Alberta Energy Report 2024

A L B E RTA

2024

ENERGY REPORT

Alberta’s booming renewables industry

Innovating a new future for Alberta energy The reality of achieving methane reductions in the oil and gas industry

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In this issue 8 Message from the editor, Shayna Wiwierski 12 Message from the premier of Alberta, the Honourable Danielle Smith

A L B E R TA

ENERGY is published by DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, MB R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com

REPORT

16 A message from the Minister of Energy and

President & CEO: DAVID LANGSTAFF

20 Innovating a new future for Alberta energy

Managing Editor: SHAYNA WIWIERSKI shayna@delcommunications.com

Minerals, Brian Jean

22 Alberta’s booming renewables industry 24 Powering ESG goals: Clean grids attract investments 28 New NAIT program builds understanding and capacity around clean fuels

30 The reality of achieving methane reductions

in the oil and gas industry: PTAC’s critical role in the path to net-zero

34 The right choice: Right Choice Energy Services Inc. 36 Powering progress: Red Deer Polytechnic’s Energy Innovation Centre

Advertising Sales Manager: DAYNA OULION Advertising Sales Representatives: COLIN JAMES ANTON KHOMUTOV Production services provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services Creative Director / Layout & Design: KATHLEEN CABLE Contributing Writers: SOHEIL ASGARPOUR DALE HANSEN JIM McMAHON EVAN PIVNICK SICELLIA TSUI

40 Building the world’s leading environmental workforce 42 PTRC celebrates 25 years of RD&D 44 SAIT’s MacPhail School of Energy sets sights on an innovative, low-carbon future

46 Streamlining manufacturing in Alberta 50 Improved technology for monitoring, reporting, and verification at geologic carbon sequestration sites

54 Ensure a reliable and stable energy supply throughout your facility

57 We’re still here – CRC Wellhead Supply Company Ltd. 58 One of Western Canada’s leaders in specialty coatings 60 From arctic cold to desert heat: Fort Garry Fire Trucks’ reliability knows no bounds

62 Index to advertisers 6

Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

© 2023 DEL Communications Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information­contained in and the reliability of the source, the publisher in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees.

Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, MB R2L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com PRINTED IN CANADA | 12/2023

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Uniquely situated on the border between the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show is surrounded by thousands of heavy oil wells of both cold and thermal production. This leading edge technology exhibition is a great opportunity for visitors to discover and network with the substantial knowledge base that exhibitors bring to the show. For businesses, this show is an excellent format to demonstrate to Canada and the world how heavy oil can be produced in a manageable and profitable manner.

Event

Held for a period of two consecutive days, the Lloydminster OTS Heavy Oil Show will discuss and showcase heavy oil knowledge and technology. The next show takes place Sept. 11-12, 2024 at the border city’s Lloydminster Exhibition Association grounds. The event is open to the public, with over 5,000 people in attendance.

Exhibitors

The Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show is the best bang for your marketing buck. Guests can easily make direct contact with their respective exhibitors to start a professional relationship. The LHOS is proud to provide a venue for their exhibitors to showcase their knowledge and technology in the heavy oil industry.

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Vendors from around the world will be displaying their newest and most innovative products. Exhibitors are eager to listen to your challenges within the industry, and demonstrate the value they can bring to your projects. Check our website for details about the banquet, guest speakers, presentations, and more.

A message from the editor

Shayna Wiwierski Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Alberta Energy

farms dotting the landscape to solar energy initiatives,

Report. After many years of success with the annual

this story paints a vivid picture of a province embracing

Alberta Energy Directory, it is with immense pride and

renewable energy as a catalyst for economic growth and

anticipation that we unveil a publication dedicated

environmental stewardship.

to unraveling the multifaceted narrative of Alberta’s energy sector—a province pulsating with innovation, evolution, and a commitment to a sustainable future.

underscores the complexity of Alberta’s energy landscape. It highlights the coexistence of traditional

As we stand on the precipice of transformative change,

energy sources with the burgeoning advancements

this magazine aims to encapsulate the diverse tapestry

in clean and renewable energy. It’s imperative to

of energy initiatives, from groundbreaking research

acknowledge that our journey towards sustainability is

to thriving industries, converging to shape Alberta’s

multifaceted, requiring collaboration, innovation, and

energy landscape.

unwavering commitment across the spectrum.

In this issue, we look into the visionary efforts driving

In this inaugural issue, we aspire to set the tone for

us towards a net-zero future. Alberta Innovates

an ongoing dialogue—a platform where voices from

shares on page 20 insights into the imperative shift

various sectors converge, exchange ideas, and propel

towards sustainability and decarbonization. Their

Alberta towards an energy future that is not only

comprehensive outlook dissects the innovative

sustainable, but also economically robust and socially

strategies and technological advancements pivotal in

inclusive.

steering us toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy paradigm. Their narrative underscores the urgency of collaborative action, emphasizing that our collective commitment to a net-zero future is not merely an option but an absolute necessity.

In tandem, Clean Energy Canada shines a spotlight on Alberta’s burgeoning renewables industry, illuminating the remarkable strides taken in harnessing clean energy

8

The amalgamation of these diverse narratives

In closing, we invite you, our readers, to engage actively, share perspectives, and become catalysts for change in Alberta’s energy narrative. Join us as we navigate the complexities, celebrate the milestones, and chart a course towards a resilient, diversified, and sustainable energy ecosystem.

Thank you for embarking on this journey with us.

sources. Amidst the traditional dominance of fossil

Warm regards,

fuels, this feature unveils the remarkable growth and

Shayna Wiwierski

potential of renewable energy in Alberta. From wind

Shayna@delcommunications.com

Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

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Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

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A message from the Minister of Energy and Minerals

Brian Jean

Alberta holds the largest oil and gas reserves in the

We were the first jurisdiction in North America to start

free world, while at the same time operating an energy

storing carbon via CCS and we’re building this strong

industry under the highest environmental standards.

legacy. We’ve invested billions into CCS projects and

We are the ethical choice for the world’s growing energy

programs, as well as regulatory enhancements and

needs.

knowledge-sharing.

Despite this, we face some challenges with the federal

More than 11.5 million tonnes of CO2 have already been

government that impacts the sector and risks stranding

successfully stored through the Quest and Alberta Trunk

some energy assets.

Line projects, and we now have 24 proponents exploring

This overreach is a problem for Albertans, including Indigenous communities that are increasingly frustrated with outsiders getting in the way of economic reconciliation and major project ownership.

Indigenous communities, particularly in my home region of Wood Buffalo, are growing their ownership of energy infrastructure. They continue a trend of operating successful energy sector businesses – and that fills me with hope.

Our energy sector has been reducing emissions and making environmental inroads for decades, and our world-leading oil and gas sector will not be sabotaged under Premier Danielle Smith’s watch.

support the storage of large quantities of carbon. There are also many small CCS projects on the horizon.

Alberta can play a major role in lowering global emissions on several fronts, including offsetting Asian coal with cleaner liquefied natural gas, and in the longer term by exporting hydrogen to world markets. We can, and should, build and export new environmental and energy technologies.

Alberta is Canada’s largest hydrogen producer and is home to Air Products’ multi-billion-dollar landmark net-zero hydrogen energy complex which is under construction just outside of Edmonton.

