Panel report  |  Public hearing  |  Our history in Suffield

Panel releases report regarding Suffield NWA infill drilling program
The Joint Review Panel has completed a comprehensive review of EnCana’s proposed shallow gas infill development project in the National Wildlife Area at CFB Suffield and on January 27 issued a report in respect of its findings.

The Panel specifically recognized EnCana's use of best-in-class practices for shallow gas development, and it appears that the Panel substantially agreed with the company's proposed environmental mitigation strategies.

The Panel concluded that the project could proceed provided two key pre-conditions are met:

• The first is that critical habitat for five specific species of plants and animals be finalized by Environment Canada.
• The second is that the role of the Suffield Environmental Advisory Committee (SEAC) be clarified, and that SEAC be resourced adequately to provide proper regulatory oversight of the project.

EnCana is encouraged by the Panel’s conclusion that should the two pre-conditions be met, there is not likely to be any significant adverse environmental effects resulting from the proposed project.

We look forward to proceeding promptly with the next steps of development the project, and to constructive discussions with the federal and provincial governments, the Department of National Defence and all other interested parties regarding the two key conditions.

Suffield NWA public hearing
A Joint Review Panel representing the Canadian and Alberta governments conducted a hearing pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and Alberta’s Oil and Gas Conservation Act and Energy Resources Conservation Act of the proposed EnCana Shallow Gas Infill Development Project in the Suffield National Wildlife Area (NWA).

For further details on the hearing process and schedule, please refer to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry website.

Our history and presence in Suffield
EnCana has operated on the Suffield military base in southeast Alberta for more than 30 years. We have drilled approximately 9,400 oil and natural gas wells and taken conscious steps to reduce our environmental footprint.

Today, most wells are underground so there is minimal disturbance to the flora, wildlife and cattle grazing on the land or the military activities in the area. It is anticipated wells in the area will continue to produce for 20 to 40 more years.

EnCana has always recognized the unique biodiversity that distinguishes this area within Suffield. This recognition, which prompted EnCana to support an NWA designation for the area in 2003, directs our operations and helps ensure we use minimal disturbance techniques that mitigate the impact of our activities.

EnCana is proposing to drill additional wells – approximately 425 wells in each of three October-to-April construction seasons – in the Suffield NWA to extract shallow, sweet natural gas. The proposal is part of an overall project plan for Suffield by EnCana that has been in development since 2003 and was included the formal project description submitted to the Panel in November 2005.

In May 2007, EnCana filed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project with the Panel. In August 2008, EnCana subsequently filed its response to submissions about the EIS from interveners to the Panel.