Study Ranks Encana As Worst Environmentally

Watch out Barnett Shale! This study was conducted in Wyoming but Encana is a major player in these parts.

Environmental group ranks oil and gas companies

Biodiversity Conservation Alliance released its first ranking of best and worst companies on Thursday.

From another source:

Group ranks oil and gas companies working in Wyoming

The ”worst” list consisted of companies that Biodiversity said have the greatest potential for improvement ”due to their abysmal track record in Wyoming.”

Biodiversity rated Encana as having the worst environmental practices mainly because of its dense drilling in Jonah Field in southwest Wyoming.

Biodiversity noted that Encana also was seeking to drill in Adobe Town, an area in southwest Wyoming that some conservation groups want to be preserved as a wilderness area.

Encana spokesman Randy Teeuwen said his company has pioneered various environmentally friendly techniques in Jonah Field, including the use of wood mats that allow vegetation to recover more quickly and flareless completions that reduce venting of pollutants. In addition, all but one of Encana’s 11 drilling rigs in Jonah are powered by clean-burning natural gas, Teeuwen said.

”We clearly can point to many environmental innovations that we have been using in Jonah Field for the past three to four years that we feel puts us in a leadership role along with a lot of other companies who are using and innovating techniques that they have as well,” he said.

Encana was followed by Anadarko and Yates Petroleum Corp. on the ”worst” list.

Windsor Energy received a ”dishonorable mention” for a gas well blowout that contaminated some underground water wells in northern Wyoming.