Home
World
Canada
- BC
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Thunder Bay
- Sudbury
- Windsor
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Montreal
- NB
- PEI
- NS
- NL
- North
Politics
Health
Arts & Entertainment
- Music
- Film
- Television
- Books
- Media
- Art & Design
- Theatre
Technology & Science
Money
Consumer Life
Diversions
Weather
Your Voice

EnCana unveils smaller Deep Panuke project

Last Updated: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 | 5:45 PM NT

CBC News

EnCana Corp. hopes to avoid formal public hearings as it proceeds with a scaled-back version of its original Deep Panuke offshore natural gas project.

The Calgary-based company shelved development of the gas field, about 250 kilometres southeast of Halifax, three years ago, saying it was too costly to proceed at the time.

But the company revised the plan and on Monday it filed a project description with the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

EnCana now wants to export 300,000 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, down one-quarter from its original plans, with a start date of 2010.

It also wants to increase the amount of waste-water discharges into the ocean, an issue that has concerned environmentalists.

EnCana has also asked for a streamlined regulatory process, saying the project had already received the necessary environmental approvals.

"As far as we understand, EnCana is looking for an assessment process whereby a formal public hearing could be eliminated," said Neal Dawe, spokesman for the offshore petroleum board.

Even without those hearings, however, the board promises full public input.

Nova Scotia Energy Minister Bill Dooks said he wants the regulatory process streamlined too, because thousands of jobs are at stake.

And though EnCana has pulled Deep Panuke once before, he's pleased the company has filed a new project description.

"It certainly sends a strong message that they're serious in the direction they're taking," Dooks said.

EnCana and the Nova Scotia government have an agreement in place that outlines job expectations, industrial benefits, royalties, and payments for research and development for developing Deep Panuke.

The company has guaranteed 1.35 million hours of work in Nova Scotia, with 850,000 hours to be undertaken by Nova Scotians.

Eager for a piece of the Deep Panuke pie, Cherubini Metal Works in Dartmouth has notified EnCana that it wants to build the offshore living quarters.

"We're certainly optimistic that some of the work will be coming here," said general manager Steve Ross.

EnCana's project description filing is missing some information, including the overall cost of the project and the amount of natural gas the company believes the Deep Panuke field contains.

EnCana said it will provide that information to regulators in about a month.

Shares of EnCana finished the day with a loss of $1.89, or just over three per cent, at $59.27 on the TSX.

This story is now closed to commenting.

Internal Links

EnCana revives Nova Scotia's offshore hopes

Nfld. & Labrador Headlines

Another N.L. chopper crash inevitable: union: A union leader representing oil workers says another offshore chopper crash will happen in Newfoundland and Labrador — and he's calling for changes to improve workers' chances of survival when it does.
St. John's snow dumping angers resident: A downtown St. John's resident, who couldn't get into his driveway after plow operators blocked it with snow, says he's getting no satisfaction from the city.
Woman denies Horwood assault: One of the people charged with assaulting an elderly man in his home in rural Newfoundland last fall pleaded not guilty Tuesday during a court appearance.
City must help with storm repairs: Deputy Mayor: St. John's Deputy Mayor said Tuesday that city hall must play a role in repairing fishing stages and wharves that were damaged during last Friday's storm — even though the mayor has said the properties aren't a municipal responsibility.
Proposed St. John's highrise slammed at public meeting: A company that wants to build a large complex near the St. John's waterfront took a beating at a public forum Monday evening.

Canada Headlines

Health costs push Alberta budget deficit to $4.75B: Alberta's Progressive Conservative government is projecting a record $4.75-billion budget deficit and planning cuts in many departments while increasing health-care spending.
Trenton colonel's charges spur cold case review: The 2001 slaying of a Nova Scotia woman at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario is among the cases being re-examined after murder charges were laid against Col. Russell Williams.
Neighbours stunned by arrest of Col. Williams: Ottawa resident Michael Gennis was stunned when he found out his new neighbour, Col. Russell Williams, had been charged with killing two women in eastern Ontario.
Olympic spirit will launch B.C. reforms: throne speech: The B.C. government says it will use the province's post-Olympics momentum to drive changes that include offering tax breaks to families with children, reforming education and lobbying Ottawa to amend "Byzantine bureaucratic practices."
Vancouver tap water vies with Olympic sponsor: Vancouver has started a campaign to encourage Olympic tourists to drink the region's tap water instead of buying bottled water, creating a potential conflict with one of the Games' biggest sponsors.

Top CBCNews.ca Headlines

Headlines

Trenton colonel's charges spur cold case review: The 2001 slaying of a Nova Scotia woman at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario is among the cases being re-examined after murder charges were laid against Col. Russell Williams.
Health costs push Alberta budget deficit to $4.75B: Alberta's Progressive Conservative government is projecting a record $4.75-billion budget deficit and planning cuts in many departments while increasing health-care spending.
Ottawa to appeal injection site ruling: The federal government is asking the Supreme Court of Canada for leave to appeal a lower court ruling that sanctioned Vancouver's supervised drug injection site.
Haitian man pulled from rubble: A 28-year-old man has been pulled from rubble in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, claiming to have been trapped there since the massive earthquake on Jan. 12.
Tories need plan for isotope shortage: Ignatieff: Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff accused the Conservative government of having no plan of action to deal with a medical isotope shortage expected to worsen later this month.