In addition, minerals are in high demand worldwide

The innovation and hard work of Albertans is vital

and are necessary to power the electrified world. Alberta

to strengthening global and North American energy

has 40 known types of metallic and industrial minerals,

security. We have an educated workforce, as well as skill

including lithium, though only a few are currently being

and expertise gained from years of oil and gas production

produced. To capitalize on the growing demand, we’ve

and nation building.

modernized regulations to encourage investment and

Alberta Government’s Emissions Reduction and Energy

16

the opportunity of large carbon capture hubs that would

innovation.

Development Plan outlines a path forward, while still

Alberta’s government also works closely with the energy

growing our resource exports. Major oil producers in

sector – they are the doers, the innovators, and the risk-

Alberta have announced unprecedented and credible

takers – and as government we help to facilitate this great

climate goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

work.

We are excited and proud of the work already happening

I think the future is bright, not only for the energy sector

in Alberta’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry.

at large, but for all Albertans. t

Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

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Innovating a new future for ALBERTA ENERGY Submitted by Alberta Innovates When it comes to weather, the summer

for oil is nearing a peak and could drop

This is what many of the recent forecasts

of 2023 was a summer to forget in much

in the coming decades. This is largely

showing a decline in demand for Alberta

of Alberta.

based on higher adoption rates of

oil have missed. Bitumen can be used

electric vehicles and government policy

for more than just a fuel – it can be a

decisions. These forecasts have spurred

feedstock to manufacture high-value,

debate and concern about the future of

advanced materials.

one of Canada’s largest industries.

Alberta Innovates, and our subsidiaries

covered our major cities. This was

At Alberta Innovates, we agree that

InnoTech Alberta and C-FER

followed by sudden flooding rains

net-zero forecasts and carbon-neutral

with a drop in temperature so severe it

goals are important for addressing the

snowed multiple centimetres in Jasper

critical need to decarbonize. However,

National Park, trapping tourists and

many of these forecasts have missed a

locals alike. Then on Canada Day, an F4-

critical part of the story. There is a path

level tornado touched down in central

forward where Alberta, and Canada,

Alberta, destroying homes and property,

can continue to benefit from our vast

In roughly 30 days at the start of the summer, unprecedented fires wracked dry forests and caused the evacuation of northern communities as smoke

fortunately sparing the residents. It was the strongest tornado recorded in Alberta since 1987.

resources and address the need to meet net-zero goals. The key is to unlock the power of innovations already under

Technologies, have shown bitumen can be used to make materials such as carbon fibre, asphalt binder, and activated carbon. These “BBC products” can further reduce emissions in downstream use. For example, using carbon fibre in vehicles makes them lighter, and activated carbon is used in supercapacitors for energy storage.

Bitumen is ideal for high-performance asphalt binder for longer-lasting

While no single event can be explicitly

development.

tied to climate change, we are living with

Alberta Innovates is Canada’s first

frequent repaving. For every million

provincial body dedicated to research,

barrels of bitumen per day, we can avoid

Against this backdrop is Alberta’s

development, and innovation. Since

65 million tonnes in GHG emissions per

number-one industry. For decades,

our inception in 1921, we have studied

year with these uses. Our research has

Alberta’s oil and gas sector has

and advanced technologies around our

created high-quality, long-lasting jobs,

oilsands and its raw product known as

supported strong communities, and

bitumen. That’s why we launched our

generated countless billions in revenue

Bitumen Beyond Combustion (BBC)

for Canadians. Recently, there have been

strategy in 2021, to pioneer new uses for

We know producing these products

a series of international and national

bitumen that don’t involve burning it as

creates emissions and that’s why

forecasts showing that global demand

fuel.

we’ve also focused on clean resource

the impacts of a changing climate.

Canadian roads, so they don’t require

shown there should be ongoing future demand for products such as lubricants and petrochemical feedstock, which our heavier oil is well suited to provide.

Alberta Innovates, and our subsidiaries InnoTech Alberta and C-FER Technologies, have shown bitumen can be used to make materials such as carbon fibre, asphalt binder, and activated carbon.

20 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

technology development for years.

technologies and expertise to help other

Canadians may not be aware of the

countries meet their climate goals.

progress we’re making in developing

environmental and economic benefit.

Provincial and federal governments,

But innovation doesn’t just happen.

industry, and investors must

Significant investments and

demonstrate leadership and financial

Among the most promising for

considerable collaboration between the

support to drive these made-in-Canada

significant emission reductions are

public and private sector are needed to

innovations to fruition. If we don’t act,

carbon capture, utilization and storage

bring a range of clean technologies into

the summer of 2023 has shown what

(CCUS) and hydrogen developments.

use at scale, and to transform industries,

could be waiting for us in the years

CCUS is the process of capturing

systems, and institutions for both

ahead. t

low-carbon technologies in Alberta.

carbon emissions directly from facilities and using it for other purposes or compressing it for storage, largely underground.

Industrial facilities are responsible for approximately 41 per cent of Canada’s GHG emissions. CCUS is an important pathway to decarbonize heavy industries such as petrochemicals, steel, and cement manufacturing. Relatively few jurisdictions globally are able to develop carbon capture and storage to commercial scale. The good news for

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Canada is that Alberta is one of them.

Much of this research has happened at the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre, an InnoTech Alberta facility in Calgary.

CCUS will also enable a low-emissions hydrogen industry. Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, provides energy without releasing carbon dioxide, meaning it can be a major source of clean energy, especially for heavy industry and long-haul transport. Alberta has been producing hydrogen for decades and has the resources, expertise, and technology to become a global supplier of lowemission hydrogen. Alberta Innovates runs the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence to further drive the development of this technology. Canadians can take it a step further by exporting these clean

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21

Alberta’s booming renewables industry Home to all the right conditions, Alberta’s lucrative future as Canada’s wind and solar leader was pretty much cemented—until recently

By Evan Pivnick and Sicellia Tsui

Since 2019, corporate renewable energy deals in Alberta have alone attracted nearly $4.7 billion in new capital investment and supported 5,300 jobs.

Being in the middle of the country’s

Electricity from both wind and solar are

by Alberta’s renewables sector, which

sunbelt and home to a uniquely

already cheaper to produce than gas-fired

accounted for a whopping 60 per cent

deregulated power market favoured

power in Alberta, while costs for new

of all new Canadian wind and solar

by both energy developers and buyers,

deployments are expected to decline a

installations in 2021, according to the

Alberta has been in something of a

further 40 per cent by 2035, as shown

Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

renewables “gold rush” for the past

by modelling from Clean Energy Canada

By 2022, the province had surpassed

several years. Massive corporate buyers

and Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors.

like tech giants Microsoft and Amazon

The same study found that even with

have flocked to sign power purchase agreements with local producers, while the skilled workforce of Canada’s “energy province” built the projects. And, economically, it makes sense why.

22 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

batteries included, for when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine, power from wind and solar would still be highly cost-competitive with natural gas.

