CALGARY — Energy producer Encana says it has reached an agreement with Alberta-based Jupiter Resources to sell its Bighorn natural gas properties in the province for about US$1.8 billion.

Encana  has sold a number of its assets in recent months and is focusing on a half-dozen core growth areas in specific regions.

The Calgary company says the sale includes about 360,000 net acres of land along with its working interests in all pipelines and other facilities.

In May, Encana spent US$3.1 billion to enter the oil-rich Eagle Ford shale district in Texas, tilting the company more towards oil.

The company also recently sold assets in Wyoming and Wast Texas.

Encana has honed in core areas such as Montney and Duvernay in Western Canada; the DJ Basin in Colorado and the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale in the southeastern United States.