Category Archives: Case News

Uphill fight against coal-bed methane by Edmonton Journal, December 31, 2006 “We used to be able to sit out on the back deck and hear nothing in the evening or on a Sunday. Now we hear motors all the time,” … Continue reading →

Moratorium on coalbed-methane drilling needed to cool frenzy by David Eggen, Edmonton Journal, December 22, 2006.

Alberta Health CEO Bayliss steps down by Darcy Henton, December 8, 2006, Edmonton Sun Since he took the province’s top health officer job in 2000, he has been involved in health issues like infectious diseases, water quality and food safety. Bayliss, who … Continue reading →

Who’s in Charge?  The Secret Standoff in CFB Suffield by Dr. Shirley Bray, December 2006, Wild Lands Advocate Thereʼs a story told in Suffield of the time EnCana drilled a well in a wetland, going against the rules of the … Continue reading →

Tories divided on methane by Tony Seskus and Jason Fekete, Calgary Herald, November 18, 2006 “I think we’ve been on top of that issue sufficiently that we don’t need that,” said Morton, adding the province has made regulatory changes to monitor potential … Continue reading →

Take the time to get it right, Water concerns must be resolved in coal bed methane quest by Calgary Herald, November 17, 2006 Forging ahead with rapid coal bed methane development amid concerns of surface and groundwater contamination is a risk the … Continue reading →

Coal bed concerns catch industry’s ear by Tony Seskus, Calgary Herald, November 16, 2006. At an energy conference Wednesday, the president of the Canadian Society for Unconventional Gas said the petroleum sector must commit to doing business in a way that recognizes … Continue reading →

Before the boom, the province passed on a chance to head off many of the concerns some Albertans have today about coal bed methane by Renata D’Aliesio and Tony Seskus, November 15, 2006, Calgary Herald The flyer was provocative. “Profit … Continue reading →

A History of CBM by Renata D’Aliesio, Calgary Herald, November 15, 2006. 1975: Shell Canada and several other companies hire Sproule, a Calgary-based petroleum consulting firm, to assess the coal bed methane (CBM) potential of the Plains coal deposits in Alberta. 1977: … Continue reading →

What lies beneath by Tony Seskus and Renata D’Aliesio, Front Page Calgary Herald, November 15, 2006. “We have pipelines, we have power lines, but there’s no way on earth we want this,” says Gary Norman, a rancher from east of Bowden who … Continue reading →

Trouble in the Fields: Is our water safe? Landowners near coalbed methane wells say government won’t protect their water. So who will? Cover article by Jeremy Klazsus, photographs by Colin Smith, originally published in Alberta Views October 2006. Vol 9, No. 8. Jeremy … Continue reading →

County continues work by Strathmore Standard, September 28, 2006 By the end of the week (Sept. 28-29), the county is hoping to install the new inlet and outlet headers on the water reservoir. The headers are to do with mixing and contact … Continue reading →

Water usage advisory issued for Rosebud by Strathmore Standard, September 21, 2006 Residents and businesses of Rosebud were alerted to a water usage advisory on Sept. 14, issued by the Calgary Health Region. The Calgary Health Region has been working with Alberta … Continue reading →

NEWS ALERT Water supply for Hamlet of Rosebud Contaminated with Carcinogen Bromodichloromethane by Fiona Lauridsen (resident with contaminated well water), September 15, 2006 ROSEBUD: Last night representatives from Alberta Environment, Wheatland County and the Calgary Health Region issued a “water usage … Continue reading →

Firewater by Andrew Nikiforuk in Canadian Business Magazine August 14, 2006 The shy 49-year-old oilpatch consultant says that the ongoing controversy has been a very unwelcome experience. “I’d rather be running my business in peace,” explains Ernst, who frequently works with major oil … Continue reading →

Government double-talk a slap in the face by Claudette Lacombe, August 9, 2006, Farm Business Communications Rural Albertans clearly have a high level of mistrust of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) and a series of public information sessions in June … Continue reading →

Inflaming a Conflict, Alberta Landowners Claim Coalbed Methane Fracing Contaminates their Water. Or are They Just Revising Old Rivalry Between Farmers and Industry? by Cyril Doll, July 3, 2006, Western Standard Sure Alberta is awash with oil and gas, but pulling … Continue reading →

Technologies May Ease Frac-Related Water Concerns by Pat Roche, June 28, 2006, Daily Oil Bulletin With an ever-increasing share of Western Canada’s natural gas supply coming from low-permeability reservoirs, there is a growing need for fracture stimulations. This means a greater need … Continue reading →

