Article excerpt:
EnCana (GasCo) - a pure-play natural gas company growing high-potential North
American resource plays
"Our natural gas business is very strong and the properties designated for
EnCana (GasCo) are extremely well positioned to grow at anticipated double-digit
rates. We have a diversified portfolio of unconventional natural gas assets
across North America and hold a highly competitive land and resource position in
a number of the continent`s most promising shale and tight gas resource plays,
including Haynesville in the U.S. and Horn River and the Montney in Canada. Our
natural gas exploration and development teams have been industry leaders in
applying long-reach horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracing - revolutionary
innovations that are the foundation for our continued pursuit of the lowest
production costs and maximized margins. These transformative technologies have
unlocked an enormous new inventory of natural gas supply in North America -
clean burning natural gas that is abundant, affordable and readily available to
supply consumers` growing transportation and power needs while reducing the
continent`s environmental footprint," Eresman said.
Strong gas growth potential ahead
"Over the next five years we will be targeting a compound annual production
growth rate of about 10 percent. Our properties have a proven track record of
strong and sustainable growth. From 2006 to 2008, natural gas production from
our Canadian Foothills and USA divisions grew by 12 percent. Despite the more
moderate approach we have chosen to take for this year when gas prices are very
low, these assets are capable of delivering strong growth for years ahead,"
Eresman said.
"EnCana`s (GasCo) portfolio of prolific gas resource plays will include our
Coalbed Methane in central and southern Alberta, the Bighorn Deep Basin play in
Western Alberta, Cutbank Ridge and Greater Sierra plays in British Columbia,
Jonah play in Wyoming, significant Piceance basin plays in Colorado, the Barnett
shale play in Fort Worth and Deep Bossier play in East Texas. In addition to
these established resource plays, our teams have recently achieved some
promising exploration results in a number of North American shale plays, such as
Horn River in British Columbia and Haynesville in Louisiana. These and other
emerging plays have the potential to add significant depth to the company`s
strong portfolio of natural gas assets," said Eresman, who will continue as
EnCana`s (GasCo) President & Chief Executive Officer.
"With about 16 million net acres, 12.4 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved
gas reserves and 3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas production,
EnCana (GasCo) is expected to retain its standing as a leading North American
natural gas producer with strong growth potential," Eresman said.
About half of expected 2010 natural gas production hedged at more than $6 per
thousand cubic feet
EnCana has hedged two-thirds of expected 2009 natural gas production, about 2.6
Bcf/d, through October of this year at an average NYMEX equivalent price of
$9.13 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf). EnCana has also extended its risk
management program through 2010. As of September 8, 2009, EnCana had established
fixed price hedges on about half of expected 2010 natural gas production - or
about 2 Bcf/d - at an average NYMEX equivalent price of $6.08 per Mcf for the
gas year, which runs from November 1, 2009 to October 31, 2010. EnCana also has
27,000 bbls/d of expected 2010 oil production hedged at an average fixed price
of WTI $76.89 per barrel. EnCana plans to split the 2010 hedges between the two
companies based on their current proportion of production volumes for oil and
natural gas. The company`s price hedging strategy increases certainty in cash
flow to help ensure that EnCana can meet its capital and dividend requirements
without substantially adding to debt. EnCana continually assesses its hedging
needs and the opportunities available prior to establishing its capital program
for the upcoming year.