Category Archives: Case News

Safety Advisory 2010-03 Communication during fracture stimulation by the BC Oil and Gas Commission, May 20, 2010. Fracture propagation via large scale hydraulic fracturing operations has proven difficult to predict. Existing planes of weakness in target formations may result in fracture … Continue reading →

Hydraulic fracturing and water pollution: Investor risks from North America’s shale gas boom by Paula Barrios, Research Analyst for Shareholder Association for Research and Education, May 2010

Fracking – Natural Gas Affects Water Quality by Joyce Nelson, originally published in Watershed Sentinel, March/April 2010

Failure Investigation Report: Failure of Piping at EnCana Swan Wellsite A5-7-77-14 L W6M by the BC Oil and Gas Commission, February 4, 2010. The 22 November 2009 failure…was caused by internal erosion of the wall resulting from flowing fracture sand suspended … Continue reading →

Murky Waters? Corporate Reporting on Water Risk, A Benchmarking Study of 100 Companies by Brooke Barton, Ceres with scoring and analysis by Shirley Morgan-Knott, UBS Investment Research and data support by Bloomberg, LP, February 2010 Key Findings: Water Risk Disclosure in … Continue reading →

Hydro-fracturing has a lucrative dirty secret. The B.C. government isn’t asking many questions about a natural-gas-drilling technique involving toxic compounds by Chris Wood, Straight.com Vancouver’s Online Source, January 28, 2010

Cenovus donates $3 Million to the University of Alberta by Cenovus Gwyn Morgan will receive an honorary doctorate of laws June 12, 2006 from the University of Alberta

Alberta Environment Standard for Baseline Water Well Testing for CBM Operations, Science Review Panel Final Report prepared for Alberta Environment by Dr. Cathy Ryan, University of Calgary. December 5, 2008.  Panel: Alex Blyth, Bernard Mayer, Carl Mendoza, Karlis Muehlenbachs. As of … Continue reading →

Frack Attack. New, dirty gas drilling method threatens drinking water by Joyce Nelson, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, December 1, 2009. A technology used by the oil and gas industry to obtain natural gas is raising major concerns across the United States … Continue reading →

Teresa Watson becomes newest board member by ERCB, September 2009, Across the Board Theresa Watson—an energy industry veteran with more than two decades of experience—has become the ERCB’s newest Board Member. After graduating from high school in Melita, Manitoba, Watson studied … Continue reading →

About Us: Board Member Bios, The ERCB answers directly to the Executive Council (Cabinet) of Alberta through the Minister of Energy, but makes its formal decisions independently in accordance with the six statutes it administers Theresa Watson, P.Eng. was appointed … Continue reading →

Culture of Secrecy by Darcy Henton, Avenue Magazine Edmonton, May 26, 2009. Ed Stelmach promised transparency when he came to office, but somewhere along the way, the wheels fell off the accountability track. “I am exhausted trying to get what is supposed … Continue reading →

Overview:  Groundwater management and coal bed methane development in the Powder River Basin of Montana by Tom Myers, Journal of Hydrology 368:178-193, March 2009 Issue. The study Coal bed methane (CBM) development will eventually pump more than 124 000 ha-m of groundwater, or more … Continue reading →

February 12, 2009: The Intimidation of Ernst A segment of Ernst presentation at Cochrane, Alberta, September 10, 2011 February 12, 2009: Following a CTV W5 National News segment of Ernst’s explosively contaminated well water and the ERCB’s (now AER, previously EUB) treatment … Continue reading →

EnCana hit with $150,000 fine – Safety issues cited in death of brush-cutting company owner near Dawson Creek by Greg Amos, February 10, 2009, The Canadian Press, Article ID# 1428702 An accident that resulted in a man being crushed to … Continue reading →

News clips joined into one and uploaded to Youtube January 19, 2015 W-FIVE’s Fueling Fears aired nationally in Canada on February 7, 2009. Two days later, the Harper government’s anti-terrorist squad began harassing Jessica Ernst but not the others interviewed. WATCH: Alberta … Continue reading →