The Groundwater Debate by Andrew Nikiforuk, June 2006, The Calgary Herald Jessica Ernst, a well respected oil patch consultant who lost her water supply after CBM activity in her neighborhood, poses four good questions: • Why has the regulator allowed companies to … Continue reading →

Open Letter Calls for Reform of the System – delivered by Ian Tyson & community groups June 26, 2006, Media Alert by Pekisko Group, Livingstone Landowner’s Group, South Porcupine Hills Steward Association, Alberta Wilderness Association Ian Tyson, the legendary singer and … Continue reading →

Burning Waters: UVic Partner’s environmental record questioned by Andrew McLeod, originally published in Monday Magazine, June 21, 2006. [Refer also to: 2013: EnCana’s Gerard Protti will be Chair of Alberta’s AER, the new energy regulator that swallows up Alberta Environment, … Continue reading →

Breaking down barriers, Darren Barter says the AEUB is open to suggestions by Jon Koch, June 20, 2006, Mountain View Gazette Bill Sheehan can probably tell you what a number of local landowners think about the Alberta Energy Utilities Board (EUB). … Continue reading →

Coalbed methane drilling a tough sell, Public information sessions reveal deep-seated suspicions on part of landowners by Kelly Cryderman, June 19, 2006, The Edmonton Journal The dozens of faces at a Wetaskiwin meeting on coalbed methane are grim and focused. They listen … Continue reading →

Government hosting public information sessions on groundwater protection and coalbed methane Alberta Environment News Release, June 1, 2006 “I am committed to ensuring that every Albertan has access to safe, secure drinking water supplies, as outlined in Alberta’s Water for Life … Continue reading →

Province betrays reluctance to blacken coalbed-methane gold rush, Drilling picks up pace as narrowly defined rules exclude many landowners by Sheila Pratt, The Edmonton Journal, May 28, 2006 When Dale Zimmerman moved to his farm eight years go, there was plenty of … Continue reading →

Eminently Unsuitable Nikiforuk on Gwyn Morgan by Andrew Nikiforuk, Canadian Business Magazine, May 22-June 4, 2006 issue When parliamentarians dismissed former EnCana CEO Gwyn Morgan’s nomination to the new Public Appointments Commission as “unsuitable” on May 16, they mostly cited his comments … Continue reading →

Bruce Jack Private water well explosion at Spirit River, Alberta Alberta Hansard, May 17, 2006 The Speaker: Good afternoon. Let us pray. We confidently ask for strength and encouragement in our service to others. We ask for wisdom to guide us in … Continue reading →

Coalbed-methane drilling gets OK, Strict guidelines, testing promised, but some see dangers ahead by James Baxter, The Edmonton Journal, May 12, 2006 Coalbed-methane development was given the green light by the provincial government, but strict new groundwater testing will be required before … Continue reading →

The Role of the Upper Geosphere in Mitigating CO2 Surface Releases in Wellbore Leakage Scenarios [USA Dept Energy removed the paper. Access it here.] by Dennis M. leNeveu, Frank B. Walton, John C. Tait, Marsha I. Sheppard, Kristine Hug for … Continue reading →

Coalbed Methane Natural Gas-in-Coal and Groundwater by Nga de la Cruz, May 2-5, 2006, Alberta Environment

Tories name EnCana founder to vet appointments by Gloria Galloway, Globe and Mail, April 21, 2006 The federal Conservatives have nominated former Calgary oil executive Gwyn Morgan as head of the public appointments commission. Mr. Morgan is the former president and chief … Continue reading →

Rosebud water glitch by Strathmore Standard, April 13, 2006 The hamlet is now on the temporary water treatment facility they used to supply the hamlet following the explosion that saw council seek to replace the old aboveground reservoir tank.

Rosebud water treatment plant meets the tests by Strathmore Standard, April 6, 2006 The Hamlet of Rosebud has a new water reservoir and water treatment plant to replace what was destroyed last year due to an explosion. [Emphasis added]

EnCana clarifies practices relating to gas completions by Stacy Knull, VP EnCana in Valley Times, April 4, 2006 EnCana tests local water wells before it drills…. Currently, in the Chinook Business Unit, we test wells up to 1000 m from our drilling … Continue reading →

Part 2: CBM checks, balances in place say government officials, the EUB and oil and gas industry by Shawne Mohl, March 21, 2006, Innisfail Province According to government officials and industry professionals the production of coal bed methane (CBM) in Alberta will never impact or … Continue reading →

EnCana on methane in water by EnCana, March 9, 2006 in EnCana Energy for People In Your Community in Strathmore Standard Alberta Environment has 906 entries in its Groundwater Centre database indicating gas, assumed to be methane, was detected in groundwater. These records are … Continue reading →

