OKLAHOMA CITY, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Devon Energy
Corporation (NYSE: DVN) announced today that it has received regulatory
approval for the company's second oil sands project in Canada. Construction
of the 100 percent Devon-owned Jackfish 2 project will begin immediately.
Once fully operational in 2012, Jackfish 2 will produce about 35,000
barrels of oil per day through a recovery method known as Steam Assisted
Gravity Drainage, otherwise known as SAGD. Over the life of the project,
Devon expects to recover about 300 million barrels of oil from Jackfish 2.
Devon president John Richels called Devon's oil sands operations a key
asset in the company's North American portfolio.
"We are very pleased to have approvals in hand so we can move forward
with our second SAGD project," Richels said. "The Canadian oil sands are an
important resource we need to tap into to meet the future energy needs of
North America. Through the use of SAGD technology, we believe we can access
the resource in a way that is efficient and environmentally responsible."
Devon is currently ramping up production at its original Jackfish
project. Jackfish, which commenced operations in 2007, is expected to reach
its full production capacity of 35,000 barrels of oil per day in the first
half of 2009. Jackfish is about four miles east of the Jackfish 2 site in
northeastern Alberta.
Devon is the only U.S. independent with active operations in the oil
sands, and it is among the first in the industry to use SAGD technology.
The innovative method allows production from reservoirs that are too deep
for conventional mining operations.
The in-situ or "in place" recovery method is used to produce bitumen
through wells similar to conventional oil wells. Steam injected into the
reservoir heats the thick oil allowing it to flow to the surface.
In-situ production methods such as SAGD will play a major role in the
oil sands' long-term future. While this vast oil resource is second only to
Saudi Arabia in size, about 20 percent of the resource is accessible
through mining. Recovery of the remaining 80 percent will require in-situ
production methods such as the SAGD technology used at Jackfish.
In addition to its operational advantages, SAGD requires less surface
disturbance per unit of production when compared with other conventional
methods of oil production. This minimizes environmental disturbance caused
by the project.
Devon has been a proactive environmental steward through its
development of Jackfish. In May 2008, Devon was honored with the Canadian
Association of Petroleum Producers President's Award for Stewardship
Excellence at Jackfish. The award recognized Devon's commitment to water
conservation. Jackfish is the first SAGD project to use 100 percent saline
water to facilitate the production process.
Devon Energy Corporation is an Oklahoma City-based independent energy
company engaged in oil and gas exploration and production. Devon is the
largest U.S.-based independent oil and gas producer and is included in the
S&P 500 Index. For additional information, visit
http://www.devonenergy.com.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined by
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such statements are those
concerning the strategic plans, expectations and objectives for future
operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
included in this press release that address activities, events or
developments that the company expects, believes or anticipates will or may
occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are
based on certain assumptions made by the company based on its experience
and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future
developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the
circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions,
risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the
company.
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits oil and
gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved
reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive
formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing
economic and operating conditions. This release may contain certain terms,
such as resource potential, reserve potential, probable reserves, possible
reserves and exploration target size. The SEC guidelines strictly prohibit
us from including these terms in filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are
urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 10-K, File No.
001-32318, available from us at Devon Energy Corporation, Attn. Investor
Relations, 20 North Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. You can also obtain
this form from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
SOURCE Devon Energy Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.devonenergy.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/118040.html /
CONTACT:
investors, Zack Hager, +1-405-552-4526, or
media, Chip Minty, +1-405-228-8647, both of Devon Energy
Corporation
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