Tick, tock ... stop.

The elusive EnCana bomber -- who spent the first half of 2009 attacking northern British Columbia oil sites -- appears to have put a halt to a string of violent, premeditated attacks against the energy behemoth.

Paul Joosse, a University of Alberta eco-terrorism expert who has been closely following the case, says there are several possibilities for what has hopefully become a permanent hiatus.

The bomber may be scared into inaction by intense police pressure.

"The other possibility is that he hasn't stopped."

Since October 2008, a small farming community outside Dawson Creek, about 560 km northwest of Edmonton, has been rattled by a series of explosions at EnCana sites.

QUIET SINCE JULY

Officially, the bomber hasn't disrupted the peaceful region since July.

After months of quiet, the villain returned July 1 -- and again July 4 -- with attacks to pipelines in Pouce Coupe.

Then came an angry letter the bomber wrote to a Dawson Creek newspaper.

In it, the author warned the attacks would "get a lot worse" unless EnCana began pulling its operations from the area within three months.

In the second letter linked to the EnCana attacks, the writer taunted the Mounties over an investigation that stalled earlier this year after several potential suspects were cleared.

Unofficially, some wonder if the bomber is continuing his rampage in a quieter sense.

In late November, an investigation was launched after an EnCana sour gas leak was reported, forcing about a dozen people from their homes.

Some have wondered whether the Pouce Coupe-area leak was the bomber's work, but EnCana has staunchly said otherwise.

"That was not at all related to the bombings," said EnCana spokesman Alan Boras.

It was caused by sand erosion of the internal walls of a pipe, Boras said, adding that several wells have been shut down as officials investigate the cause.

"That leak was a very rare incident," he said. "We've got, probably 400 or 500 wells and it's the first time we've seen something of that nature occur."

$1M BOUNTY ON HEAD

Hoping to nab the bomber before he strikes again, the Calgary-based oil and gas giant announced in July it was doubling its reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the bomber.

The bounty above the villain's head now sits at a whopping $1 million.

Other changes to the cash pot meant EnCana employees would now be eligible to claim the reward, suggesting -- to some -- the explosions could be an inside job.

Tips have trickled in but, still, no arrests have been made.

"You don't know what to hope for," said Dawson Creek Mayor Mike Bernier.

"Hopefully it doesn't happen again, but you also don't want the person to get away with it."

MICHELLE.THOMPSON@SUNMEDIA.CA