THI S IS SUE
T GET
SPOOL
GR ING EEN
CATERING
TRENDS WINE IDEA JAPSER C MP CHALLENGE
IMPACT AWARDS GUIDE
AN ENVIRO/ENERGY
SMALLER
FOR JUNIORS & MICRO JUNIORS
COST OF
CAPITAL
FOOTPRINTS ON
RAISING
TRAINING
INNOVATION FROM
& ITS ENVIRONMENTAL
OILSANDS
OPPOSITION
$5.99 AUGUST 2014
SCRUMPTIOUS
INFOGRAPHIC
SATISFYING SMOOTHIES
COST EFFICIENCIES
THE GOODS ON
%
INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES
BEER CO2 REVOLUTION
A PARADIGM SHIFT
WELL WHAT? A C A L L F O R E A R LY A D O P T E R S
ABSOLUTE LATEST INTERNET TECHNOLOGY
CRITICAL DRILLING, COMPLETION CONSTRUCTION OPERATION FUNCTIONS MANAGED THROUGH INTUITIVE BROWSER BASED FORMS
INNOVATIVE TALLY MANAGER WITH SIMPLE DATA ENTRY
DYNAMIC DAILY REPORTS OF FIELD COSTS RELATIVE TO AFE
FORM, RECORD AND TRANSACTION LOCKING PREVENT TAMPERING WITH REPORTED DATA ALL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT THROUGH A SINGLE ENTRY FORM
DETAILED TRANSACTION RECORDS ARE LISTED IN DAILY REPORTS FOR EACH DAY’S COSTS FOR RENTALS, MUDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE
ALL SUPPLIERS, PRODUCT NAMES, AND MEASUREMENTS ARE STANDARDIZED FOR ALL WELLS
UNLIMITED FILE SIZE DOCUMENT LIBRARY TO SHARE FILES BETWEEN FIELD AND OFFICE, FOR EACH WELL
ALL FINANCIAL SUPPLIER, PRODUCT, COST, DATE AND TICKET DATA EASILY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH EXCEL FORMS
OPTIMIZED TO MINIMIZE KEYSTROKES TO NAVIGATE AND DATA ENTRY
WELL? CAN YOUR SPREADSHEETS DO THAT?
CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE A DEMO
YOUR GLOBAL OILFIELD STAFFING SOLUTION
WELLSITE SUPERVISION Pajak maintains a certification database that allows us to ensure that a supervisor’s tickets are always current before they go out on any job. Pajak senior technical staff are available on a 24 hour/day back-up to all supervisors and engineers.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT We provide experienced, dependable project management staff to oil & gas sites around the globe. Our team knows how to get the job done, and is insured, certified, and be IRP (industry recommended practices) #7 and IRP #16 compliant.
Contact Us
Contact Us
WORK FOR US We are constantly searching for highly qualified, safety conscious individuals to expand and maintain the company’s high standards. We provide the very best in field supervision and project management to the oil and gas industry. Apply With Pajak PAJAKENG.COM | 403-264-1197(24HOURS)
CUSTOM STEEL
ADVOCATE
FABRICATION PE T R O C H E M I CA L
+
MARINA
OUR PRODUCTS & SERVICES: • Skid Packages • Structural Steel Fabrication • Stainless Steel Welding • Instrument Tubing
• Flare Stacks • Indirect Fired Heaters • Hydro testing & Pressure vessels • Pressure piping
PLAINS FABRICATION & SUPPLY (ABSA & ASME CERTIFIED) New 90,000 square-foot facility featuring state-of-the-art technologies 8700 Venture Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T3S 0A2 Tel: (403) 269-1870 Fax: (403) 269-2050 www.plainsfabrication.com
• Blasting & painting • Internal and external coating of piping, tanks and vessels • Other custom fabrication
AUGUST 2014
contents FEATURES
16
28
Enviro/Energy Infographic Some crazy facts and stats about the state of energy’s relationship with the environment
16 28
Jasper Camping Guide Jasper is the perfect destination for your
50 52 56
next camping trip
Women in Workboots Smart trucking with Catherine MacMillan
What’s Cooking Trends in today’s catering
On Natures Side Making smaller footprints on the Alberta’s 0ilsands
58 66
Idea Challenge Awards $30,000 to Student Entrepreneurs
Alternative Health Alternatives to ADD/ADHD medication
24 52 56
42 6
58
32 Liquor Lane Wine and its environmental impact
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
About the Cover So you want to build a start-up, and you want to be in Alberta oil and gas? Cover By Kyle K. Fujita
YOUR
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
ADVOCATE
SERVICES EXPERT
Serving Western Canada and North Dakota Personal service, professional performance Highly skilled, experienced personnel State-of-the-art technology and equipment Positive Pulse & Electro-Magnetic (EM) MWD High performance drilling motors Committed to your success
P A TO
0 0 1 N HEWAW C A K SAS Y NO PAN COM LBERTA IN A
Calgary, AB 403.264.8206 202c, 221 10th Ave S.E. T2G 0V9
Leduc, AB 780.986.3309 102-6527 Sparrow Dr. T9E7C7
Carlyle, SK 306.453.2533 11 4th St. E S0C 0R0
Denver, CO 600 17th St Suite 2800 S 80202
OVER 1800 HORIZONTAL WELLS DRILLED MILLENNIUMDIRECTIONAL.COM
22
AUGUST 2014
contents DEPARTMENTS
12 18 21 22 38 46 48 58 62 72
CEO Message
Cost efficiencies - industry best practices!
