Encana takes to the road with new mobile liquefied natural gas fueling stations to fill up emerging LNG fleets

Companies create innovative solution to expanding use of natural
gas-powered vehicles
Encana Natural Gas Inc., a subsidiary of Encana Corporation (TSX, NYSE:
ECA), has reached an agreement that will see its new mobile liquefied
natural gas (LNG) fueling stations provide fueling services to the
newest fleet of LNG heavy-duty trucks in North America. Encana has
agreed to be the sole fuel supplier to Heckmann Water Resources (HWR), a
California company that provides water hauling services to Encana and
other producers in Louisiana′s Haynesville resource play. Heckmann
recently ordered 200 new LNG trucks, from Peterbilt Motors Corporation
of Denton, Texas, which are powered by Westport HD Systems from Westport
Innovations′ Inc. of Vancouver, B.C. Heckmann′s purchase represents a
major thrust to convert the company′s water-hauling truck fleet to LNG
from diesel, and will make HWR the operator of the largest fleet of LNG
trucks in North America.
'We are very pleased to be part of an innovative North American solution
to expand the use of liquefied natural gas in large-freight vehicles in
the U.S. This initiative is a major step towards encouraging many
companies servicing the energy industry to convert vehicles to run on
affordable, environmentally-responsible LNG or compressed natural gas
(CNG),? said Eric Marsh, Executive Vice-President, Encana Corporation &
Senior Vice-President, USA Division.
'Due to sweeping technological breakthroughs, North American natural gas
provides an abundant, affordable fuel alternative at a cost that is 20
to 40 percent lower than gasoline or diesel in many regions. Carbon
dioxide emissions from natural gas vehicles are up to 30 percent lower.
As part of the emerging transportation switch to natural gas, we are
converting a large number of the more than 1,300 trucks and passenger
vehicles in our own fleet to run on compressed natural gas,? Marsh said.
Encana will initially dispense liquefied natural gas to HWR′s truck
fleet using mobile fueling stations, which consist of an insulated LNG
tank and dispensing equipment built on a trailer that can be parked at
key operating locations in the Haynesville resource play. Encana also
plans to build its first permanent and public LNG fueling station in the
Shreveport, Louisiana area later this year. Last November, Encana opened
its first CNG fueling station at Coushatta in Red River Parish,
Louisiana. Also, in 2011 Encana plans to open its next four CNG
stations, one in each of the states of Wyoming and Colorado and two in
Western Canada.
'We are proud to be the first oil and natural gas services provider to
offer LNG trucks to our clients and to operate the largest fleet of LNG
trucks in North America. Natural gas combustion produces up to 30
percent less greenhouse gases resulting in a much lower carbon footprint
per vehicle, and domestic natural gas will provide us with a significant
cost savings over the life of the vehicles,? said Richard J. Heckmann,
Chairman and CEO of Heckmann Corporation, parent of HWR.
'This is the first LNG truck order by a natural gas industry service
provider,? said David Demers, CEO of Westport Innovations. 'HWR and
Encana are leading the way to leverage clean, abundant, and domestically
available natural gas. The fuel is inexpensive relative to diesel and
its availability for this application makes an economic win-win for both
HWR and Encana.?
Natural gas powered cars and trucks are fueled with CNG or LNG and
operate similarly to gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles and generally
have a longer operating life due to the cleaner combustion. Converting
freight trucks and commercial vehicles has an immediate impact on saving
fuel costs and reducing carbon emissions. For instance, converting one
18-wheeler from diesel to LNG is equivalent to removing the emissions of
about 325 cars from the road.
Encana Corporation
Encana is a leading North American
natural gas producer that is focused on growing its strong portfolio of
natural gas resource plays in key basins from northeast British Columbia
to east Texas and Louisiana. Encana Natural Gas Inc., a subsidiary of
Encana Corporation, is focused on expanding the use of natural gas by
providing leadership in the technical and commercial acceleration of
making abundant natural gas the fuel of choice in the North American
power generation and transportation markets. By partnering with
employees, community organizations and other businesses, Encana
contributes to the strength and sustainability of the communities where
it operates. Encana common shares trade on the Toronto and New York
stock exchanges under the symbol ECA.
Heckmann Corporation
Heckmann Corporation (NYSE: HEK) was
created to buy and build companies in the water sector. In 2011, the
Company continued the acquisition of additional disposal assets
including expansion into the Eagle Ford Shale area in south Texas. In
early 2010, the Company completed its 50-mile water disposal pipeline in
the Haynesville Shale, and began expanding the line in 2011 to handle
additional produced water and fresh water transportation. In February
2010, the Company announced its joint venture with Energy Transfer
Partners (NYSE: ETP) to provide turnkey pipeline transportation
solutions for complex water flows in the Marcellus and Haynesville oil
and natural gas fields. The acquisition of an oilfield produced water
disposal and transport company in November 2010, recently renamed
Heckmann Water Resources, makes the Company one of the largest handlers
of produced water in North America. www.heckmanncorp.com
Westport Innovations Inc.
Westport Innovations Inc. is a
global leader in alternative fuel, low-emissions technologies that allow
engines to operate on clean-burning fuels such as compressed natural gas
(CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and biofuels such as
landfill gas. Westport′s unique technologies reduce nitrogen oxides
(NOx), particulate matter (PM), and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) while
preserving the power, torque, and fuel efficiency of diesel engines.
Westport Heavy Duty (Westport HD), the company′s proprietary development
platform, is engaged in the engineering, design and marketing of natural
gas-enabling technology for the heavy-duty diesel engine and truck
market. To learn more about Westport′s business, visit its website or
subscribe to its RSS feed at www.westport.com,
or follow it on Twitter @WestportWPRT.
Further information on Encana Corporation is available on the company′s
website, www.encana.com,
or by contacting:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Encana
Corporation
Investor contact:
Ryder McRitchie
Vice-President,
Investor Relations
(403) 645-2007
Lorna Klose
Manager,
Investor Relations
(403) 645-6977
Media contact:
Alan
Boras
Vice-President, Media Relations
(403) 645-4747
Carol
Howes
Manager, Media Relations
(403) 645-4799