Deep Panuke offshore project gets authorization to begin flowing natural gas

HALIFAX – The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board has given Encana Corp. (TSX:ECA) the green light to start the flow of natural gas from the Deep Panuke offshore natural gas project.

In a statement today, the federal-provincial regulator says Encana can begin shipping gas to its production field centre offshore and ultimately to market.

The board says it issued the authorization after reviewing the company’s readiness for operations and receiving assurances that the facilities are suited for the work and personnel are properly trained.

It says Lloyd’s Registry has also certified that the facilities are fit, are in compliance with regulations and can be operated without polluting the environment.

The board says it will conduct an ongoing program to monitor regulatory compliance for the production phase of the project.

Deep Panuke is located about 250 kilometres southeast of Halifax.