Such advantages have not been missed

its own interim target for electricity generated by wind and solar, while research firm Rystad Energy asserted that Alberta was on track to overtake Ontario as Canada’s top wind and solar producer in three years’ time. And up until Danielle Smith’s government surprised the renewables sector by

imposing a largely unpopular—never

other province or territory. Like the rest

build more. A choice to be open for

mind unnecessary—six-month

of Canada, Alberta will see a bigger

business. And a choice to help create

moratorium on wind and solar

increase in clean energy jobs than its

and incentivize a lasting, world-leading

development this August, Alberta had

gradual decrease in fossil fuel ones.

energy sector that can thrive for decades

at least 118 projects worth $33 billion of investment in the pipeline, according to

The future of Alberta’s oil industry will

to come.

be determined by global forces, and

Evan Pivnick is Clean Energy Canada’s

this transition won’t happen overnight.

clean energy program manager. Sicellia

The move not only leaves billions of

But when it comes to renewables, the

Tsui is a communications specialist at

dollars and 24,000 potential jobs in

province has a choice. A choice to

Clean Energy Canada. t

a Pembina Institute report.

limbo while creating a “chilling effect” on the investment climate, it also risks leaving Southern Alberta municipalities high and dry. The Business Renewables Centre-Canada recently estimated that wind and solar projects generated $28 million in tax revenue for local cities and towns last year, occasionally making up to half the tax collected by some municipalities. Those are stable, long-term revenues that get invested into communities and help keep property taxes low.

And with 92 per cent of global GDP now covered by net-zero commitments, it is clear that the world is headed toward

A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.

a new reality—one with a lot more demand for clean power. Since 2019, corporate renewable energy deals in Alberta have alone attracted nearly $4.7 billion in new capital investment and supported 5,300 jobs, according to the Business Renewables Centre-Canada.

Yet there is more to gain.

According to recent modelling from Clean Energy Canada and Navius Research, in a net-zero world, Canada will see 700,000 more total energy jobs

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23

Powering ESG goals Clean grids attract investments

By Scott MacDougall, Director of Pembina’s Electricity program

Canada, along with the U.S., the U.K., and Germany, have all committed to net-zero grids by 2035.

Alberta has been a leader in energy

free grid by 2025. The International

profile. Further, businesses are setting

production for decades. And, as the

Energy Agency (IEA)’s 2023 World

increasingly stringent environmental,

world shifts towards prioritizing

Energy Outlook notes that a record-

social, governance (ESG) goals, which

ESG performance and companies

breaking 500GW of renewables are set

is becoming a progressively influential

increasingly look for jurisdictions

to be added globally in 2023. Canada’s

factor when deciding where to invest

with renewable energy sources and

peers, including those committed to

their capital. For example, Volkswagen

investment opportunities, Alberta

the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C goal, are

Group has committed to “switching to

is well-positioned to lead Canada in

investing in clean energy and making

renewable energy sources in all steps of

renewable energy development. In fact,

progress to reduce global emissions.

the value chain”, with readily available

Alberta was home to more than three-

And, as the largest emitting province in

clean electricity in Ontario contributing

quarters of wind and solar development

Canada, Alberta has an important role

to the company’s $7 billion decision to

in Canada last year while corporate

to play.

build its first North American-based

procurement deals for wind and solar energy have supported nearly $5.5 billion of investment in Alberta since

Prioritizing the development of emitting sources of energy is out of

battery manufacturing plant in St. Thomas, Ontario.

step with global trends and a risky

As renewable energy becomes more

investment decision in the coming

influential to corporations’ planning

Canada, along with the U.S., the U.K.,

low-carbon economy. Importing

and development, it tracks that a clean

and Germany, have all committed to

emissions intensive energy is less

grid will attract companies looking to

net-zero grids by 2035, with the U.K.

attractive for many countries as it adds

future-proof their practices and remain

gearing up to be running an emissions-

unnecessary emissions to a country’s

competitive in the low-carbon economy

2019.

24 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

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Amazon is among 26 unique companies, including Budweiser Canada, Microsoft, Shell Energy, and TELUS, spanning 10 industries, that have PPAs in Alberta. by investing in regions with clean

Amazon, with a 100 per cent

energy goals, but are also influencing

electricity. And this is where Alberta’s

renewable energy by 2025 goal, signed

development of new power capacity in

abundance of renewable resources

a deal with Alberta’s largest solar

Alberta, with 33 per cent of new power

is beginning to power the province’s

development, Travers Solar project, for

attractiveness for business.

400MW of electricity. Most recently,

supplied by corporate purchases as of

Rising pressure for corporations to

the renewable energy-committed

2022.

company expanded its portfolio with

Decarbonizing the electricity sector is

its first Canadian wind farm, signing

also the reasonable step for reducing

a power purchase agreement (PPA) to

emissions and ensuring a cost-effective

procure 415 MW from Buffalo Plains, a

and reliable electrical grid, thanks

485 MW wind farm in Vulcan County.

to readily available low- and non-

market, renewables-hungry

Amazon is among 26 unique

emitting alternatives such as wind,

organizations can procure low-

companies, including Budweiser

solar, and energy storage. Committing

cost zero-emission power through

Canada, Microsoft, Shell Energy, and

to a net-zero grid by 2035 aligns

long-term contracts with Alberta’s

TELUS, spanning 10 industries, that

Alberta’s grid with global trends,

renewable energy developers, which

have PPAs in Alberta. These PPAs are

allowing the province to remain

is an opportunity some companies

not only supporting corporations in

competitive at attracting investment in

are already pursuing. For example,

achieving their ESG and renewable

the low-carbon economy. t

address their ESG goals, along with declining costs of renewable energy, has catalyzed a nation-leading boom in wind and solar development. With its unique deregulated electricity

26 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

NAIT’s national clean fuels education program aims to create awareness of various clean fuels to help facilitate consumer confidence in, and industry adoption of, clean fuel technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

New NAIT program builds understanding and capacity around clean fuels

Dr. Agatha Ojimelukwe didn’t need further proof about the evolution of the energy industry, but the turnout at NAIT’s inaugural webinar of the Clean Fuels Awareness Project was welcome validation.

Across Canada, “we know that there’s an energy transition going on,” says the energy and environment operations portfolio manager with the Department of Continuing Education.

That is, companies involved in conventional energy production are increasing investments

Webinars and courses cover key industry challenges and opportunities

in clean fuels, such as biofuels and hydrogen, in an effort to decarbonize operations.

Ojimelukwe had been reading about the shift, seeing it covered at conferences, noting government support in the form of millions of dollars in funding, and hearing about it in conversations with industry leaders.

28 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

What’s more, the activity fits perfectly into a growing body of research and instruction in the area.

The education project builds upon ongoing work by NAIT staff members in the areas of circular economy and clean technologies.

“What does that mean for education?” she

Ojimelukwe brought some of its

of graduates each year who can put

wondered.

members into the fold. The curriculum

myriad skills and talents to work on

for the Clean Fuels Awareness Project

the most pressing issues of the day.

was informed by a program advisory

But that capacity also encompasses

committee she assembled to help address

specific training and knowledge for those

current challenges and point to potential

currently working to advance the energy

innovations.

sector.

that exceeded Ojimelukwe’s expectations,

To that end, she hopes the project will

What’s more, the activity fits perfectly

with nearly 100 industry members,

not only create awareness about carbon

into a growing body of research and

academics, students, and consumers

footprints and solutions, but perhaps

instruction in the area. The education

attending from across the county.

boost “consumer confidence and

project builds upon ongoing work by

adoption of clean technologies that will

NAIT staff members in the areas of

have the maximum impact on reducing

circular economy and clean technologies.

