Oil company awaits drilling OK for West Lake Ainslie

An oil and gas company is waiting to clear another regulatory hurdle so itcan drill an exploration well in West Lake Ainslie, Nova Scotia.

PetroWorth Resources Inc. was granted environmental approval last month, but it still needs approval to drill from the Nova Scotia Department of Energy.

A spokesperson forthe departmentsaid Fridaythe company's application is still under review.

Toronto-based PetroWorth wants to drill a 1,200-metre verticaltest well for oil near West Lake Ainslie inCape Breton.

Some people who live in thearea are worriedthe companyplans tocarry out hydraulic fracturing known as fracking a process where water, sand and chemicals are pumped into the ground, creating cracks in shale rock formations.

Karen White, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environment, said the approval granted July 29 only covers aconventional test well.

She said thecompany will have to develop a plan to deal with wastewater, sound restrictions and air quality levels.

"They're required to demonstrate that they do have measures in place to protect drinking water and the environment," she told CBC News on Friday.

PetroWorth's initial application is for a conventional well, but the company has not ruled out fracking.