12
10 38
Plains Perspective
The cost of training - and what you get in return
Innovation from Opposition How opposition to oil and gas leads to innovation Sunterra Smoothies Some tips to liven up your beverage Supply Chain
18 46
Keeping your talent
Wine & Dine
Beer Revolution
Calgary Women in Energy A nurturing gesture can make a tangible difference
Person in Profile
48
Stormhold’s Stephanie Hall
An artist profile Michelle Hoogveld
Spoolable Composite Pipes Not all are created equal
24
The Goods on CO2
The CCEMC launches $35 Million
8
international challenge to find useful applications for carbon
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
58
70
Subscriptions@OilfieldPULSE.com TELEPHONE 1-403-537-6560 TOLL FREE 1-866-883-8848 For advertising inquiries or editorial submissions please contact: Production@LeadstoneGroup.com
CEO KEVIN TURKO | Kevin.Turko@LeadstoneGroup.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR KYLE K. FUJITA | Kyle.Fujita@LeadstoneGroup.com
MANAGING EDITOR ANDREA TURKO | Andrea.Turko@LeadstoneGroup.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR AMANDA LEE | Amanda.Lee@LeadstoneGroup.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR BARB LEE | Barb.Lee@LeadstoneGroup.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER CHARLENE WOODMAN | CharleneWoodman@yahoo.ca VICE PRESIDENT SALES DAVE O’CONNOR | Dave.OConnor@LeadstoneGroup.com NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER CHAD CARBNO | Chad.Carbno@LeadstoneGroup.com MEMBER RELATIONS KAREN KEITH | Karen.Keith@LeadstoneGroup.com
FINANCE & ADMIN JEANNIE YIP | Finance_Admin@LeadstoneGroup.com
OILFIELD PULSE
ADVERTISING INDEX 2 OILFIELD REPORT MANGAGER 4 PAJAK ENGINEERING LTD.
11 EILEEN RADKE MEMORIAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT - STORMHOLD ENERGY LTD.
67 HUB ADVOCATE
5 PLAINS FABRICATION
25 MUDCO SERVICES LTD.
69 DATA SHAPERS
7 MILLENNIUM DIRECTIONAL SERVICE LTD.
43 ARIZONA VACATION RENTALS
74 OILFIELD HUB
9 EVOLUTION OIL TOOLS
57 HUB CONNECTION
57 VENDOR OF THE MONTH
IN OCTOBER WE ARE
GOING TO PRINT For advertising inquiries or editorial submissions please contact: Production@LeadstoneGroup.com
© 2014 by Leadstone Group Inc.
SPONSORED BY
PUBLISHED BY
OILFIELDHUB.COM
LEADSTONEGROUP.COM
The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this publication is prohibited. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Disclaimer: The messages expressed in this publication do not represent the views of Oilfield PULSE, Leadstone Group or affiliated companies. Publication Number: 42420518
2014
EILEEN RADKE MEMORIAL
CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
WINTERGREEN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB FRIDAY, AUG 15TH, 2014 1pm Shotgun Start, Dinner & Prizes
SPONSOR & GOLFER REGISTRATION Company Name Name Address City
Postal Code
Phone
Cell
E-Mail Golfer#2 Golfer #3 Golfer #4 Handicap Sponsor Foursomes - $250 each
$ $
Individual Registrations $250 each $ Total Amount
$
I would like to pay by: Cheque (payable to Stormhold Energy Charity Golf) Credit Card Visa
Mastercard Validation Code
Credit Card Number Name on Card Exp. Date Signature Full payment is required upon registration Please mail, email or fax registration form, with cheque or credit card information to: Steph Hall - Stormhold Energy Ltd. Phone: (403) 267800 Fax 403 457-0648 Email steph@stormholdenergy.ca
A charitable donation will be made to Rett Syndrom Awareness and the Canadian Cancer Society
HOLE SPONSOR GOLD $1000 • 1 GOLF ENTRY FEE • SIGNAGE ON HOLE
CEO MESSAGE
12
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
COST
INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES!
