Encana growth

Times Contributor

 

Larry Marshall, community relations manager for Encana, gave a review of the company’s activity to the Town of Strathmore Council on May 5. 

“Our top priority is capital discipline and lowering costs, very similar to what our priority was for 2012,” said Marshall.

He told council that Encana is forming joint venture partnerships, with overseas companies like Toyota Tusho. Capital from these types of partnerships helps them move ahead with new reserve developments in northern and eastern Alberta, as well as the Maritimes and the United States. He outlined the company was moving to diversify its drilling activity, to a more oil and liquid gas collection. 

Encana’s quarterly report for 2013 showed they drilled 26 wells in the Clearwater region – which is situated in Wheatland County – and their total company explorations netted approximately $2.9 billion in cash and cash-equivalent profits this quarter. Marshall said there were no current plans for development surrounding Strathmore, but Wheatland County will see more small oil derrick donkeys and tank platform setups, due to the move to oil and liquid gas extraction. He indicated the ability to reach multiple resource pockets through horizontal drilling methods from single platforms, minimizes the amount of derricks and tanks needed, improving the visual landscape, and reducing obstructions for farmers. 

He mentioned the opening of the natural gas Cavalier plant, located 16 km southeast of Strathmore, which generates enough electricity to supply 100,000 homes, and their movement to develop consumer natural gas products for industrial vehicles.

In March 2013, Encana received the President’s Award from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers’ (CAPP) at the Responsible Canadian Energy Awards ceremony. It is the association’s top honour, in recognition of the company’s commitment to exceptional environmental, health and safety, and social performance. Marshall indicated last year Encana had its best safety performance to date and its Responsible Products Program – a company-wide program to manage chemical additives used in hydraulic fracturing – has been used by other companies as a template for responsible chemical use.

“Water management is a big piece of business and important to all of us. There has been a lot of continuous improvement and ongoing response from the industry in terms of public demands for transparency and water protection,” said Marshall.

Marshall ended off with the company’s commitment to support the community with a list of agencies that have benefited from grants. The company is gearing up for their third year of the Race Against Hunger Food Collection. People bring food or cash donations to their gas powered ‘Truckwagon” at Alberta rodeos and they’ll match the donation dollar for dollar, or $2 per pound of food. Last year $103,346.49 and 11,586 pounds of food were raised. They will be present at the 2013 Strathmore Heritage Days.