Put in a Word for Suffield! by NatureCanadablog, February 6, 2009 As we reported last week, the Joint Review Panel established to consider the proposal by EnCana to drill 1275 shallow gas wells in the National Wildlife Area has recommended … Continue reading →

Alberta Environment/Energy Resources Conservation Board Response to the Report “Potential for Gas Migration Due to Coalbed Methane Development” The report concludes that gas migration due to natural pathways is unlikely to occur for the areas of active or anticipated CBM … Continue reading →

EnCana $1 Million donation to University of Calgary questioned as company awaits energy decision by CBC News, December 17, 2008 Some environmentalists are concerned that a donation by EnCana Corp. to the University of Calgary may affect a major energy … Continue reading →

EnCana donates $1 Million to the University of Calgary, supports research to protect ecosystems by University of Calgary News, December 8, 2008 EnCana Corporation and the University of Calgary announced today the creation of the EnCana Chair in Canadian Plains … Continue reading →

Drilling dispute in wildlife area may stretch into 2008 by Canadian Press, August 20, 2007 CALGARY A long-simmering Prairie standoff between one of Canada’s largest energy companies and the military over a tract of grassland is set to drag well … Continue reading →

Fire on water by Katie Lister, August 6, 2008, BC Living British Columbia may have nothing to brag about when it comes to water, but Alberta, it seems, is taking it to a whole new level … Jessica lives near … Continue reading →

Le citoyen Encana – Le double visage de la plus importante corporation de Calgary Translation by Amie du Richelieu, August 21, 2013 Citizen EnCana The double life of Calgary’s greatest corporation by Adrian Morrow, published in Fast Forward, July 10, 2008. Source: Cover Fast … Continue reading →

EnCana denies doing any water well contamination by Rick Northrop, originally published in The Drumheller Valley Times, Vol. 9, No. 50, April 22, 2008. “We can’t do completion of shallow gas above 200 metres” the paper quoted EnCana saying.

8 Landowners Reject Closure of Groundwater Cases: Demand Proper Study of Industrial Contamination Media Alert, March 19, 2008 Alberta Environment closed the Rosebud cases based on reviews by ARC…. ARC’s 2007 annual report clearly lists EnCana as a funder of its … Continue reading →

Freedom of information: Little information and it isn’t free, either, Government accused of stonewalling legitimate requests by Darcy Henton, The Edmonton Journal, February 29, 2008.

Encana Randy Teeuwen to Casper Star Tribune re Louis Meeks’ contaminated water, Pavillion Wyoming by Randy Teeuwen, EnCana, February 14, 2008, Casper Star Tribune EnCana does not use diesel, sawdust or oil to drill gas wells. Rather, we use fresh water … Continue reading →

Gas in area causing tainted water by Hanneke Brooymans, January 18, 2008, The Edmonton Journal Gas in area causing tainted water — report One of the landowners whose well water was cleared of industry-related contamination fears she will have to … Continue reading →

STUPID TO THE LAST DROP How Alberta is Bringing Environmental Armageddon to Canada (and Doesn’t Seem to Care) by William Marsden, winner of the 2007 National Business Book.

Factors Affecting or Indicating Potential Wellbore Leakage by Theresa Watson (T.L. Watson and Associates Inc) and Stephan Bachu (Alberta Energy and Utilities Board), 2007 Presentation; SPE Paper 106817, 200 About 15% of vertical and 60% of deviated wells reported leaking. [Refer … Continue reading →

Development of a memorandum of understanding between Alberta Environment (AENV) and the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB, now ERCB) to enhance collaboration for the protection and management of groundwater by William A. Tilleman, Q.C., J.S.D., Chairman, Alberta EUB and C. … Continue reading →

