Category Archives: Case News

Hydraulic fracturing would destroy Nova Scotia by Bill Power, The Chronicle Herald, June 26, 2011 Jessica Ernst, a 54-year-old oil patch consultant, alleges that EnCana broke multiple provincial laws and regulations and contaminated a shallow aquifer with natural gas and toxic industry-related … Continue reading →

Ottawa maintains right to intervene in shale-gas industry. Harper government studying long-term effects of controversial ‘fracking’ technique, environment minister says Reuters, with files from the Vancouver Sun, June 17, 2011 Ottawa oversees the use of toxic substances and can step in to … Continue reading →

Feds keeping an eye on controversial ‘fracking’ procedure by Mike De Souza, Postmedia News, June 16, 2011

Ottawa maintains right to intervene in shale by Mike De Souza, Postmedia News, June 16, 2011 The federal government is paying attention to shale gas exploration in Canada and is prepared to intervene against any toxic threats, Environment Minister Peter Kent said … Continue reading →

WATCH: Dangers of Natural Gas Extraction Alberta Prime Time interview with Jessica Ernst followed by a panel discussion, June 15, 2011

Alberta woman sues oil industry by Petro-online.com, June 13, 2011 “The connection between water wells and natural gas development in Rosebud has been studied extensively, including a detailed study by the Alberta Research Council,” says Alan Boras, EnCana’s vice-president of media relations. … Continue reading →

WATCH: Alberta woman files lawsuit over flaming water by The Canadian Press in the Globe and Mail, June 12, 2011 There’s something off about the well water on one Alberta woman’s property. When Jessica Ernst drops a lit match into it, there’s a loud poof and a flash … Continue reading →

Fracking, methane and drinking water by Dianne Saxe, Envirolaw, MAY 17, 2011. The Ernst v. Encana fracking lawsuit gained strength this month with the publication of Rob Jackson’s peer-reviewed paper: Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Alberta shuns US shale gas fears; Minister Renner says our rules prevent water contamination by Darcy Henton, May 14, 2011, Calgary Herald Albertans should not be alarmed by a new study that links shale gas drilling to groundwater contamination in the … Continue reading →

A fracking problem by Jean Hodgkinson, The Caribean Camera, May 11, 2011

LISTEN:  Methane Water Study CBC, “As it Happens“, May 10, 2011 Last month, we spoke with Jessica Ernst from Rosebud, Alberta. Ms. Ernst has several fracking sites near her home. And she’s now suing EnCana, because of what she alleges are … Continue reading →

National Geographic Methane on Tap: Study Links Pollution to Gas Drilling by Rachel Kaufman, National Geographic News May 9, 2011 Source: National Geographic News

Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing by Stephen G. Osborn, Avner Vengosh, Nathaniel R. Warner, and Robert B. Jackson In Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. Published online before print May 9, 2011, doi:10.1073/pnas.1100682108PNAS May 17, 2011 vol. 108no. 20 8172-8176 Edited by William … Continue reading →

Scientific Study Links Flammable Drinking Water to Fracking by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica May 9, 2011

Fracking the Future:  Uncloaks Big Oil’s Takeover of Gas Industry by Carol Linnitt, DesmogBlog, May 6, 2011

Canadian Woman Sues over Flammable Tap Water by Helena Zhu in Epoch Times, May 5, 2011

Alberta Woman Sues Over Flammable Tap Water China National News, May 4, 2011

Rosebud resident files suit over coal bed methane by Pat Kolafa, The Dumheller Mail, May 4, 2011

Canada: Fracking, Drinking Water And Regulation by Dianne Saxe, Mondaq, May 4, 2011

Woman seeks $33 Million in Canadian Fracking Lawsuit 1800LAWFIRM.com, May 3, 2011

Rosebud landowner sues over alleged well contamination by Enrique Massot, The Cochrane Eagle May 3, 2011

Is hydraulic fracturing safe and sustainable? Presentation by Jessica Ernst on May 3, 2011 in New York City at the United Nations 19th Commission on Sustainable Development Barium and strontium in my water doubled after Encana/Ovintiv’s illegal aquifer fracs Complete slides

Woman Seeks $33 Million in Canadian Fracking Lawsuit Newsinferno: News that matters! May 2, 2011

‘Fracking’ starts to bring on legal challenges by Jeff Gray and Nathan Vanderklippe, The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2011 “I’m not the only one. There are many others that this has happened to, and my story is not unique,” … Continue reading →

Platts: Woman suing EnCana to speak at UN conference by Sayeh Tavangar, Platts Energy Week, May 2, 2011 Cory Wanless, one of Ernst’s attorneys, said that although other residents of the Rosebud area have experienced similar problems with their water wells, “we … Continue reading →

Canadian Scientist Files Fracking Lawsuit Against EnCana Breakinglawsuitnews, May 2nd, 2011

WATCH:  Allegations of an Alberta Cover-up Alberta Prime Time Interview with Jessica Ernst at ABC Studio in New York on Monday, May 02, 2011

Woman seeks $33 Million in Canadian Fracking Lawsuit by Joshua at YourLawyer.com / Blog May 2nd, 2011