EFFICIENCIES I
n our monthly travels with Oilfield HUB, we have the distinct pleasure of meeting with oil and gas companies of every size, from the micro-junior start-ups to the large multinationals, to discuss best practices regarding their supply chain operations and field expenditure controls. Interestingly, whether you are a microjunior struggling on a slim operating budget or a multi-national who has invested millions upon millions of dollars on systems and infrastructure, they all have a similar goal in mind. All of these companies focus on establishing a realistic AFE budget and do everything possible, and within their means, to bring these expenses home under plan. Let’s look a little deeper at both ends of this spectrum. We have had talks recently with a few supply chain folks at some of the majors, including the likes of Talisman and ConocoPhillips. Both have massive dollars invested in software technology to manage closed systems around vendor selection, creation of MSAs, and the issuance and approval of each and every PO. Bottom line, when an invoice comes in, it needs to be validated against the PO. The signed truck ticket is just one piece of required backup, but without validation against the PO, the invoice will be challenged and perhaps not get paid. For downstream supply chain management, these PO systems have been very successful in tightening control over spending and reducing lag time between incurring the actual expense and final invoice payment from well over 90 days down to 45 days. There is also further aspirations to shave this even further down toward the 30 day mark. Great news for energy service companies dealing with these majors, as they too are constantly struggling with their own cash flow demands. Yet, for most oilfield operations at micro-juniors
and juniors, these PO management systems are simply out of reach for these companies, as they are way too costly to implement and cumbersome to run proportionately on just a handful of wells. So what is their alternative? We have been asking these companies if the costs reported from the field could be used as the one truth instead of the PO. You would be surprised at what we’ve discovered. The answer simply put is: absolutely, yes! But, how can the micro-juniors and juniors pull this off without having similar access to this level of infrastructure funding, time, and willpower to make this happen? We believe the answers to these questions are close at hand and lie within their own operations backyard. Imagine a world where these costs are logged against the AFE when they are incurred and this data is passed along and shared with their preferred vendors before the actual invoice is issued. In our world, we call this the one truth! If incoming invoices were based on this one truth, what would the world look like if these operators knew exactly where their AFE budget stands in real time rather than having to wait for 90 to 180 days to validate and account for these field costs? Do micro-juniors and juniors have to spend millions to achieve this lofty goal? We don’t think so! While the path to greater cost efficiencies may not be paved with the same PO systems of their multi-national brethren, it is within their grasp to achieve. Industry best practices come in all shapes and sizes, and within Oilfield HUB, we believe part of the future success for these companies lies in adopting this one truth! Kevin Turko CEO LEADSTONE GROUP 403.537.6561
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
13
TECHNOLOGY
THE NEW
E-SWIVEL LINE EVOLUTION OIL TOOLS INTRODUCES THE MOST COMPACT
AND COST-EFFECTIVE TUBING SWIVEL ON THE MARKET
ADVERTISMENT
A
14
n Alberta and Texas-based oil tool supplier, Evolution Oil Tools Inc., is announcing the release of the new E-Swivel Slim line of products to their artificial lift catalog. Both the Evolution E-Swivel Slim One-Way Swivel and the Evolution E-Swivel Slim Two-Way Tubing Swivel have been designed to be run in conjunction with tubing rotator systems on pumping wells that utilize a progressive cavity pump and a torque anchor or a rod pump with a tension anchor. Both new tools are available in a variety of sizes and with their small size permit the maximum amount of by-pass downhole. “The slim design of the new swivels allow for good by-pass, an important feature for many of our customers,” affirms Mike Derkach, Business Development Manager with Evolution Oil Tools. In addition, the overall short length compared to other tubing swivels means easier handling and storage of the tool. “We have optimized the length of each part to make the best use of the material. This makes for a more cost effective tool,” states Emery Stoesser, Design and Drafting Technologist, Evolution Oil Tools.
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
Despite the smaller dimension, the tools are all designed with strict attention to torsional loads and weight requirements downhole. The E-Swivel Slim One-Way swivel features a shear release that allows the anti-rotation anchor to be set. The model has an improved clutch system over previous designs that allows for the slimmer overall diameter. “This is the first time we have offered a Slim Swivel with a one-way configuration,” states Derkach. PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY The new E-Swivel tools are designed and built to the highest standards in the industry. Distribution of the Evolution E-Swivel Slim OneWay Swivel and the Evolution E-Swivel Slim Two-Way Tubing Swivel will be through Evolution’s locations in Calgary, Alberta; Lloydminster, Alberta; Edmonton Alberta; Victoria, Texas and Odessa, Texas. ABOUT EVOLUTION OIL TOOLS Evolution Oil Tools (www.eotools.com) is a group of people who were brought together to meet completion and subsurface tool needs
With the introduction of One and Two-Way E-Swivel Slim tools, Evolution Oil Tools brings the most material-optimized and effective swivels for artificial lift applications with tubing rotators.
for the oil and gas industry. Evolution Oil Tools provide wholesale products to accommodate your completion/service requirements. Evolution offers a wide range of Oil & Gas tools in four different product groups: Flow Control, Artificial Lift Systems, Packers / Completions, Coiled Tubing Systems and Protective Coatings. CANADIAN MANUFACTURING/DISTRIBUTION Calgary, Alberta #3, 1820 – 30th Avenue NE Calgary, AB T2E 7M5 1-800-265-TOOL (8665) Edmonton, Alberta 4512 - 81 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6B 2M2 1-855-758-9091 Lloydminster, Alberta 6415A - 63 Street Close Lloydminster, AB T9V 3B5 780-875-1570 U.S. MANUFACTURING/DISTRIBUTION Victoria, Texas Odessa, Texas P.O. Box 5363 3400 Kermit Hwy 2908 Coffey Street Odessa, Texas Victoria, Texas 77903 79764 (361) 575-7900 (432) 337-7900
Knowledgeable Personnel Providing and Developing Quality Products and Timely Solutions to the Oil & Gas Industry
WWW. EOTOOLS.COM
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
15
EACH MINUTE WE ADD
12,000
ENVIRO ENERGY
TONS OF CO2 TO THE ATMOSPHERE
FACTOIDS
ALBERTA IS INVESTING
$1.3 BILLION IN TWO LARGE SCALE CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE PROJECTS
RECYCLING 1 TON OF PAPER SAVES:
2 BARRELS OF OIL
4100 KWH OF ENERGY
60 POUNDS OF AIR POLLUTION
3.22 YARDS OF LANDFILL
84 %
EACH MINUTE WE CONSUME
BARRELS OF OIL GLOBALLY
ON AVERAGE THERE ARE 27 OIL SPILLS EVERY DAY SOMEWHERE IN THE WATERS OF THE WORLDS
INDUSTIAL SECTOR
ER OTH
CANADIAN GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS
BUILDING NATURAL GAS 9%
WATER/SEWER NATURAL GAS 9% WATER/SEWER ELECTRICITY 36%
LIGHTS ELECTRICITY 10% EMPLOYEE COMMUTE GAS 8%
22% GLOBAL GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS EU
BUILDING ELECTRICITY 18% VEHICLE DIESEL 4%
16
21%
Alberta 0.1% Australia 1% Canada 2% India 4% Japan 4% Eurasia 9%
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
1 16
A US
VEHICLE GAS 6%
17% ROP
20%
E
A
35,000
OF ALL HOUSEHOLD WASTE CAN BE RECYCLED
IN
17 TREES
CH
JOBS IN ALBERTA DIRECTLY RELATED TO ENERGY (121,500)
Infographic By Kyle K. Fujita | Sources: momtastic.com, the Government of Alberta,
INFOGRAPHIC
ALBERTA
THE FIRST IN
60,000
EXTINCTION OF SPECIES
50,000 40,000 30,000
200
20,000
100
10,000
IF THE WORLD LIVED LIKE AN AMERICAN, WE’D NEED 5 PLANETS TO HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES
POLLUTING COUNTRIES
5
THINGS YOU CAN DO
1.7
1.3
1.2
0.9
IRAN
5.8
GERMANY
6.1
JAPAN
27,000 TREES
ARE USED EACH DAY FOR TOILET PAPER
INDIA
(IN BILLIONS OF TONS)
RUSSIA
EACH DAY ALMOST 5 SPECIES OF LIFE BECOME EXTINCT.
