News Release

EnCana Gift Produces World-Class Petroleum Research Facility

April 15, 2008 -- Ribbon cutting ceremonies are scheduled Thursday, April 17, for a world-class petroleum engineering laboratory at the University of Wyoming, funded with a $2 million gift from EnCana Oil & Gas USA.

The ceremony will be at 3 p.m. in Room 1007 of the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) building. The new lab is the first of three petroleum engineering laboratories to be funded by EnCana's gift, matched by the state to be $4 million. The EnCana Research Laboratory focuses on three-phase flow in porous media and computed tomography (x-ray imaging) research.

Assistant Professor Mohammad Piri has been the driving force to establish this lab, as an extension to his internationally recognized research at London's Imperial College and Princeton University before joining UW in 2005.

"This facility will be used to perform multiphase flow in porous media experiments, through vertically or horizontally placed rock samples. Data obtained from these experiments will help the oil and gas industry assess the potential success of given enhanced oil recovery processes," Piri says. "This facility offers a combination of research capabilities to make this the only facility of its kind in the world."

"Energy resources are the basis of Wyoming's economy now and for the future," says UW President Tom Buchanan, "but since producing the remaining hydrocarbon resources is more complicated today, it is imperative that UW provides a thriving research culture to capture these fossil energy resources. Additionally, this technology is important to finding solutions for energy's environmental issues such as carbon dioxide sequestration. The new EnCana Research Laboratory is a key element of UW's strategy to achieve a leadership position in energy research."

UW's CEAS continues to receive strong support from its industry partners as it strives to prepare its graduates for effective careers, says Dean Rob Ettema.

"UW is known for graduates who have strong fundamentals in their chosen discipline, who are life-long learners and are willing to get the job done," he says. "Our vision is to be recognized internationally for the excellence of our education and research programs, and the EnCana Research Laboratory used for cutting-edge hydrocarbon recovery research gains UW this recognition."

"EnCana is pleased to support innovative research that will benefit students and faculty at the University of Wyoming, the oil and gas industry and the state economy for many years to come," says Randy Eresman, EnCana's president and chief executive officer.

"The EnCana Research Lab will be home to groundbreaking and world-class research that unlocks new ways for energy companies to extract more resources while reducing the impact on the environment."

EnCana USA is an exploration and production subsidiary of the EnCana Corporation, based in Calgary. With headquarters in Denver, EnCana USA explores for and produces oil and gas in Colorado, Texas and Wyoming, including Jonah Field and the Wind River and Green River basins.

Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008