WATCH: Flammable well water 1:52 CBC News, May 1, 2011 An Alberta woman who says her well water is steeped with methane gas from nearby natural gas drilling is set to appear before the United Nations to tell her story, the … Continue reading →

Fracking the world:  Hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking’ – Big Oil’s newest way to extract natural gas from an exhausted planet – comes with a terrible environmental price tag by Joyce Nelson in the UK’s New Internationalist Magazine Issue #442, May 1, 2011. Warning: … Continue reading →

Alberta landowner seeks $33 million over methane in drinking water Environmental Services Association of Alberta weekly news, for the week ending April 29, 2011

Fracturation hydraulique: procès en vue pour Encana by Gaz de Schiste Provence, Avril 29, 2011

Lawsuit against government, Encana highlights ‘fracking’ environmental issues: Lawyer by Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald, April 28, 2011 The lawyer leading a $33-million lawsuit against Encana, the Alberta government and the province’s energy regulator says the case speaks to broader environmental concerns across … Continue reading →

Fracturation hydraulique une Albertaine poursuit sa province et EnCana Radio-Canada.ca Mise à jour le jeudi 28 avril 2011. AUDIO-VIDÉO Le reportage d’Isabelle Damphousse

Hot Water Tap by Jeff Douglas, The As It Happens Blog, April 27, 2011. Along with concerns for seismic repercussions, and the depletion of local water supplies, no one outside the industry seems to know for certain what the chemical … Continue reading →

Gas drilling critic launches multimillion-dollar suit by Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald, April 27, 2011.

Rosebud landowner launches $33M Lawsuit Against EnCana, Government over Methane in Drinking Water by Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald April 27, 2011 Encana spokesman Alan Boras said the company had just become aware of the Ernst lawsuit and “as a result we would have … Continue reading →

Rosebud woman launches drilling lawsuit CBC News, April 27, 2011.

Lawsuit has broad implications for fracking across continent by Kelly Cryderman, Postmedia News, April 27, 2011. The lawyer leading a $33 million lawsuit against energy company Encana, the Alberta government and the province’s energy regulator says the case speaks to broader environmental … Continue reading →

Alberta Landowner Seeks $33 Million Over Methane in Drinking Water The Stuart Smith Blog, News Round Up, April 27, 2011

Rosebud landowner launches $33M lawsuit against Encana, government over methane in drinking water by Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald, April 27, 2011

LISTEN:  Alberta Fracking CBC “As It Happens”, April 27, 2011 It’s known as “fracking” — the process of using water and other chemicals under extreme pressure to blast apart coal formations and release natural gas. And one woman in Southern Alberta says … Continue reading →

Alberta landowner seeks $33 million over methane in drinking water by Kelly Cryderman, Postmedia News, April 26, 2011.

Fracking in the USA. ‘Those questions are just as relevant in B.C. and Alberta.’ by Trevor Scott Howell, in Fast Forward, April 21, 2011.

Albertan, Tired of Her Tap Water Catching Fire, Sues.  Scientist Jessica Ernst hits gas giant EnCana, regulators with fracking lawsuit by Andrew Nikiforuk, TheTyee.ca, April 28, 2011

Fracking will cause ‘irreversible harm’ Shale-gas extraction a huge risk by Kevin Dougherty, originally published in The Montreal Gazette, March 7, 2011. A geological engineering professor whose specialty is rock mechanics and hydrogeology says hydraulic fracturing to free natural gas from shale rock … Continue reading →

North America versus Europe Natural Gas Europe, February 15, 2011 George Eynon has seen it all. A member of the Board at the Energy Resources Conservation Board, which regulates the energy sector as authorized by various acts of the province of … Continue reading →

Unconventional Gas Regulatory Framework—Jurisdictional Review by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board January 28, 2011. Report 2011-A Depths of prospective shale gas zones range from relatively shallow (less than 300 metres [m]) to quite deep (greater than 3000 m). In Alberta, there … Continue reading →

The Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel: Environmental and Health Impacts of Canada’s Oilsands Industry by Dr. Pierre Gosselin et al, December 15, 2010 The ERCB is the primary regulator which must make the public interest recommendation to the Alberta Cabinet. … Continue reading →

Testimony that hydraulic fracturing interfered with Rosebud groundwater to The Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Number 032, 3rd Session, 40th Parliament, Evidence presented in Ottawa, November 18, 2010   Mr. Michael Binnion (President and Chief Executive Officer, Questerre Energy Corporation): In Alberta, regulations … Continue reading →

US Congress letter to EnCana investigating the company’s hydraulic fracturing and allegations of water contamination Congress United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce July 19 2010

Encana donation of $1 million to RDC celebrated by M. Guak, June 17, 2010, Red Deer College A $1 million donation from Encana Corporation to Red Deer College was marked Wednesday with a walk-through of the kind of work that … Continue reading →

Leaking gas well forces families out in Calmar neighbourhood by Darcy Henton, June 2, 2010, Edmonton Journal CALMAR, ALBERTA — Five new Calmar homes have to be removed to make room for a drilling rig to seal an abandoned natural gas … Continue reading →

Investigation report: Leakage testing of coalbed methane (coal seam gas) wells in the Tara ‘rural residential estates’ vicinity (Queensland, Australia) by Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, June 1, 2010, Queensland Government The Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate was advised of … Continue reading →