TOP10
UNITED STATES
CHINA
0 0 1820 1840 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020
SOUTH KOREA
EXAJOULES PER YEAR
300
NUCLEAR HYDRO NAT GAS OIL COAL BIOFULES
OF CHINA’S 560M CITY RESIDENTS BREATHE AIR THAT IS CONSIDERED SAFE BY THE EU
EXTINCTIONS PER YEAR
400
OF WATER USED
WORLD ENERGY CONSUMPTION
600 500
80-95%
U.K.
LEGISLATING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTIONS FOR LARGE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES (SGER)
ONLY 1%
OIL SANDS PROJECTS RECYCLE
CANADA
NORTH AMERICA
0.6
0.6
0.5
0.5
PLANT A TREE
RIDE YOUR BIKE
CONSERVE WATER
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
UNPLUG
REMOVE CO2 & STAY COOL
ONCE A WEEK? SAVE GAS & BE FIT
ADD A 2 LITRE BOTTLE TO YOUR TOILET TANK
REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS, SAVE ENERGY & RESOURCES
WHEN ITEMS NOT IN USE
e-education.psu.edu, The National Academy Of Sciences, salisbury.edu, truthbeknown.com
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
17
PLAINS PERSPECTIVE
18
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
ADVOCATE
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
19
T
his may seem like a bit of a laundry list, but in my opinion, we are lacking people with creativity, critical thinking abilities, problem solving, and emotional intelligence as well as basic on-the-job skills. I think what gets misunderstood is what industry is truly lacking. If you just dug beneath the surface, you would see that the numbers of individuals with the required credentials is adequate. What we are truly lacking is people who have the ability to think, troubleshoot, and perform within a group or a team. We lack managers who have these exact same skills, but our managers also lack the ability to self-assess and plan ahead. I wonder how many companies out there provide training beyond the standard safety orientation. Plains Fabrication does go deeper than your average company as we have a training course in communication, emotional intelligence, and Lean manufacturing fundamentals. We also send people for leadership training and we have a new employee mentoring program. Companies do not get paid to train their employees. They do receive a return on their investment if the employees stay, but it is a slow return. For every hour one of my highly skilled trades has to mentor a new employee, I lose two hours of productivity. For each day we put someone through training, I lose at least a day of productivity. It is a cost that can be in the thousands to tens of thousands of dollars per employee hired. I hired 47 people in the past three months. Even if the cost of hiring was exactly $1,000 per person, that would be $47,000 in training costs, but I can assure you it is much more than $1,000 per person. The Government of Canada is introducing a program called the Canada Job Grant. This was intended to be a step in the right direction. It was supposed to give back to companies like ours that train our people. Instead, it will only apply if we send people to a university. These employees already have that training (and by the way, Plains pays for 100% of all company related training already). The government once again fails to recognize that 80% of what a person learns about their chosen profession is done on the job. In my case, it was 100%. I had people willing to train me and I jumped at the chance to learn. If this grant had been in
20
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
existence, I would say they deserved something for the time they spent teaching me everything I know about how to run a business. Entrepreneurs are generally great people who will hire and train as their companies grow. I think those companies that do invest in their people should get something for it at the end of the day. University isn’t free - you pay for what you learn. On the job, you are paid to learn. If we as companies are doing 80% of the training, then should we not be more involved in directing educational funds? I think university and trade schools play an integral part, but why do we need to boost their coffers even more? This was supposed to be about on-the-job training. It was supposed to make it more appealing for companies to offer training. Plains Fabrication is in the minority when it comes to the types of training we offer our employees. My point is that we have the opportunity to build something that will benefit everyone, and the Canada Job Grant could be one great step forward. The government is afraid that companies will abuse the system. Fear is the wrong approach to being successful. Engage the business people who want to have input. Penalize anyone who even remotely abuses the system, but stop penalizing companies like ours that attempt to do everything we can to engage and train our employees. This is one more example of the government trying to show the public that they are doing something rather than it being about building a great policy that will benefit all Canadians. At least the Temporary Foreign Workers program was implemented before they tore it all down. This time it looks like the government is going to run away from doing anything of real consequence before they have even tried. I believe it is proof once again that the government is more interested in playing politics when they could be doing something of significance.
