An independent study has confirmed what previous examinations of the Cenovus Energy enhanced oil recovery project near Weyburn, Sask., also concluded: carbon dioxide is not leaking from underground storage.
The study, which was led by IPACC02 Research Inc., an environmental non-government organization in Regina, found normal carbon dioxide levels on farmland owned by Cameron and Jane Kerr.
The Kerrs held a news conference nearly a year ago to demand an independent assessment of problems on their farm. They said water was foaming and bubbling in nearby ponds, and they could hear explosions in a gravel pit. They also found dead animals near the ponds.
They hired a consultant who found unusually high carbon dioxide and methane levels on the land and claimed it must have come from the carbon dioxide injected underground by Cenovus.
A study commissioned by Cenovus and the 180 spage IPAC study released Dec. 12 have concluded the carbon dioxide could not have come from underground because it didn’t have the characteristics that would be expected from that type of gas.
