Cenovus evacuates staff ahead of fire

Cenovus Energy Inc. said May 25 that it has temporarily shut down its Foster Creek oil sands and Athabasca natural gas operations as a precaution because of a forest fire on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range in northeastern Alberta.

The company said staff had been safely evacuated. As of May 25 the fire was burning some 25 kilometers south of Cenovus’ Foster Creek facility, and the company said there had been no danger to infrastructure.

The decision to send staff home and shut down production on May 23 was primarily made because of the fire’s proximity to the only access road to the facilities, Cenovus said.

“The safety of staff is our first priority and this was a massive coordinated effort that got 1,800 people off our site safely and quickly,” said John Brannan, Cenovus executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Foster Creek, jointly owned with ConocoPhillips, produces some 67,500 barrels per day net to Cenovus, 135,000 bpd gross. Total production net to Cenovus across all the company’s assets was some 218,000 bpd in the first quarter. The Athabasca natural gas operation produces some 20 million cubic feet per day of natural gas, most of which is used for fuel for Foster Creek.

- Kristen Nelson