By Tom McCaffery GENERAL MANAGER PLAINS FABRICATION
ENVIRONMENT
OLITICS ENERGY POPULATION
ARKETS LIFE GREEN CONSERVA
LIMATE WILDERNESS REDUCE ICS INNOVATION FROM ECO-FRIENDLY
OPPOSITION EUSE ATURAL AIR CONSUMPTION RECYCL MING ECONOMY IO-DIVERSITY EDUCATION
POLLUTION
CHILDREN
T
he controversy surrounding the oilfield has always had an intensive focus on the environmental impacts of the development of the oil and gas industry. Luckily, opposition creates innovation. The public pressure put on the oil and gas industry pertaining to the environmental sector has allowed for new techniques and stricter regulations to be developed and implemented. Having the media and public closely investigating every incident and accident keeps companies in line with regulations, forces policy makers to continually adapt regulations, and allows for new products, services, and techniques to be developed. However, regardless of how many steps are taken to prevent and avoid environmental issues, there seems to be no relief from the pressure of the activists and media. No credit is given to the progress that has been made by the industry when it comes to how they are dealing with environmental concerns and the awareness of the cause and effect of their actions. The public only sees the negative. So how do we get them to see the industry’s side? There probably isn’t a simple solution to that question. Companies can spend thousands of dollars on
marketing campaigns and public awareness efforts emphasizing the need for oil and gas development and how it can be done in an environmentally precautious manner. But will people listen?
The public and specifically, environmental activists, like to have something to protest. Even if the facts are presented, which are rarely left un-skewed, it seems no one stops to reconsider their opinion on the matter and try and see both sides. What’s interesting is the oil and gas sector of the energy industry is the one that falls under the most scrutiny and public pressure. Other industry’s, like wind and forestry, are not held to the same standards as oil and gas. Why is that? Why is there so much passion for the negative and so much resistance to the positive? By Windy Pines Consulting Group
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
21
WINE & DINE
22
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
SCRUMPTIOUS, SATISFYING
SMOOTHIES THE SUNTERRA GUIDE
J
uly can be filled with bad eating habits. Corn dogs, mini doughnuts, beer, and barbeque often dominate Calgary’s social scene during Stampede. This year, try adding smoothies to your recovery routine as a refreshing meal or snack that will invigorate your body and taste buds. If you’re making your own smoothie, choose your fruit first. You can buy fruit that’s already frozen or get a fresh batch on the weekend and wash, cut, and freeze it yourself. Pre-portioning your ingredients will be a time saver during a busy week. Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries will give you a boost of vitamin C and antioxidants. Watermelon is another good choice because it’s very hydrating and will blend easily with your other ingredients. Other popular smoothieready fruits are peaches, mangos, pineapple, bananas, and kiwis. If you’re adding greens, and we recommend you do, choose sweeter fruits to balance any bitterness from the greens. Build your smoothie with some vegetation: kale and spinach blend well and are a good source of iron, vitamin K, and calcium. These leafy greens are considered to be super foods as they have high health benefits with very little calories. Layer these greens furthest from your blender‘s blade as they are typically the easiest ingredient to mix in. If you are put off by the green color your smoothie may take on after adding in your leaf greens, put your smoothie in a travel mug instead of a glass and enjoy!
Now that you have a nutrient rich base of fruit and vegetables, maximize your health benefits by adding a secret ingredient: chia seeds. Chia seeds (yes, the seeds from the plants you diligently trimmed and watered as a child) provide a huge variety of health benefits. Offering a healthy dose of calcium, omega 3, protein, and fiber, these little seeds also help fight belly fat by stabilizing blood sugar and regulating appetite. These powerful seeds blend effortlessly with your fruits and vegetables and will give your smoothie an extra punch of nutrients. Finally, add a liquid. Water can cause your fruits and vegetables to separate if your beverage sits for more than 30 minutes, but fresh squeezed juices or coconut water will keep your ingredients blended smoothly and add to the natural sweetness. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your concoctions! Peanut butter, protein powder, carrots, oranges, apple cider vinegar powder, yogurt, oats, Echinacea – the list is endless. Blending your aging fruits and veggies is a great way to use up your produce before it spoils. If you’re planning a corporate or private barbeque this summer, consider adding smoothies to the menu. Guests who have spent the summer over indulging in beef on a bun will appreciate the lighter yet satisfying offering. By Kendra Keating SUNTERRA CATERING MANAGER
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
23
INNOVATION
THE
GOODS ON
CO2 Climate Change & Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC) Launches $35 Million International Challenge to Find Useful Applications for Carbon.
