Wheatley Drilling Update

UPDATE: Drilling operations continue. Due to some logistical problems with acquiring services and materials, our projected date for the drilling equipment to move out is extended to October 23rd. After this date you may see other Chatham-Kent equipment working on the site to complete fencing, topsoiling and seeding.

At 6:00 pm on Saturday the surface casing was successfully installed and cemented into place. This installation will greatly contribute to the overall safety of further operations. The blow out preventer will now be installed prior to drilling deeper into the well. It is our belief that we are still tracking the original wellbore that was probably drilled between 1890 and 1910 and subsequently abandoned in the 1930s. While we are drilling deeper we will be conducting many tests, including; gas, geologic and pressure analysis.

We continue to watch for any changes in the monitoring well. Currently the monitoring well has stopped venting any gas, including H2S. Ongoing testing of the monitoring well and other wells that were previously abandoned on the site will further our understanding and help to confirm if we have been successful in stopping the gas migration.