EnCana Makes First Court Appearance after Being Charged with Violating Canada Wildlife Act Press Release by Federation of Alberta Naturalists and Nature Canada, December 5, 2007 EnCana will make their first court appearance at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 6 in … Continue reading →

EUB trying to circumvent the courts? News Release by Lavesta Group, October 12, 2007 (Rimbey, Alberta) On September 30, 2007 the EUB retro-actively cancelled, or voided, all three hearings dealing with a controversial 500 KV transmission line from Edmonton to … Continue reading →

Read between EnCana’s lines by Ricardo Acuna, October 8, 2012, The Calgary Herald In the weeks following the release of the recommendations of Alberta’s Royalty Review Panel, energy giant EnCana has been one of the loudest opponents of any moves … Continue reading →

Judicial inquiry needed into EUB, other boards’ autonomy Patrick Cleary, October 7, 2007, The Edmonton Journal Re: “Ex-EUB chairmen just don’t get it,” by Janet Keeping, Letters, Sept. 28. In her response to the letter by the former Alberta Energy … Continue reading →

Canadians living normal lives exposed to chemical killers by Glenda Luymes, CanWest News Service, October 7, 2007, Vancouver Province The UBC Trudeau scholar has laboured more than a year to determine just how many Canadians die each year from pollution. … Continue reading →

Canada too weak on polluters by CanWest News Service, October 07, 2007, The Edmonton Journal Canada ranks fifth among the 21 wealthiest nations of the world when it comes to overall support for developing countries, but near the bottom of … Continue reading →

Alberta water management gets boost, Partners with GE to explore innovations by David Finlayson, October 7, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The province and General Electric have formed a partnership to find solutions to issues such as water management and pipeline … Continue reading →

It’s not just Alberta, it’s the whole country by Andrew Nikiforuk, published in the Globe and Mail, Saturday, October 6, 2007. Book Review of STUPID TO THE LAST DROP How Alberta is Bringing Environmental Armageddon to Canada (and Doesn’t Seem to Care) … Continue reading →

Oil site cleanup to cost millions by Paul Cowley, October 5, 2007, Red Deer Advocate Cleanup work is almost complete at an oil battery site after a summer lightning strike destroyed a storage tank and caused an oil spill southwest … Continue reading →

EUB still flawed: opponents by Paul Cowley, October 2, 2007, Red Deer Advocate No one in a position of authority has been taken to task for the use of a private security firm to covertly monitor public hearings in Rimbey, … Continue reading →

Watchdog IDs $6B shortfall, Taxpayers shortchanged by up to $2B in energy revenues annually over past 3 years: auditor general by Jeremy Loome, Legislature Bureau, October 2, 2007 Albertans were shortchanged by as much as $2 billion annually over the … Continue reading →

Failing grade, Auditor general slams Alberta Energy’s way of tracking royalties by Archie McLean, October 1, 2007, Edmonton Journal Alberta Energy’s accounting and accountability practices for oil and gas royalties get a failing grade from Auditor-General Fred Dunn in his … Continue reading →

The sky isn’t falling by Alan K. Spiller, September 29, 2007, The Edmonton Journal Of course, we have the narrow-minded Conservatives, who think the world will end if we push for our fair share of royalty income. The review panel … Continue reading →

What more input does Stelmach need? by John O’Connor, September 29, 2007, The Edmonton Journal Since the royalty review process was initiated many months ago, Albertans have been telling the government loud and clear that we are not getting our … Continue reading →

Pick up the tab by Bruce A. McFaul, September 29, 2007, Calgary Herald One aspect of the royalty review which has been overlooked is how the Tories have treated the oil industry versus us normal Albertans, especially the poor. In … Continue reading →

EnCana to cut $1-billion if royalties rise by John Partridge, September 28, 2007, Globe and Mail In the latest salvo in a thundering barrage of industry criticism, Canadian natural gas and oil sands giant EnCana Corp. [ECA-T]says it will slash … Continue reading →