24
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
T
he Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation is seeking innovative ideas from around the world for a $35 million open innovation challenge that will create new, carbonbased products and markets. The grand challenge is the first ever initiated by an organization in Alberta, Canada. It is expected to identify multiple technologies that could provide significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by transforming carbon from a liability into an asset. You can find open submissions online at ccemcgrandchallenge.com and technical solution providers are encouraged to register now to signify their interest. “We are seeking credible, bright ideas from around the world that will repurpose carbon and use it as a starting material, helping Alberta to create a market for carbon use,” said CCEMC Chair Eric Newell. “The approach could deliver significant reductions in greenhouse gases, complement other greenhouse gas reduction strategies, strengthen our economy and enhance Alberta’s competitiveness.” The CCEMC has committed to fund 49 projects to date that have a combined value of almost $1 billion. They are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 8 megatonnes over 10 years, enough to take more than 1.6 million cars off the road. “With the eyes of the world on Alberta, now is the time for us to broaden our focus - by exploring and investing in technologies that drive our climate change targets and ensures we remain a global clean energy supplier,” said Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Diana McQueen. “I commend the ingenuity and vision behind this Grand Challenge, which showcases a commitment to environmental management that all Albertans should proudly endorse.” The CCEMC is seeking novel solutions for innovative carbon use - bright
“We are seeking credible, bright ideas from around the world that will repurpose carbon and use it as a starting material, helping Alberta to create a market for carbon use” CCEMC Chair Eric Newell
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
25
ideas at any stage of development that are rooted in solid science. Focus areas include, as examples, processes that produce high value goods from greenhouse gas emissions, technologies that fix captured carbon into solid or readily transportable starting materials, high-value materials with high carbon content that could be produced from greenhouse gases and biological processes that capture or consume carbon and convert it into a new viable product, such as the creation of oils from algae. Canada has significant energy resources including
The CCEMC Grand Challenge: Innovative Carbon Uses offers three rounds of funding totaling $35 million over a five-years coal, shale gas, natural gas and of course, oil. According to some estimates, there are between 1.7 to 2.5 trillion barrels of bitumen in the Alberta oil sands. Canada is the only non-OPEC country among the five countries in the world with the largest proven oil reserves. “We are witnessing how industry-wide open innovation and collaboration can dramatically
Eric Newell, Chair CCEMC
26
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
accelerate and improve environmental performance in the oil sands, a key economic driver for Canada,” said Dr. Dan Wicklum, chief executive of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA). “The Grand Challenge represents a unique opportunity to bring the same kind of leading-edge thinking to the development of new technologies to unlock the potential of Canada’s energy economy in an environmentally responsible way.” To help reach an international audience of technical solution providers, the CCEMC is drawing on the expertise of NineSigma, an open innovation company that has one of the largest networks of technical solution providers in the world. With offices and partners on six continents, NineSigma has been managing open innovation processes and Grand Challenges for the last 13 years. While submissions are being invited from around the world, all technologies must be applicable to Alberta. All technical solution providers will maintain their intellectual property. The ultimate success in this challenge will see a result in technologies that can provide or exceed a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 1 megatonne. The CCEMC Grand Challenge: Innovative Carbon Uses offers three rounds of funding that total $35 million over a five-year period. The first round, with
David Lewin, Vice Chair CCEMC
Paul Clark, Chair CCEMC
submissions due by July 15, 2013, offered grants of $500,000 for up to 20 projects. The winners were announced in March 2014. The second round of the competition is again open to submissions from around the world and will provide $3 million each for up to five projects that have successfully advanced their technologies. The final round will identify a winner of the Grand Challenge, selected from the second round finalists, who will be provided a $10 million grant to assist in establishing and commercializing their technology. The CCEMC will help connect winners of each round of funding with an ecosystem of support that includes mentors, business developers, venture capitalists and potential partners. The CCEMC Grand Challenge: Innovative Carbon Uses, draws on a broad network of supporters that includes Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Alberta Energy, Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital, Carbon Management Canada, Canadian Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, June
Warren Nichols and members of the Alberta Innovates organization including Alberta Innovates - Energy and Environment Solutions, Alberta Innovates - Bio Solutions and Alberta Innovates Technology Futures. The CCEMC is a not-for-profit corporation that operates independently of government. Funding for the CCEMC is collected from industry. Since 2007, Alberta companies that annually produce more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over a baseline are legally required to reduce their greenhouse gas intensity by 12 per cent. Companies have three options to meet their reduction target: improve the efficiency of their operations, buy carbon credits in the Alberta-based offset system or pay $15 into the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund for every tonne over the reduction limit. The CCEMC invests the money collected into the discovery, development and deployment of clean technology. More detail on CCEMC is available at www.ccemc.ca.
Top quality products Quality control support and Maximum value
EST.1967
YOUR PARTNER IN DRILLING FLUIDS TECHNOLOGY SINCE 1967 WWW.MUDCO.COM | PH. 403.269.5359 | FAX. 403.262.1547 | DRILLINGFLUIDS@MUDCO.COM
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
27
THE OUTDOORS
G N GUIDE I P M A C JASPER
P
icture yourself sitting around a campfire: gooey s’mores in hand, smoke stinging your eyes, gazing up at a sea of stars in Jasper National Park. With so many campgrounds to choose from in one of the world’s largest dark sky preserves, Jasper is the perfect destination for your next camping trip. Whether you’re bringing the whole family or just looking for a weekend away with your friends, you won’t run out of places to stay, wildlife to see and adventures to embark on. Remember, you are always camping within wildlife habitat so store all food in your vehicle or the campground food storage lockers. By keeping a food-free campsite you help prevent problem animals and ensure long-term survival of our wildlife. Jasper is camping ready year-round! So get ready to head to the mountains! Share stories, roast marshmallows, sing and capture the essence of Canadian camping. Hope to see you in Jasper National Park soon!
