UPDATE: More residents evacuated after gas well leak
EXCERPT:
Posted: Apr 19, 2010 5:13 PM MDT
Updated: Apr 19, 2010 9:23 PM MDT
Gas well leak force some S. S'port evacuations
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CADDO PARISH, LA (KSLA) - Voluntary evacuation notifications have just gone out to 100 more households in South Caddo Parish, after ongoing testing in the groundwater by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality found elevated levels of natural gas in 35 out of 45 private wells.

EXCO Resources
EXCERPT:
EXCO Resources is focused on North American natural gas plays and oil properties in Appalachia, Louisiana, Mid-continent, Permian, Texas and the Rocky Mountains. In 2009, EXCO had 900 employees in Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia.
Brief History

1997 - EXCO was a small public company with majority ownership by Douglas H. Miller.

2001 - EXCO acquired Addison Energy, Inc. based in Calgary.

2003 - EXCO went private with a $175 million buyout by management.

2004 - EXCO acquired full stock ownership of North Coast Energy, Inc. in the Appalachian Basin.

2005 - EXCO sold Addison Energy, Inc. Affiliate TXOK acquired ONEOK Energy. EXCO Holdings II bought out and merged Holdings II into EXCO Holdings.

2006 - Common shares of EXCO began selling on the NYSE with symbol XCO. EXCO acquired Winchester Energy.

2007 - EXCO acquired Anadarko's Mid-continent and South Texas package, as well as Vernon Field in Louisiana, and then sold the South Texas assets. EXCO acquired assets in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia from EOG. EXCO purchased the New Waskom Gas Gathering System in eastern Texas.

Louisiana Residents Evacuated Due To Water Contamination From Gas Wells
EXCERPT:
Contamination of underground water systems from a recently drilled natural gas well in Caddo Parish, LA, has necessitated the evacuation of some 135 families in the area. Water quality tests are expected to come back tonight, Wed., April 21. If the tests are acceptable, the residents will be escorted back to their homes by an entry team. The team would test the gas quantity at each home.

Pets are being boarded at local kennels, and the expenses incurred will presumably be reimbursed by Exco Operating Company. Residents who choose to remain in their homes are being cautioned against using well water for any reason and to avoid smoking and open flames.

An update on Monday, April 20, warned residents:

Louisiana well blowout forces hundreds from homes
EXCERPT:
Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in rural western Louisiana after a natural gas well blowout contaminated a drinking water aquifer there on Monday.