CFB Wainwright Tragedy

FOR RELEASE – Monday, October 19, 2026

Sumerian Oil & Gas Confirms Wells on CFB Wainwright Range Have Been Under Alberta Energy Regulator Custody Since October 5

CALGARY, Alberta – Sumerian Oil & Gas Inc. (“Sumerian”) extends its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives at CFB Wainwright on October 17, and to the injured, their families, and the military personnel and first responders who remain on scene.

Sumerian has not been informed by any authority that its wells or pipelines were involved in the incident. The cause has not been confirmed and the company will not speculate.

Custody of the sites

By order of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) dated October 5, 2026, all of Sumerian’s wells, pipelines and facilities, including approximately 300 well licences on the Wainwright training area, were placed under the care and custody of the AER and the Orphan Well Association (OWA). Sumerian’s site access was removed the same day. The AER confirmed to Sumerian in writing on October 5 that the order provides for the OWA to respond to emergencies at those sites, and Sumerian’s 24 hour emergency line was redirected to the OWA at the AER’s direction. Sumerian has not had operational control of the sites since.

The order required the OWA to shut in the sites within 14 days. Sumerian stated in court, twice, before the order was issued, that the field could not be shut in within 14 days. On the evening of October 17, the OWA’s designated contact advised Sumerian that none of the Sumerian wells on the range had been shut in and that the OWA did not plan to attend the base until October 27.

October 17

Although the sites were under the regulator’s custody, Sumerian acted on its own initiative as soon as it became aware of the fire. The company contacted the OWA emergency line at 6:57 p.m., the AER 24 hour line at 7:04 p.m. (Report No. 460044), the OWA’s designated contact at 7:15 p.m. and an AER representative at 7:48 p.m., and confirmed each contact to the AER and OWA in writing the same evening. At 8:12 p.m. the AER asked Sumerian for the telephone number for CFB Wainwright Range Control, which the company provided immediately. That was the only request the AER made of Sumerian that evening.

Sumerian has written to the AER requesting confirmation of whether any licence under the order is believed to be involved, what work the OWA performed at the sites between October 5 and October 17, and who at the OWA is responsible for emergency response. Sumerian’s records will be produced to any investigating authority on request.

The October 5 order

Sumerian, formerly Cleo Energy Corp., was acquired out of receivership through a court approved Reverse Vesting Order in November 2025. Sumerian opposed the October 5 order and intends to appeal it within the statutory period. The full record of Sumerian’s dealings with the AER since the acquisition, including the orders, the correspondence and a dated timeline, is published at sumerianoil.com/aer

Out of respect for those affected and for the investigation now underway, the company will not be commenting further at this time.

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