28
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
Valley Lake, Jasper
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
29
THE OUTDOORS
Photography By Nicole Gaboury
POCAHONTAS CAMPGROUND: Imagine taking a quick dip in the Miette Hotsprings before heading back to your campsite for the night. A self-registration campsite, Pocahontas campground
30
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
sits on Miette Road, just 30 minutes away from Jasper. If you don’t want to venture into town, there are gift shops, restaurants, and a café a short drive up Miette Road. The sites are spacious; and set well back from the campground road, offering additional peace and quiet. Pocahontas also features sites for those with limited mobility that are flatter and closer to accessible washrooms. This campsite is the perfect spot for hikers looking to hike either the Sulphur Skyline or Utopia Pass day hikes. The trailhead for both hikes is near the Miette Hotsprings, a perfect opportunity to soak your sore muscles after a long hike! For those of you adventuring across Canada or the Rockies without a specific timeline in mind, selfregistration campgrounds like Wilcox and Pocahontas offer the perfect camping option. You simply stop at the campsite you wish to visit and register at the kiosk. Wilcox also offers an option for those who wish to camp in the winter near the Columbia Icefields. Campers may set up at the Wilcox Pass Trailhead; although, note the campground is unmaintained during the winter season. WABASSO CAMPGROUND: Storytelling is at the heart of the camping experience. Wabasso campground offers that and much more with its spectacular views, rushing water and abundant road biking opportunities in close proximity. Wabasso has enough activity and fun to keep the whole family busy with a brand new playground, and is comfortable - with heated bathrooms, hot and cold running water, and flush
Photography By Emily Rendell-Watson
WILCOX CREEK CAMPGROUND: Are you up for a real adventure? Wilcox Creek campground is rustic and lies at the base of one of the most spectacular hikes in Jasper National Park: Wilcox Pass. With vehicle accessible and walk-in campsites that perch on the edge of a creek, chirping birds and rushing water will be music to your ears while you soak in majestic glacier views. If the glacier tempts you from your campsite, take a short drive down the road to the Columbia Icefields where you can take a ride on the Snowcoach or book a guided walk to explore the glacier. At the end of the day, check out the Icefields Center or warm up at the free campfire program Parks Canada offers at Wilcox Creek campground. If you do decide to hike Wilcox Pass, be sure to keep an eye out for Jasper National Park’s new red Adirondack chairs, which are perfect for taking a minute to sit down and soak in the amazing scenery! The road trip itself to Wilcox Campground along the Icefields Parkway is also well worth the drive. Spectacular views of mountains and glaciers are guaranteed, and the likelihood of spotting elk, deer, big-horned sheep, and mountain goats is high. Stops along the way can include the Athabasca Falls or Sunwapta Falls to stretch the legs, and the Mount Edith Cavell lookout point is a great scenic spot for lunch or a quick photo opportunity.
Photography By Ryan Bray
WHISTLERS CAMPGROUND: Jasper’s largest campground has a place to stay for everyone! If you’re a seasoned camper and love being in your tent or motorhome, you will still have access to the familiar amenities Whistler offers, like hot and cold running water in showers that don’t need tokens! Whistlers offers full hook-up sites for RVs or, alternatively, you can take advantage of one of the campground’s new cottage tents or oTENTtiks. These are close to a ‘glamping’ experience, where you only need to bring your own clothes, food and bedding. You still have a “roof “over your head with no set-up required. If you come with all your closest friends and family, group camping in Marmot Meadows at Whistlers gives you the perfect viewpoint to enjoy the twinkling lights of Jasper’s Dark Sky Preserve. Town is always close-by for a quick run to the store or a post-dinner ice cream cone, and is even
quicker access now by using Parks Canada’s new interpretive trail that runs through the campground and along the river to Jasper town site. As you travel through the campground, you will often notice park interpreters running programs. Whistlers features nightly Xplorer’s Tent programs near the playground and other programs ranging from “Fun with Fire” to “Geocaching”. On Wednesday evenings, children have the opportunity to create an adventure video with an interpreter, on Saturdays, come ready to dance. Listen to the sound of the fiddle and watch traditional Metis dance with the whole family at Whistlers outdoor theatre. Whistlers is close to town but also provides a good staging point for hikes in the area. For those looking for a daytime adventure, start at the trailhead of Whistlers mountain. You’ll see this giant looming above the campground. It’s a difficult trail with rewarding views, but you can also opt to take the tramway to the top and take a short hike along the mountain’s ridgeline. You might even hear the distinctive whistling sounds of the hoary marmots, the Whistlers namesake. Regardless of what kind of camper you are, Whistler’s is sure to have something for you. Spots fill up fast - to avoid disappointment be sure to make reservations online at www.reservation. parkscanada.gc.ca or by calling 1-877-RESERVE. See you there this summer! By Emily Rendell-Watson FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.PC.GC.CA/JASPERCAMPING
Photography By Emily Rendell-Watson
toilets. Located on secondary highway 93A, Wabasso is an excellent campground for those wishing to embark on longer trips into the backcountry or on day trips to Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, or Moab Lake. Multi-day trips, such as the Fryatt Valley and the Tonquin Valley, are only a short drive away from the campground! At the end of the day, gather around a crackling fire to share campfire songs and let a Park Interpreter capture your curiosity as they share stories about Jasper National Park and its inspiring history. Wabasso’s campfire programs: “Keeping the ‘Wild’ in Wildlife” and “Campfire Sing Along” run on Friday and Saturday evenings. Be sure to bring a mug for tea!
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
31
FEATURE
STARTME
SO YOU WANT TO BUILD A
START-UP, AND YOU WANT TO BE IN ALBERTA OIL AND GAS?
