A sour natural gas well about 19 kilometres northwest of Hythe, Alta. has blown overnight while a crew was working at the rig.
Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) spokesman Bob Curran says no injuries have been reported.
Curran says no one lives within seven kilometres of the facility, which is operated by Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
The ERCB says there have been no readings of hydrogen sulphide by air monitors on site. An ERCB air monitoring unit is also in the area and taking air quality readings. ERCB inspectors are now on site and have already begun an investigation into the incident.
The RCMP say the blowout is not considered to be suspicious.
"This is not suspicious in nature," said Cpl. Carole McKinley. "Rather, it is an industrial incident."
Oilpatch vandal Wiebo Ludwig called an Edmonton radio station early Wednesday to report that the blowout is not far from his Trickle Creek farm.
For the past few days, Ludwig has led an environmental protest near a gas well site about two kilometres from his farm. The drilling is the works of gas company Canadian Superior Energy.
The group wants the natural gas exploration in the area stopped for health and environmental reasons. Ludwig says the Energy Resources and Conservation Board has, so far, been reluctant to halt production.
With files from the Canadian Press
