Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Jan 27/06) - With 123 intervenors on the record to take part, the National Energy Board kicked off its pipeline hearings in Inuvik Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, interested parties were allowed access to the venue and a preview of what to expect over the next nine days of hearings.

The format is very similar to a court of law, whereby witnesses giving evidence to the NEB panel will be sworn in or affirmed and asked that the evidence they provide was prepared by them or under their direction, is accurate to the best of their knowledge and belief, and to adopt written evidence as their own.

Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Ltd. will appear before the panel first to answer general questions on the pipeline and gathering systems, to be followed by Imperial Oil Resources Ltd., Shell Canada Limited and ConocoPhillips Canada Ltd. All will give evidence on matters related to the companies' respective development plan applications for Taglu, Niglintgak and Parsons Lake. These are the three fields where proposed natural gas extraction will occur.

They will be followed by witnesses and intervenors will be called upon to question the applicants on the above mentioned topics. "Anybody that is registered as an intervenor can ask question on the evidence," said Andrew Hudson, lawyer for the NEB.

Next on the docket are supply studies from the applicants, with Imperial expected to present witnesses to answer questions on the Mackenzie Gas Project Gas Resource and Supply Study.

According to Hudson, these matters ensure proper planning has been made with respect to the sustainability of the gas supply through the lifespan of the pipeline.

Following Imperial's presentation on supply, the Mackenzie Explorer Group will present its witnesses to answer questions on the "Natural Gas Resource Assessments and Deliverability Forecasts, Beaufort-Mackenzie and Selected Northern Canadian Basins."

The explorer group is a consortium of energy companies interested in tapping into a finished pipeline to transport natural gas from their wells - real and potential - to southern markets.

A market study presentation from Imperial will follow, outlining the economic feasibility of the pipeline.

The hearings will take place in Inuvik from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day except weekends until Feb. 2.

The general public is invited to take part in walk-in participation on Jan. 28 and 31 beginning at 1 p.m.