Ultimately, it meant the creation of that popular webinar. As the first of three online offerings of the Clean Fuels Awareness Project, it was delivered in September 2023 for an eclectic audience

The session looked at variables that influence the carbon intensity, or potential for emissions, of different fuels.

It was followed in November by a talk on greenhouse gas (GHG) calculations; a final webinar, to come in January, will focus on clean fuel case studies. Offered in partnership with Natural Resources Canada, the webinars have been offered for free.

Delivered by experts selected by NAIT, the webinars are the result of collaboration. In addition to keeping her eye on developments in the industry,

GHG emissions.”

“We are industry’s trusted partner,” says Ojimelukwe. “This is how we walk the

A natural role for a polytechnic As the country strives for sustainability, Ojimelukwe sees the Clean Fuels Awareness Project as one of the strongest contributions that NAIT, as a post-

talk.” If energy companies are going to take a lead role in achieving net-zero, “we need to provide them with the skill sets that they need to get there.”

secondary institution, can make to the

The Clean Fuels Awareness Project will

effort.

continue in 2024 following the January

“We provide capacity building in Alberta,” she says.

webinar, offering in-depth courses on key subjects such as lifecycle assessments of products and services, and carbon

That includes producing thousands

accounting. t

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29

The reality of achieving methane reductions in the oil and gas industry PTAC’s critical role in the path to net-zero

By Soheil Asgarpour, Ph.D., FCAE, FCIM, FCSSE, P.Eng., CEO & President, Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada The road to net-zero is not a clearly set

Not only does reduced methane

environmental performance and

path. The Canadian oil and gas industry

emissions from oil and gas activities

economic gain.

faces an arduous challenge in attaining

benefit us environmentally, but it also

net-zero by 2050, however, this target

benefits us economically. Working

is not unreachable. It must first and

towards net-zero has the potential to

foremost be understood that methane

perpetually change the Canadian oil

emissions reductions are the key to

and gas sector’s traditional business

achieving net-zero in the oil and gas

model by helping small- and medium-

which have resulted in the development,

industry. The fastest and most cost-

sized clean tech companies expand

field-testing, demonstration,

effective approach to reducing global

their clientele and technology uptake on

commercialization, and deployment

GHG emissions is to reduce methane

an international scale. In other words,

of 89 technologies which are helping

emissions, which is key to creating a

contrary to popular belief, there does

achieve methane emissions reductions

clean Canadian oil and gas brand.

not need to be a trade-off between

targets. These initiatives include:

30 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

This report highlights a range of methane detection and mitigation initiatives launched through Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC),

1) Methane Emissions Reduction

Directory, listing Canadian cleantech

Network (MERN), which accelerates

over 40 per cent in methane emissions

companies seeking to expand their

technology development/

in Canada.

methane technologies internationally.

commercialization.

2) T he Alberta Upstream Petroleum Research Fund (AUPRF) applied research program, which closes knowledge gaps and develops best practices while facilitating the formulation of policies and regulations.

3) Small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) which support through marketfit-analysis to accelerate technology commercialization.

4) C anadian Emissions Reduction

7) Trade missions to export Canadian technologies focused on reducing methane emissions.

PTAC’s fundamental target is to increase the technology capacity for methane emissions reductions from 48 per cent to 75 per cent within the next four years.

Fifteen years ago, the PTAC began

This is a tall order as we must deal with

working on initiatives to reduce

significantly more challenging sources

methane emissions. MERN was formed

of methane emissions such as tanks,

in an effort to create an innovation ecosystem with a short-term goal to build a methane mitigation capacity by 2022 to help the oil and gas industry reduce its emissions by 45 per cent of the 2012 level by 2025. PTAC met and exceeded this target a year earlier, in

methane slip from engines, surface casing vent flow, catalytic heaters, flaring, and combustors. Significant progress has been made in an effort to achieve this goal through PTAC programs such as AUPRF and CanERIC,

Innovation Consortium (CanERIC) of

2021, through the execution of over 40

however, much more work remains to

field-testing facilities to address the

technologies developed, field-tested,

be done.

“Valley of Death” challenge for SMEs.

and demonstrated through its consortia.

5) T wo consortia, which contribute up to 75 per cent of equipment and installation costs, providing producers with first-hand experience to boost market adoption and uptake of

As of 2023, PTAC has launched and completed a total of 89 technology projects dedicated to methane detection and mitigation. Among these projects, 29 have successfully resulted in the

Methane emissions pose a global challenge that necessitates international collaboration. The potential for reducing methane emissions is vast, and it is our responsibility to engage with both

development of new technologies, 85

national and international stakeholders

were field tested, and 51 were deployed.

to drive innovation within the Canadian

6) Canadian Capabilities in Methane

These technologies have played a crucial

oil and gas industry, setting a global

Emissions Reduction Guide and

role in achieving an actual reduction of

leadership example. t

technologies.

Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

31

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Personnel and equipment Key personnel of RCESI have a combined experience of 100plus years in the oil and gas, construction, and maintenance

Keeping the values of our mission statement as our company

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34 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

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Powering progress

Red Deer Polytechnic’s Energy Innovation Centre is moving applied research beyond theory The Alternative Energy Lab, purpose-built in 2019 to provide a platform for exploring alternative and renewable energy systems.

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable, alternative, and

Red Deer Polytechnic. “We offer a space where they can explore

renewable energy systems, there is a hub of creativity offering

emerging net-zero technologies before implementing them.”

industry practical solutions which are grounded in real-world experience.

The EIC collaborates with regional and provincial utilities, businesses, builders, and manufacturers, cultivating a united

The Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) at Red Deer Polytechnic

front in the search for practical solutions. This collective effort

is a powerhouse dedicated to using applied research and

encompasses applied research projects, as well as the exchange

collaboration to help industry partners successfully implement

of data-driven best practices.

their sustainable, alternative, and renewable energy initiatives.

Established in 2019, the EIC is a physical and virtual hub, where applied research and hands-on education converge to drive the adoption, validation, and deployment of these new and

“The solutions we can offer are not just theoretical – they are derived from real-world situations and data gathered from our own power systems,” Wolfe emphasizes.

emerging energy technologies.

A living lab

“We help industry to de-risk their investment in sustainable

RDP’s Alternative Energy Lab (AEL) is a purpose-built

energy systems through simulation and lab testing,” says Dr.

high-tech facility that simulates real-world scenarios linked

Tonya Wolfe, associate vice-president of applied research at

to alternative and renewable energy by connecting applied

36 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

Students working on a simulation trainer in the Alternative Energy Lab.

A display of electric vehicles inside the Alternative Energy Lab.

research to the power systems installed on campus. Through

sustainable energy technologies that not only benefit the

this living laboratory, EIC’s researchers gain vital information

polytechnic, but also industry and the community.

and firsthand experience, building their knowledge of emerging technologies.

Researchers recently conducted an analysis of the potential effects on the Central Alberta power grid if every household were to adopt electric vehicles tomorrow. The study will support

academic programming, and work-integrated learning. The

infrastructure upgrades, and the impact of smart metering

equipment in the facility supports the rapid validation of

technology to lower costs to the consumer.

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Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

37

The Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre has more than 2,500 of the 4,200 rooftop solar panels found on Red Deer Polytechnic’s campus.

