Rocky View County councillors informally apologized to a County resident who spoke at the June 5 meeting, who was inconvenienced by an oil company operating on a closed road adjacent to his property.
“My major question is why the oil company did not get this road clearance first and clear it with the County. This well should’ve never been drilled and this construction should’ve never been done until this road was opened. How a well has been operating for two years on a closed road allowance is beyond me,” said Allan Scurfield, president of Wild Dog Enterprises Limited and a landowner to the east of the road.
Sweetcroft Engineering Ltd. presented two applications to council on behalf of TriOil Resources to reopen two 800-metre sections of Township Road 264 that were closed for leasing purposes in 1969 and 1991.
Despite no current license being held for the two sections, Tri Oil Resources has been using the partially developed road to access one of its well sites located on a nearby landlocked parcel since 2011.
Laurie Agate, service manager with TriOil Resources, said the matter was a clerical error.
“When TriOil made an application in regards to a road approach, we were under the understanding that the road was available for our use and our development.
“It must’ve been an oversight done in administration. Once we found out that we need to upgrade it, we made sure to comply at that point.”
Byron Riemann, general manager of infrastructure and operations with the County, said he hasn’t been able to provide an explanation for the oversight without further time to investigate.
“There may have been a misunderstanding between the original landowner and the oil company about access to the roads, I don’t know if that’s truly the case, it may be an assumption. But the reason we’re here today is to correct all those assumptions and put that road back into compliance,” said Riemann.
Deputy Paul McLean asked Scurfield if the re-opening would be beneficial to him. Scurfield currently accesses his landlocked property using a neighbour’s land as part of a private agreement.
“If this road is going to be built, I’d like it built to the best standards even though it was built in a way that should’ve never been done. We should’ve had this conversation first.”
Councillor Margaret Bahcheli questioned administration if oil companies should be “educated” on the protocols to ensure this issue doesn’t happen in the future.
Riemann said the applicant has been educated, and “now it’s really about building the road to a higher standard and therefore being able to open it to the public so it benefits everyone.”
“We made a mistake, we’re trying to make it right, sorry. Is that where we’re at?” asked Councillor Greg Boehkle.
Riemann agreed. Council approved two bylaws to begin construction on Township Road 264 to enable the road to be re-opened to County standards. The County will enter a road building and hauling agreement with Sweetcroft Engineering Ltd, financed by TriOil Resources.
