Fort McKay First Nation could not be reached for comment.

Fort McKay First Nation formally objected to Athabasca Oil Corporation’s Dover Commercial Project, in a dispute over a 20-kilometre buffer zone, but later the two parties came to agreement on development of the project.

The First Nation discontinued its appeal of the Alberta Energy Regulator’s approval of the project in late February (DOB, Feb. 24, 2014), and the project received Order in Council approval on March 13.

Fort McKay is home to about 700 Dene, Cree and Métis band members.

Source:  Daily Oil Bulletin