EnCana's Energy Expo was bigger and arguably better than ever. The fifth annual Expo brought together over 80 exhibitors from the oil and gas industry to the Garfield County fairgrounds in Rifle Wednesday.
The Expo is a showcase for oil and gas operations in Garfield County, which leads the state in drilling activity and is second to La Plata County in gas production. Last year alone 4,000 permits were issued for oil and gas drilling in Garfield County alone. As a whole, Colorado is fifth in the nation in natural gas production.
The Expo is an opportunity for operators and ancillary companies to explain their operations to the public. It's also a job fair of sorts, giving an opportunity for operators and contractors as well as job seekers to connect.
"We really tried to emphasize new technology and environmental initiatives," said EnCana spokeswoman Kathy Friesen. Videos produced by EnCana and Williams featured Williams' new H&P Flex drilling rigs that can drill up to 22 wells from one pad and considerably reduce the drilling footprint on the land. A video by EnCana presented the company's approach to citizen complaints about oil and gas operations in western Garfield County and examples of how the company has partnered with Garfield County to maintain county roads.
New companies now operating in the region were also on hand including Berry Petroleum, which began a drilling program this year. Shell was also at the Expo to present information about its Mahogany Research Project in the Piceance Basin near Meeker, which is testing a new underground retorting technology for oil shale.
"We just get a lot more industry involvement" every year, Friesen said. The community turnout appeared to be at least as high as last year. She estimated about 1,200 people came through the Expo in 2006.
The Expo ran from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday. However on Wednesday morning the exhibits were opened especially for area high school students to give them a chance to see and talk to companies working in the region. Friesen said some of the students were also interested in job possibilities.
"They asked, 'What do you have to do to get jobs like these and what do you make?'" she said.
Besides the general information and the free give-aways, some people were there to network. Leslie Robinson, director of Garfield County United Way, was making the rounds and looking for donations.
"I'm meeting a lot of new people," she said. "This is a good outreach for me."
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