Data Sharing Alliance: Lighting the way for solar Another example of how EIC researchers use the information gathered from RDP’s on-campus power systems to benefit the wider community is the Data Sharing Alliance (DSA), a dynamic collaboration with industry stakeholders. Its mission?

To leverage weather and power data gathered from multiple

RDP’s commitment to this avenue of applied research is evidenced by the nearly 4,200 solar panels installed on campus. The panels, along with a combined heat and power unit, generate 60 per cent of the polytechnic’s power. The campus also hosts a battery storage system, and there are plans to install two heat pumps soon.

partner sites around the province and use it to develop best

“Heat pumps are a hot topic right now,” says Wolfe. “How can

practices for modeling and installing solar photovoltaic

we depend on this technology for reliable power in our Alberta

systems, optimized for Alberta’s unique conditions.

climate? The EIC is combining theory with actual industrial

Moving forward, Wolfe expects the DSA to continue to evolve

practice to develop solutions that can meet our unique needs.”

and eventually include other alternative energy technologies

With emerging technologies related to alternative and

such as heat pumps, geothermal, and wind.

renewable energy on the rise, as well as the use of AI, machine

“The synergy of these partnerships is creating a ripple effect,” she says. “We’re connecting RDP’s investments in renewable and alternative energy systems on campus to applied research and, in turn, industry adoption of these technologies.”

38 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

learning, and the Internet of Things to manage complex power systems, the Energy Innovation Centre is primed to help industry adapt. t

GETTING YOU INTO

TRADES #whykeyano

Building the world’s leading environmental workforce At ECO Canada, we act as the steward

APEGA], and it’s very common to

EP® designation, allowed me to join the

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workforce across all industries. From

no reason someone shouldn’t be

Canada for the last 10 years. My network

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designated,” says Stephanie B., EPt since

was expanded by attending events and

training and labour market research,

2020.

webinars and the mentorship program,”

we champion the end-to-end career of all environmental professionals. We aim to promote and drive responsible, sustainable economic growth, while also ensuring that environmental best practices remain a priority.

ECO Canada’s Environmental Professionals designations: Recognizing excellence and inspiring leadership

ECO Canada’s certified Environmental Professionals EP® are recognized across Canada and internationally as a mark of excellence in the environmental sector.

They represent individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to continuous learning and professional development, as well as possessing

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Designations that carry multiple benefits • Validation of skills and knowledge: A valuable tool when job searching or looking for career advancement opportunities.

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a recognized designation can set you

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ECO Canada has been working towards

“Being an EPt has been wonderful for my career. I work with many people who have other designations [P.Bio,

40 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

career validation of your skills and your commitment to best practices.

“My EPt designation, followed by the

an EP®, you gain access to a network of environmental professionals

• Exclusive events and resources: Privileged access to exclusive events and resources such as webinars, job postings, and career development tools.

Designation that shows your organization’s commitment Enjoy instant authority and recognition as a Canadian environmental leader with our EP® Employer designation, which helps companies recruit and retain environmental professionals,

“I think the reason it didn’t take any convincing is just [ECO Canada’s] commitment to environment and integrity, which is rare,” says Robert, an EP employer. “ECO Canada takes it to a different level for all intents and purposes.”

access industry-leading training

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41

PTRC celebrates 25 years of RD&D PTRC has become a focal point for companies involved in new CO2 Storage Hubs because of its knowledge in CCUS

What’s old is very, very young again for the PTRC. After managing two of the biggest research, development, and demonstration projects in the world related to the injection, utilization, and storage of CO2 over the past 25 years, advancements in regulation and tax incentives around carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) has pushed the company into the forefront of consultation with many of the new projects in development. Not just in Canada, but internationally.

“I’ve been asked to attend several international meetings and events in the past year to talk about CCUS,” notes PTRC’s CEO Ran Narayanasamy. “United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, India – the world is turning to Canada and the PTRC for its successful industrial-scale projects and research experiences.”

This past spring, the PTRC began rolling out a course offering

CO2 recycle pipeline at the Weyburn central operating location.

42 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

Aquistore site from above, with key infrastructure indicated.

on carbon capture and storage (CCS), in part funded by

municipalities in southern Saskatchewan, and a soon-to-be-

PrairiesCan (the former Western Economic Diversification with

released white paper on compressed air energy storage (CAES)

the Government of Canada) to help disseminate the company’s

as a baseload to renewable energy. The next 25 years should be

knowledge about carbon capture utilization and storage. The

as exciting and transformative as the last. t

course is made up of different modules that can be removed or enhanced to appeal to different audiences and stakeholders.

“The course has been offered to highly technical audiences, like oilfield companies,” says Norm Sacuta, PTRC’s director of communications. “It also can be tailored to the general public and to audiences without formal backgrounds in geology or engineering. In a way, every course offering is a new offering.”

The CCUS course isn’t the only reflection of PTRC’s accumulated knowledge and experience. Its ongoing research into enhanced oil recovery, through its Heavy Oil Research Network, has been expanding its focus to include more environmental and emissions aspects of production. The

LEAK TECHNOLOGIES SOLUTIONS LTD. is a full-service precision leak testing company, assisting all industries in protecting our environment from accidental contamination.

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company recently announced funding for a project looking into the economics, production, transport, and storage of blue hydrogen from Saskatchewan and Western Canada’s hydrocarbon resources.

“What’s exciting in this new project is that CCS must be a part

• Low-cost methods of testing the integrity of all above ground storage tanks • Testing on retail fuel outlet storage systems • Precision leak tests to underground storage tanks and systems

of the production cycle if you are creating blue hydrogen from natural gas, so our 25 years in both enhanced oil recovery and CCS are converging,” notes Narayanasamy.

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including more work in geothermal heating projects for Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

43

SAIT’s MacPhail School of Energy sets sights on an innovative, low-carbon future From curriculum to classroom delivery to an innovation strategy, MacPhail aims to increase enrolment among young Canadians

By Dale Hansen, Dean of the MacPhail School of Energy, SAIT SAIT will revitalize Alberta’s energy industry through the next generation.

towards the future. By seeking out opportunities to work more collaboratively, we can ensure the supply of well-educated talent is ready to move energy forward in our province. Innovation does not occur without talented people to support it. Across the board, we need people who can step into innovative spaces and help contribute to solutions that bring us closer to a lower carbon energy economy.

The energy industry in Alberta is focused on moving toward a lower carbon energy system that continues to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to the world. At the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), we are crafting curriculum and teaching the next generation of energy thinkers and doers to reflect these values.

Our institution’s MacPhail School of Energy is reshaping

Through our strong partnerships with industry, we’ll work to address the growing need for a skilled and diverse workforce in the energy sector. A clear engagement strategy will aim to shift perspectives and enable the socially conscious and scientificallyminded youth of tomorrow to see Alberta’s energy industry as it is — a wealth of incredibly exciting career opportunities. We plan to establish a sustainable platform for dialogue between industry, academia, and students which will increase innovation through

our curriculum. We’re building in a greater degree of

collaborative projects.

interdisciplinary work to better prepare our graduates

Alberta’s geography and geology provide abundant resources —

for an energy sector focused on accelerating the pace of

from hydrocarbons to wind and solar energy — to support the

innovation to reduce carbon footprint and drive efficiencies

future. The beauty of working in energy is in the collaborative

in operations. SAIT graduates need to possess exceptional

nature of the industry — in coming together to find solutions

technical competencies and strong human capabilities, such

through innovation focused on science, technology, and

as critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration when they

engineering. We will revitalize Alberta’s energy industry through

enter the workforce. To deliver these skills, we are working to

the next generation.

transform our classroom experiences to a more inclusive and technology-enabled environment where students can hone these capabilities.

