Offshore staff

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- EnCana Corp. filed regulatory applications for the potential development of the Deep Panuke natural gas field, 155 mi. (250 km) offshore Halifax.

The Development Plan Application filed today with the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) includes the Environmental Assessment Report, under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) process, and an application to the National Energy Board (NEB) for approval of the construction and operation of an offshore pipeline.

"This is another important step forward for this project," Dave Kopperson, Encana Vice President, Atlantic Canada, said. "All parties have been working cooperatively, including government, the regulatory agencies, and stakeholders. We have been encouraged by our meetings with the regulatory authorities, who have shown a strong commitment to a timely regulatory review and approval process."

The Environmental Assessment Report is the basis of the CEAA comprehensive study process addressing the changes between the current project and the original project, which was approved in December 2002. The pipeline application seeks NEB approval for construction and operation of a subsea pipeline from the Deep Panuke field to a point of interconnection onshore near Goldboro, Nova Scotia.

The Deep Panuke project involves installing the facilities required to produce natural gas from the Deep Panuke field. It is anticipated that the produced gas will be transported by subsea pipeline to Goldboro, Nova Scotia, where it will be transported via the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline (M&NP) system to markets in Canada and the northeastern United States. A project fact sheet is posted on EnCana's website: www.encana.com.

11-09-06