Morris Argyle and graduate student Guoqing Xu

EnCana Gift Boosts Petroleum Engineering at UW

March 22, 2006 - A $2 million gift from EnCana Oil & Gas USA to the University of Wyoming will create and provide equipment for new research laboratories for the university's resurgent petroleum engineering program.

The gift, to be made in annual payments of $400,000 during the next five years, will establish an EnCana Research Lab, an EnCana Reservoir Simulation Lab, and provide additional laboratories and equipment.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to youth and education in the state of Wyoming, EnCana has pledged its support for the re-establishment of an undergraduate petroleum engineering program at the University of Wyoming," says Roger J. Biemans, president of EnCana USA. "Our goal is to support programs that serve the needs of students, the university, and the oil and gas industry for many years to come."

"I see this as a very positive continuation of EnCana's long-term relationship with the University of Wyoming," says Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal.

The UW Board of Trustees reinstated the bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering in fall 2005 after an eight-year absence; the first class of students in the program will begin studies this fall.

"Energy resources have been the driving force behind Wyoming's economic boom, and are likely to be the foundation of the state's economy for years to come," says UW President Tom Buchanan.

The trustees' decision to reinstate the undergraduate program in petroleum engineering will help provide the oil and gas industry with the skilled leadership it will need for the 21st century."

Trustees eliminated the undergraduate degree in petroleum engineering in 1997 during a decline in industry activity, oil prices, and student interest. Since then, UW has maintained masters and doctoral degrees in petroleum engineering and developed an undergraduate petroleum engineering option within the chemical engineering degree program.

Recent years have seen an increase in gas and oil production, industry activity, and student interest in petroleum engineering, according to Brian Towler, head of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.

"Industry has been saying it can't get enough qualified petroleum engineers," says Towler. "With an anticipated 40 undergraduate students entering the program, we will be able to provide such engineers in the near future."

According to Towler, the department has designed an undergraduate petroleum engineering program that could be completed within four years, as is the case with the existing chemical engineering program. With this design in place, it may also be possible for students within the chemical engineering program to add a petroleum engineering major to their qualifications with additional semesters of study.

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