Both industry and post-secondary institutions are looking

44 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

SAIT and the MacPhail School of Energy rely on an exceptional community of advisors to help inform strategy and ensure currency in our curriculum and delivery. If you are interested in playing a part in this, please email MacPhail.Industry@sait.ca. t

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46 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

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4. Visual management tools Visual management tools make it easier for manufacturers to track progress and identify areas where improvements need to be made. From Kanban boards that let teams track current projects to automated dashboards that report on production metrics, these tools provide businesses with valuable insight into

DANIEL MITCHELL CEO Daniel Mitchell worked for the RCMP for 10 years, his experience with them led to him receiving extensive communications security training and then receiving the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service in 2012. He expanded his technical experience with studies at Microsoft University in Seattle and as a technical trainer for HP in Florida. Dan founded Alt Tech Inc. in Sherwood Park, Alta. in 2003. As the demand for cyber security and IT services skyrocketed, Dan took his passion- driven startup and transformed it into a highly regarded IT and cyber security business. AltTech’s IT and cyber security services has allowed him to move into a mentorship and guidance position for his team of 20. It could be argued that his biggest accomplishment is his family. His wife Alicia has been by his side from the beginning of Alt-Tech, all while they were busy raising their two children. When time permits, Dan and Alicia enjoy travelling and focusing on their family. He is an old soul who enjoys competing at the World Series of Poker, practicing Aikido Marshall Arts, and collecting fine whiskeys and bourbons. Fun Fact: Dan is accredited with The Whisky Ambassador Programme.

what’s going on in the factory.

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I

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47

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Improved technology for monitoring, reporting, and verification at geologic carbon sequestration sites

Updated EPA standards and recently released new fiber-optic sensing technology, such as Distributed Strain Sensing Rayleigh Frequency Shift (DSS-RFS), have set a new paradigm for more efficient monitoring, reporting, and verification in geologic carbon sequestration sites

By Jim McMahon

Fiber-optic data acquisition units on a remote well pad location. All images courtesy of Neubrex.

As part of the carbon capture storage (CCS) process, geologic sequestration (GS) refers to a suite of technologies that are deployed to reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. GS involves injecting CO2 into deep subsurface rock formations for long-term storage.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as of March 2023 a total of two commercial-scale Class VI wells are in operation in the U.S., with 73 projects awaiting permits. Due to the large CO2 injection volumes occurring and/or planned at these well sites, the relative

Fiber optic interrogator units are connected to fibers that run down the wellbore for thousands of feet.

50 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

Field-based display of downhole fiber-optic data acquired during dynamic well integrity testing of a deep well.

buoyancy of CO2 , its mobility within subsurface geologic formations, its corrosivity in the presence of water, and the potential presence of impurities in the captured CO2 stream, the EPA has determined that existing Underground Injection Control (UIC) regulations for Class VI wells are necessary to manage the unique nature of CO2 injection for GS. A critical component of these regulations encompasses monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV).

Monitoring, reporting, and verification Monitoring, reporting, and verification associated with GS injection projects

Distributed fiber-optic sensing The deployment of fully distributed fiber-optic sensors into deep wells to monitor acoustic vibrations, mechanical strain, reservoir temperature, and reservoir pressure distribution, in support of oil and gas downhole applications and CO2 injection, has advanced considerably over the last

Distributed fiber-optic sensing provides the critical capability of measuring multiple physical phenomena along the entire length of an internal borehole, as well as monitoring the conditions of the near-well bore region, outside of pipe subsurface rock formations, supporting verification and accounting of geologic carbon sequestration projects.

decade.

is an important component of the UIC program. MRV data can be used to verify that the injectate is safely confined in the target formation, minimize costs, maintain the efficiency of the storage operation, and confirm that injection zone pressure changes follow predictions.

The EPA’s established MRV requirements for GS projects, including sub-seabed offshore formations, are built upon longstanding programmatic requirements for underground injection in place since the 1980s, with periodic updates including the February 22, 2023 release, Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide, 40 CFR Part 98 Subpart RR. GS sites are required to develop and implement a site-specific MRV plan which, once approved by EPA, would be used to verify the amount of CO2 sequestered and to quantify emissions if injected CO2 leaks to the surface.

Continuous high precision, high resolution, state of the art fiber optic measurements across time and space Proven technology with many use cases Talk to Neubrex Energy Services about fiber solutions that meet your project goals

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Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

51

Distributed Strain Sensing Rayleigh Frequency Shift (DSSRFS) The latest generation of fiber-optic sensing systems employed to monitor deep well conditions, Distributed Strain

critical data about the downhole well environment from distributed fiber-optic sensing, DSS-RFS improves the ability of engineers and scientists to more efficiently and effectively understand strain and temperature dynamics of

Sensing Rayleigh Frequency Shift

the subsurface and support engineering

(DSS-RFS) is a truly transformative

operational, monitoring, reporting, and

technology for augmenting operational

verification activities and goals that

performance in GS. Providing

support GS.

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DSS-RFS uses Rayleigh Wavelength, optically sourced backscatter in a nonengineered single-mode silica (glass) fiber to measure strain and temperature changes along the fiber. Advanced through research, development, and field application by Neubrex Ltd., Kobe, Japan, distributed fiber-opticbased strain and temperature-sensing measurements are made based on the frequency shift of the Rayleigh optical scattering spectrum, which is linearly dependent on strain and temperature changes applied to the sensing fiber.

Strain changes along the wellbore are continuously measured at fine spatial scale during operations of the GS well.

DSS-RFS technology permits tens-ofthousands of points down a fiber that is attached to a tubing string or casing string to be measured very quickly every 20 centimeters along the entire fiber length deployed in or along the wellbore.

The continuous glass fiber strand inside the cable can sense very small physical length changes at a large range of frequencies. These measurements of thermally or mechanically-driven strain change, as a function of time and depth, are valuable to engineers who use the data to gain an understanding of what is occurring deep down in the well. No other technology provides such insight.

Changes in temperature (degrees), strain (micro-strain unit), acoustics (dB, noise), and pressure (psi) can be made in realtime while CO2 injection is occurring.

This helps field engineers understand what is happening in these deep wells much better than with previous discrete sensor-position technologies.

Data-driven changes or adjustments to operational plans or maintenance plans can then be made when warranted, to optimize the GS operation and make wells with better long-term sequestration performance, efficiency, and efficacy.

DSS-RFS is employed in application

by Neubrex Energy Services, the U.S. division of Neubrex Ltd. The company’s DTSS product line is known as Neubrescope®. It is actively deployed in North America in different operational settings, such as oil and gas, CCS, and geothermal operations.