Water better be OK, Ralph Vows to Intervene on Coalbed Methane Complaints by Darcy Henton, Legislature Bureau, The Edmonton Sun, March 1, 2006. He gave his personal guarantee the concerns of suffering families will be addressed.  “I am willing to extend … Continue reading →

Alberta Government, questioned on lack of baseline water well testing before hydraulic fracturing of shallow coalbed methane (CBM), promised that the EUB responsible “on every application” to protect groundwater Alberta Hansard 26th Legislature, 2nd Session February 27, 2006 Alberta Hansard 37, Monday, … Continue reading →

Original Directive 027, Shallow Fracturing Operations—Interim Controls, Restricted Operations, and Technical Review January 31, 2006 The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB/Board) has approved this directive on January 31, 2006, original signed by M. N. McCrank, Q.C., P.Eng. Chairman Information provided … Continue reading →

EUB Directive 027: Shallow Fracturing Operations-Interim Controls, Restricted Operations, and Review by Jim Reid, Manager, Alberta Energy and Utilities Board Increased development at ever shallower depths. Increased Fracture volumes, rates and pressures. Increased public concern on water well protection. Lack of … Continue reading →

Fears about coalbed methane by Ric Swihart, Lethbridge Herald, January 21, 2006 Johnson said the big concern when discussing coalbed methane is the lack of baseline data so the full impact of the exploration and development can be measured.

Tainted water lights fire under gas fears by Hanneke Brooymans, December 13, 2005, Front page The Edmonton Journal Nga de la Cruz, manager of the coal bed methane project for Alberta Environment, acknowledges the American problems. “But so far we really … Continue reading →

EUB [now ERCB] Bulletin 2005-33: Shallow Fracturing Operations: New Requirements, Restricted Operations, and Technical Review Committee by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board [now Energy Resources Conservation Board, ERCB, soon to be Alberta Energy Regulator (AER)], December 9, 2005 The … Continue reading →

Focused Energy, Gwyn Morgan has led Producer of the Year EnCana towards the pinnacle; now Randy Eresman takes the reins by Deborah Jaremko, November 2005, Oilweek With an enterprise value of about US$44 billion and an undeveloped North American land … Continue reading →

EnCana answers by Gerard Protti, EnCana Executive VP, June 24, 2005, Report on Business Magazine, Globe and Mail EnCana has not withheld information about our proposed energy development plans from the residents of Rosebud, a region where EnCana has been producing natural … Continue reading →

Alleged Violations of the rules and regulations of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) by EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. Cause No. 1V, DOCKET NO. 0507-OV-07 before the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission of the State of Colorado, … Continue reading →

Life Inside a Science Project by Andrew Nikiforuk, The Globe and Mail Report on Business, April 29, 2005 In the scenic badlands of Alberta, an hour’s drive northeast of Calgary, Jessica Ernst loved to savour the prairie evening on he … Continue reading →

County exploring options for Rosebud water facility replacement by Strathmore Standard, February 3, 2005 Rosebud residents are on a boiled water order following a Jan. 11 explosion that destroyed the Rosebud water reservoir storage tank, causing the lid of the … Continue reading →

38th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology Evidence, January 31, 2005 Testmony by Mr. Gerry Protti (Executive Vice-President, Corporate Relations, EnCana Corporation): We’ve really grown our company. A significant part of it is that we’ve grown … Continue reading →

Investigators say an accumulation of gases appears to have caused the explosion that destroyed the Rosebud water tower and sent a Wheatland County employee to hospital by Strathmore Standard, January 27, 2005 Tracy Gooler, Wheatland County constable and manager of protective services, … Continue reading →

EnCana racks up the fines by Dennis Webb, The Aspen Times, December 10, 2004 EnCana Oil & Gas was hit with another fine last week in connection with its operations in Garfield County. It has violated state regulations and laws in connection with … Continue reading →

Rosebud Residents Search for Common Ground by Patrick Kalafa, The Drumheller Mail, December 8, 2004 Attachments Rosebud Residents Search for Common Ground (2 MB)

Rosebud residents not too happy with EnCana’s plans by Isabell Foks, October 26, 2004, Drumheller Valley Times Mark Taylor, business unit leader for the Rosebud area, started off by explaining EnCana’s plans which include drilling an additional two to three wells … Continue reading →

Alleged Violations of the rules and regulations of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) by EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. Cause No. 1V, Order No. 1V-276 before the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission of the State of Colorado, … Continue reading →

Looking Ahead to 2010:  Natural Gas Markets in Transition by the National Energy Board, Cat. No. NE23-118/2004E, ISBN 0-662-37107-0, August 2004 There are currently about two dozen pilot projects to develop CBM across the WCSB and some participants noted that … Continue reading →