In the fall of 1982, the Pembina River region near Lodgepole, Alberta, was the site of a bold drilling operation. The original well was to be drilled about twenty kilometres from Lodgepole, very close to the Pembina River, and surrounded by Muskeg. Due to its proximity to these natural features and recognizing the difficulties posed by this location, it was decided that the well should be moved to higher ground near Seta Creek, north of the Pembina River, at LSD 13-12-048-12 W5M, making it necessary for the well to be directionally drilled.

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Drilling began on August 10, 1982, and reached a depth of about 9843 feet without any issues. The casing was installed, and drilling to the production zone commenced. The first two cores were obtained smoothly; however, on October 16, while preparing to pull core number three, the atmosphere shifted, and fluid surged unexpectedly to the surface.

 

Despite 16 hours of incredible effort, the crew lost control on October 17, 1982, resulting in one of Canada's most known well blowouts. The situation escalated for the next 68 days, and the well released millions of cubic feet of hydrogen sulphide, its unmistakable rotten egg smell permeating the air and affecting surrounding communities and residents.

 

During the initial capping operation, the well erupted into flames as high as 40 meters, resulting in the tragic deaths of two Texan well control technicians, injuries to sixteen others, and nearly $10 million in equipment damages and over $100,000 per day in emergency response efforts. Following this tragic accident, Texas-based Boots and Coots were called in, a well-control company founded in 1978 by Asger "Boots" Hansen and Ed "Coots" Matthews, veterans of the Red Adair Service and Marine Company.

 

This experienced team was responsible for extinguishing approximately one-third of the 700 oil well fires set in Kuwait by retreating Iraqi soldiers during the Gulf War. They finally tamed the incident after they facilitated the placement of a 12-tonne blowout preventer over the burning well. At the time, this was only the fourth time in history that this daring procedure had been accomplished. All that remained was to bleed the well of any excess gas so that heavy drilling mud could be pumped down to kill the well.

 

The Lodgepole blowout resulted in a full-scale public inquiry and a comprehensive survey and review of sour gas drilling procedures in Alberta. When the inquiry wrapped up in March 1984, nearly 80 recommendations were adopted by the oil and gas industry, leading to the current stricter regulations in drilling practices we see today.