“Neubrescope DSS-RFS is well designed for monitoring geologic sequestration operations,” said Dana Jurick, executive vice-president and general manager of Neubrex Energy Services. “Nevertheless, companies involved in GS are still in the learning, testing, qualification, and acceptance phase of using fiber optics and how they can be reliably, safely, and economically installed, and used in a well and long-term well operations.”

dynamic physical processes and physical conditions, and provide key measurements that end users can rely on to make key-point, real-time, and forward decisions.

For more information, contact Dana M. Jurick, executive vice-president and general manager, Neubrex Energy Services (US), LLC; 11125 HWY 159 W, Bellville, Texas 77418:

Jurick adds that once installed in a well, operators are learning what measurements can be made and how it differs from competing technologies.

“The value proposition of this technology application is actively being explored by many GS companies, both domestically in the U.S. and internationally in numerous CCS projects,” said Jurick.

About Neubrex Energy Services Neubrex Energy Services (US) serves the oil and gas, and renewable energy industries with advanced field-proven fiber-optics-based measurements systems. From unique fiber-optic cables to surface-based optical interrogator units to advanced data-processing systems, the Neubrex fiber optics measurement and results-delivery platform provides innovative and differential data products that are proven to be of value to its customers.

Neubrex offers superior and fullydistributed measurements of acoustics, temperature, strain, and pressure (in development). Our deliverables generate a clear understanding of subsurface

Phone 713-899-1545; email dana.jurick@neubrex.com; www.neubrex.com.

Jim McMahon writes on industrial, manufacturing and technology issues.

His features have appeared in more than 3,500 business and trade publications worldwide. t

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Ensure a reliable and stable energy supply throughout your facility The risks and costs of unplanned downtime due to energy

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The high cost of downtime When a facility experiences unscheduled downtime, the

avoid costly production downtime, a load-shedding solution is recommended. In case of a disturbance, for example, loss of a power source (co-generator, grid, etc.) the load-shedding function prevents a total shutdown in the plant’s power distribution. This is done via switching off non-critical loads stabilizing the power to critical loads. It is managed dynamically and in real time (within tens of milliseconds).

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56 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

We’re still here – CRC Wellhead Supply Company Ltd.

CRC Wellhead is an industry-leading supplier of common API wellhead parts and other equipment for oil and gas companies across North America.

Taking a risk and opening a business

industry-leading supplier of common

a strong core of experienced employees

takes courage. Opening an oilfield-based

API wellhead parts and other equipment

providing quality products. This instills

business in 1980 when the industry was

for oil and gas companies across North

confidence in our customers. They know

in the throes of the National Energy

America.

what they are going to get – quality and

Program took the type of courage found in Don and Shirley Cox. The couple not only started CRC Wellhead, they ran it very successfully for 34 years.

Sadly, Don passed away in 2009, and

Customer confidence remains high among CRC’s clientele and the 100 per

on-time delivery. All the employees work towards that.”

cent Canadian-made products they

Morris concludes that they are not

supply.

standing still and are looking at their systems internally to ensure when

after running the company on her own

“We have an American Petroleum

for a few years, Shirley decided to sell.

Institute (API) license that allows us to

Daughter Nina remains at CRC Wellhead

monogram the products we are selling

as the office manager, and Drew Morris,

under API,” Morris says proudly. “It

“There is going to be some investment

allows our customers to incorporate

during this period and investment

who joined as president in January 2015, are committed to running the company

our products into their complete API

in a way that would have made the

package.”

original owners proud.

Safety is essential at CRC. Morris

“They felt there was a niche in the

stated, “CRC will provide good quality

industry for what they could provide – a machine shop,” says Morris of Cox’s

things start picking up, they will be in a better position going forward.

doesn’t always mean money,” says Morris. “In an industry that has so many changes and acquisitions, CRC has maintained its competitiveness. We’re

products while maintaining a healthy

still here.”

environment so everyone can go home

CRC Wellhead has been here for 40

decision to open CRC. “Don’s history

safe at night – every night.”

was in valves, and he was with a large

Just over 15 shop employees have

anytime soon. Morris looks forward to

supplier to the industry. He saw the need

enjoyed long careers with CRC, with

continuing the legacy started by Don

for a quality machine shop to provide

15 years being the average time on the

and Shirley, from employee care to the

secondary machining to the industry.

job. Their two senior staff members,

outstanding products to the community

At that time, the major suppliers of

Jamie Hazzard and Cal Lange, have

support.

wellhead equipment did not have the

over 60 years with CRC. In an industry

resources to sustain the volume of

renowned for fluctuating oil prices and

business they were doing. They needed

high turnover, this speaks to CRC’s

contract machine shops, and that’s how

outstanding management and employee

it started. Don grew the company based

satisfaction.

on the needs of his customers.”

Since then, CRC Wellhead has been an

years and they have no plans to go away

On behalf of CRC Wellhead, Morris thanks the “strong support from the supply chain, excellent participation from the customers, and Don and Shirley who started a company that has

“The staff is diversified in culture and

had such a positive effect on so many

generations,” explains Morris. “We have

lives.” t Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

57

Brother’s Specialized Coating Systems Ltd. provides high-quality specialized internal and external applications for equipment such as fabricated pipe spools, pipelines, pressure vessels, and tanks.

For the past 35 years, Brother’s Specialized Coating Systems Ltd. has garnered a solid reputation for applying high-quality coating applications for the oil and gas, water, and wastewater treatment industries.

One of Western Canada’s leaders in specialty coatings

the same with each job completed.

Brother’s experienced staff can assist in determining the best system to protect your investment.

“We take pride in telling our customers what they need to know and not what they want to hear. This isn’t always an easy conversation; however, we are not doing our job if we don’t have that

“We pride ourselves on a high level

conversation,” says Payne. “What is

of customer service and believe that

important is that our clients have all

effective levels of communication are

the correct information and the best

key to making the jobs go smoothly,”

recommendation in order to make an

protective coating systems to industry

says Brian Payne, general manager and

informed buying decision when putting

to ensure their investment remains

president. “That means providing the

together a job.”

protected from corrosion, erosion, and

best possible solutions to your inquiry,

harsh environmental conditions.

discussing the design parameters, or

Located in Edmonton, Alta., Brother’s is known as one of Western Canada’s most trusted providers of high-quality

Brother’s provides high-quality specialized internal and external applications for equipment such as

keeping you updated along the way on the delivery schedule, as we feel these are all important aspects of a successful

In oil and gas, Brother’s provides coatings to combat corrosion and erosion problems that often occur in piping systems, tanks, and vessels due to high concentrations of chlorides or

job being completed by Brother’s.”

chemicals under pressure and high

pressure vessels, and tanks. They also

Brother’s can apply a complete range

temperatures. In treated water systems,

do below-grade pipeline coatings as

of internal and external spray on

Brother’s provides coatings used in

per the most current CSA Z245.30

coatings. When assisting a client in

piping in water treatment plants that

specification.

putting together a job-specific coating

Brother’s has maintained a positive

specification, each coating has a

reputation throughout the industry

chemical, temperature, pressure, and

for their high level of service,

abrasion-resistance consideration for

communication, and quality. These

the specified service. Our in-house

values are driven throughout the

experts can also assist in design

company with well-trained, long-term

applications by providing input for

staff who provide consistent output

lengths, configuration, and access to

each time, allowing the quality to stay

various pieces of equipment.

fabricated pipe spools, pipelines,

58 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

meet NSF ratings for potable water for drinking and bathing. In wastewater systems, Brother’s applies coatings that will prevent corrosion or erosion issues due to the process by-products contained in the fluid or the solids contents that can erode piping systems under pressure.

