Pathologically complicated, just the way I like it.

Leaving leaving leaving leaving. My going away parties outnumber my birthdays. This is nothing new, it's a pattern I have followed as religiously as is possible for an atheist since I was 15, but ... Why?

I've come to the conclusion that it has nothing to do with running away. I'm good at life, and reasonably good at reality. There is nothing to run from, but everything to run to. This is the problem: the opportunity cost of being somewhere, when you could be somewhere else. To all you business students, I'm givin' it to you econ style – I can only be in one place at any given time, and the overwhelming cost of not being in a multitude of other places is bloody bankrupting me. I'm geographically impoverished. I am (slowly) expiring while forfeiting the opportunities that come with being in a place that I am currently not. I am not referring specifically to my current destination, Hong Kong is just one place on an impossibly long list.

That is why, in the heat of the increasingly cold moment, I decided to pretend away the Montreal winter yet again and spend the semester in China. This time I have no pretensions of staying; I learned my lesson well enough before – there ain't no education system like a Western education system. Nevertheless, the pull of the East is reprehensible in yet another hasty departure. But I digress – the point is that once again, within a predictable six month cycle, I'm going through the practised motions of upheaval. I'm doing it to be everywhere else. Life's requisite hurdles between one place and everywhere else can be overcome with a dose of resourcefulness and an affinity for multitasking. So have cake + eat cake I will.

In typical fashion, however, impulsively laid plans are rife with complications. So for anyone who knows how I roll with travel plans, I present to you an all-time eye-roller of an itinerary:

Overnight bus from Montreal to New York on the day of my last exam. Burn nine hours in New York. With luggage. Fly from New York to Moscow. Nine hour layover. Fly from Moscow to Hong Kong and arrive during business hours (welcome wagon unavailable). Loiter in Hong Kong mall for eight hours. With luggage. After receiving working visa through re-re-routed mail, ferry to Macau. Ferry back to Hong Kong in order to re-enter with working visa. Wonder why this seemed like a good idea in the first place.

Convoluted? I wouldn't want it any other way. If it was simple I wouldn't have anything interesting to write about.

LPG Fracking ... Solution?

This is a little off topic to be the first entry in almost six months. I like it like that. This letter was written as part of a project for a sustainable management class, and ... It got personal.


To Whom It May Concern,


As a former resident of northwestern British Columbia I realize that development of the natural gas fracturing industry is vitally important to the economic prosperity of communities in the area. For this development to be sustainable however, a balance must be achieved in addressing the concerns of affected residents while satisfying company goals and objectives. The process of hydraulic fracturing is an indisputable detriment to the environment and scarce natural resources. Even with strict adherence to environmental policies this damage, at best, can only be minimized. This indicates that in order to reduce the environmental impact of fracturing to a sustainable level an alternative technique must be adapted. As a bold and progressive move I propose the gradual implementation of liquid propane gas (LPG) fracturing as a substitute for the traditional hydraulic fracturing method.

In the long run the substitution of this method will yield a threefold advantage by lowering costs, satisfying community stakeholder concerns and creating a sustainable platform for further expansion. The implementation of this method would take place in stages over several years. The first stage would involve contracting LPG fracturing services for a small number of test wells in order to determine large-scale feasibility. The second stage would utilize these services for a more significant portion of existing wells, with a medium run objective of seeing this become the dominant technique used. In the long run, Encana would have the potential to become an industry leader in sustainability by developing it's own LPG fracturing technology, and subsequently replacing hydraulic fracturing as a means of natural gas extraction entirely.

The exceptional efficiency of this method reduces both direct and indirect costs in numerous areas. Water sourcing, transportation and disposal costs are eliminated. LPG is nearly 100% recoverable and recyclable, therefore eliminating the loss of saleable natural gas and as well as costly CO2 emissions resulting from the flaring process that is necessary for hydraulic fracturing. The flowback period would be shortened, potentially to as little as 24 hours, thus increasing the potential for productivity. LPG use would lead to indirect cost savings by preserving and enhancing the utility of existing wells. LPG can clear leftover fracturing fluid from used wells without leaving deposits behind. It does less damage to well walls and is more effective in procuring natural gas from tighter reservoirs.

Stakeholder concerns spanning exhaustion of local water supplies to potential air, water and ground contamination resulting from exposure to chemicals found in fracturing fluid would be alleviated by using LPG as an alternative means of fracturing. The substitution of propane removes the need to employ local water supplies, and that it is both recoverable and eliminative of the flaring process would ease concerns regarding damaged air quality. Terminating the use of hydraulic fluid excludes the risk of contaminating public water supplies and farmland during use and disposal. As less frequent transportation will be needed due to the reusable quality of LPG, there will also be a reduction in local traffic resulting from fracturing operations.

As a result of lowering costs, enhancing well performance and gaining stakeholder confidence, Encana operations will see greater long run sustainability. At the rate that wells cease to remain productive, preserving existing wells and gaining new productivity from wells currently in disuse will bolster long run profit. Appeasing anxiety in communities that are home to fracturing projects will allow Encana to pursue higher and more sustainably viable goals with full public support.

Thank you for the time you have taken to consider this suggestion. In view of the significant potential benefits in the areas of cost savings, stakeholder relations and future development, this is a bold and responsible change that would position Encana both as an industry leader and a leader in overall environmental sustainability. In a changing business environment that requires accountability to an environmentally conscientious public, there is greater emphasis than ever to respect triple bottom line business practices.

The response to this proposal, as well as all feedback that you have, will be greatly anticipated.


I would really appreciate feedback on this, especially from anyone who is directly affected by fracking operations in BC or elsewhere.