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April 08, 2009


UPDATE ON OFFSHORE GAS PRODUCTION SHUT-IN

(Halifax, NS)  ExxonMobil, the operator of Sable Offshore Energy Project, has informed the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) that gas production was shut-in at approximately 2:10 a.m. ADT on April 7, 2009, as the result of an operational incident which occurred on the Thebaud Compression Platform. Production was shut-in automatically as a result of the incident. There were no injuries or environmental damages as a result of the incident.

The incident involved a small electrical fire, involving fuses within an electrical cabinet, which was quickly extinguished. A second incident occurred at approximately 4:00 a.m. ADT when smoke was detected from an overheated fire water pump.  ExxonMobil followed its safety response procedures, and both situations were appropriately attended to.

ExxonMobil has advised the CNSOPB that it is evaluating the situation to determine the required repairs to safely resume production.

The CNSOPB is satisfied there are no immediate, health, safety, environmental or resource conservation concerns associated with the current shut-in.

The CNSOPB will continue to monitor the situation. Production will not resume until ExxonMobil can demonstrate to the CNSOPB that its operations can be restored safely.

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About the Board

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board is the independent joint agency of the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia responsible for the regulation of petroleum activities and resources offshore Nova Scotia.

For further information, please contact:

Tim Church
Sr.  Advisor, Communications & Government Affairs
Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board
902-496-0750, Email: tchurch@cnsopb.ns.ca