The company has also internally lined

piping for several firewater systems in large refineries and treatment plants, using coatings for freshwater.

“The staff at Brother’s take their jobs seriously, they take pride in the work they do and they genuinely care about the products we deliver to our customers. The end results matter and it shows,” says Payne.

Brother’s is dedicated to safety by maintaining COR status through the Alberta Construction Safety

Brother’s is dedicated to safety by maintaining COR status through the Alberta Construction Safety Association.

Association. They are also registered with vendor management systems such as Complyworks, ISNetworld, and Avetta.

“Making sure your equipment remains free of corrosion is why we’re around, so it’s safe to say we take quality assurance extremely seriously,” says Payne.

“Before anything leaves our hands, we scrutinize every square inch.”

As an organization dedicated to highquality coating applications, Brother’s follows industry-standard protocols set out by two main organizations; NACE & SSPC. These two organizations recently merged into one under the AMPP

Brother’s can apply a complete range of internal and external spray on coatings.

In 2020, due to the many requests

Payne. “Although we have other pieces

that Brother’s has received for field

of equipment to complement the fleet,

Having their own in-house NACE

work, they felt a need to create a new

these are our main flagship pieces of

Level 3 Inspectors & In-House Train

division for doing just that. Brother’s

equipment.”

the Trainer, this enables Brother’s to

can successfully apply coating to

maintain the highest level of quality

internal tanks and vessels, external

that their customers have come to

coating systems to piping, as well as

banner.

expect from them over the years. Also, being a smaller shop allows Brother’s to

below-grade coatings on piping such as integrity digs for major pipelines.

Brother’s does work with an array of clients ranging from engineering firms, EPCM’s, fabricators to end users, and owners. Their quality does not discriminate and they provide the same

have their eyes and hands on each and

“We built out two blasting trucks and a

level of quality and service to all their

every job that comes through.

spray truck for thick film coatings,” says

clients. t Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

59

From arctic cold to desert heat

Fort Garry Fire Trucks’ reliability knows no bounds Our motto at Fort Garry Fire Trucks is

also serve our neighbours to the south

trucks, tankers, and even aerial ladder

“One Tough Truck”. Just how tough are

in the United States and as far away as

platforms, thanks to our exclusive

we talking? Many of the vehicles that

China, Chile, Cuba, Costa Rica, Pakistan,

partnership as the Canadian distributor

roll out of our Canadian manufacturing

the Bahamas, and the United Arab

for Sutphen Corporation. In fact, we

plant will be called upon to work

Emirates. We boast one of the largest

now offer 130 product lines and over

in some of the most inhospitable

fire apparatus engineering departments

10,000 options for our customers to

conditions on the planet. That includes

amongst our competitors, devoted to

choose from. One of our keys to success

everything from bone-chilling lows of

the design and production of equipment

has been our willingness to listen to

-60 C in Canada’s North to blistering

for the most extreme conditions in the

what our customers need, rather than

highs of 50 C in desert climates halfway

world.

telling them what we think they need.

With the exception of the commercial

consultation process with each new

around the world. And they often have to travel on some of the most treacherous roads known to man to get

chassis used in some of our trucks,

Our sales team undertakes an extensive or existing customer, which can take

every aspect of design and construction

as little as a few weeks or as long as a

is handled by our employees, from

year. It’s part of an effort to determine

Fort Garry Fire Trucks is Canada’s oldest

painting — we offer more than 160

what the customer’s precise needs are,

and largest manufacturer of firefighting

shades of red — to pump assembly.

whether it’s command lights that can

apparatus and we sell more than 100

As our company has grown over the

illuminate an entire football field or

rigs in a typical year. While the bulk of

years, so too have our product lines. We

cameras that offer facial recognition

those sales are here in Canada, where we

manufacture a wide range of vehicles,

from as far as a mile away, Fort Garry

supply equipment to every province, we

including rescue trucks, pumper

Fire Trucks can customize it for you.

to where they need to go.

60 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

Our full-framed aluminum extruded bodies utilizing 5083 saltwater marinegrade aluminum include rescues, pumpers, pumper tankers, fire tankers, and aerial ladders. Our walk-in rescues, command rescues, and walk-around rescues are engineered for the harshest road conditions and environments in the world, while our Maximum Value (MXV) bodies are customized for flexibility and maximum performance

Fort Garry Fire Trucks is Canada’s oldest and largest manufacturer of firefighting apparatus and we sell more than 100 rigs in a typical year.

with side-mount, top-mount, and topmount enclosed options available and incorporating other world-class features into your apparatus. Our emergency rescue bodies provide fire departments with the performance of a pumper and the storage of a rescue. Be confident knowing you’re properly equipped for nearly any possible situation with our full-framed custom bodies.

Our Crusader pumpers are among the most dependable in the industry featuring our form-framed body structure made from 5052 freshwater marine-grade aluminum and delivers more compartment space, a lower centre of gravity, and ergonomic sidemount or top-mount pump control

We manufacture a wide range of vehicles, including rescue trucks, pumper trucks, tankers, and even aerial ladder platforms, thanks to our exclusive partnership as the Canadian distributor for Sutphen Corporation.

configurations. Our Crusader tankers are designed for optimum performance and maneuverability and are also constructed with a form-framed body structure. At any scene, one crucial element is the availability of water, our tankers feature a wide range of tank capacities from 1500 to 3000 imperial gallons along with a variety of porta-tank storage options your fire department can choose from.

Whatever your fire department’s needs are we guarantee it will be One Tough Truck! t

Our tankers feature a wide range of tank capacities from 1500 to 3000 imperial gallons along with a variety of porta-tank storage options your fire department can choose from.

Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

61

Index to advertisers 3D Drilling Tools Inc.............................................................. 52

Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show 2024........................................ 7

ABB, Inc............................................................................... 55

Microfinish Valves, Inc......................................................... 45

Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA)................... 5

National Compressed Air..................................................... 49

Alt-Tech Inc.......................................................................... 46

Netzsch Canada, Incorporated......................................18 & 19

BCL Consulting Group Inc.................................................... 37 Brandt Truck Rigging & Trailers........................................... 23 Brother’s Specialized Coating Systems Ltd........................IFC Can Star Industrial + CRC Wellhead...............................32 & 33 Eco Canada.................................................................... 10 & 11 Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) – Red Deer Polytechnic......... 9 Factors Western.................................................................. 53

Neubrex Energy Services.....................................................51 Nitrogen Technologies of Canada.........................................13 OSY Rentals...................................................................... OBC Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC)............14 & 15 RALCOMM Ltd....................................................................... 17 RAM Industries Inc............................................................... 26

FlareTech, Inc.......................................................................21

Right Choice Energy Services Inc........................................ 35

Fort Garry Fire Trucks Ltd...................................................... 3

RTC Rail Solutions Ltd......................................................... 25

Keyano College.................................................................... 39

Safe-T-Whip & Restraints Inc................................................ 4

Leak Technologies Solutions Ltd......................................... 43

Unico Inc.............................................................................. 27

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62 Alberta Energy Review 2023-24

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