32
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
UP
s an entrepreneur, if you’ve been around long enough you realize, aside from the obvious idiosyncrasies common within the various worlds and industries that are occupied by many start-up entities, the nuances between them are as vast as the oceans and in many ways as unique as their respective ecosystems. In a business environment largely accustomed to the exposure of startups, particularly in ‘entrepreneur heavy’ Alberta, successes and failures are almost becoming commonplace with muted celebration being the norm. However, our culture is contrarian. So the fact that our humble start-up, Catch Resources, having gone through 18 months of positioning, is now at the acquisition stage is no small feat and certainly worthy of some internal recognition if not celebration, as most entrepreneurs can attest. The fact we established our start-up within an industry that exists within various states of turmoil reflects a desire to expand our intellectual and entrepreneurial capacity more so than falling under the generally perceived notion that, “It would be impossible to break into the oil and gas industry if you are not from within, so why bother.” We decided to bother anyway.
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
33
Statistics show that most start-ups are born within a single contemplation. Ours was no different and unfolded as a reflective thought. This one arrived on a bitterly cold February weekend, as we were contemplating how we might transition from a previous business and parlay our experience into a new-to-us industry. On a reflective note, one of the fantastic treasures about being an entrepreneur is, at certain junctures, you are afforded what is essentially a blank canvas. During this reflective time, we were fortunate to be provided our canvas, and over the course of several months, we painted and hung it on the wall (so to speak). We continually added opinions from others, particularly our co-founders. Time and again, we repainted the canvas until finally arriving on what our remarkable business journey would be this time around, including the industry and how we were going to develop the entity. It is prudent to emphasize that during this stage, one should never, ever, under any circumstance, underestimate the incredible opportunity you have at the moment of conception to establish future building blocks for something remarkable. The fact we elected to start a business within an industry that is somewhat staid (to say the least), requires buckets of cash, and has enormous technical requirements, meant we might encounter significant obstacles and push back from within.
34
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
To counter that possibility, we spent an exorbitant amount of time and effort on the little things. We definitely had, and still have, a big picture outlook. However, we felt instinctively our long-term success would hinge on how detailed we were at building the foundation of our company. As opposed to simply adding industry specific talent for the sake of shoring up our management team (as an example), we wanted to appeal to lenders and brokers. While the former approach works extremely well for those who have built oil and gas entities in the past and who may be P.Eng or P.Geo’s, we felt strongly, given our limited experience within the industry, it did not seem wise for us to duplicate that model. With the “what” and the “who” now well in hand, we focused our attention on templating our entry strategy. During this process, there were several nuances that quickly emerged. Many of these remained specific to starting a business in an industry that is not a core competency. Item one is the reinforcement a business is still a business no matter what industry or sector you elect to pursue. The second is no matter how many obstacles or barriers to entry an industry or sector may present, it’s always really helpful to remember item one. ‘Basic Principles of Business’ generally apply and adapt to all businesses regardless of how much you may or may not know about the sector personally. If you understand this fully, it will
allow you the confidence to build the technical team and expertise required to maneuver within it at your pace and criterion. As mentioned earlier, we spent the first full year outlining how to enter the industry and tried very hard to consider all variables and barriers. From that vantage point, we built our existing strategy, which for the most part has come to pass as a solid “first time entry into the industry” game plan. Working from the guidance of our core strategy, we have achieved milestones, experienced accomplishments, and overcome setbacks over the past 18 months. Some have been minor and some not so minor but all have been appreciated and recognized for what they are: a step in the right direction based on our corporate and board-aligned strategic “FOCUS”. Our team knows there is much heavy lifting yet to come, specifically, the conclusion of our primary asset acquisition and completion of our Mutual Fund Trust, both of which will fulfill our commitment to be generating revenue by 2015. Until then however, I wish you true happiness, fantastic health, and outstanding success in all your endeavors. By Dale Galbraith CATCH RESOURCES INC.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
SUCCESS STORMHOLD ENERGY’S BEGINNING
W
hat makes Stormhold Energy different is that their door is always open, their phone is always on, and they always get back to the most important people in their company; not only our senior management team, but every single shareholder,” says President / CEO Chadd Radke. It is this determination and unwavering commitment to having an honest and transparent business acumen that has taken Stormhold from just $362 CAD to having a projected worth of $3.46 billion dollars after 20 years by signing a very large Natural Gas supply contract. The $120,000,000.00 contract will be used to drill 80 Horizontal wells that will fulfill the 200MMCF per day Natural Gas Contract for over 20 years which calculates to $182,000,000.00 in annual income and $3.46 B in 20 years. When starting Stormhold, Radke surrounded himself with very experienced industry influencers, geologists, engineers, and scientists by bringing them on as senior consultants. Every single one of these individuals, including Radke himself, pur chased shares in the company to demonstrate they all had a vested interest and belief in its success. During Stormhold’s first year, Radke and his team worked out of their homes to raise enough capital to purchase their first 125 sections of land. For the energy industry at this time, this stood out as most companies bonded together and refused to buy mineral rights from the Alberta government. To this day, Radke continues to surround himself with industry influencers committed to these core values of Stormhold, and makes sure the company analyzed and audited by outside third party sources. Stormhold has also helped demonstrate their leadership by raising 17 million dollars in all equity, while having absolutely no banking or institutional debt whatsoever, a feat which is very rare within the energy industry. OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
35
With Stormhold now being the largest private landholding company in East Central Alberta, this leadership and transparency mandate has guided how Radke intends to grow Stormhold. Having turned down over $50 million dollars in debt capital - “I’m allergic to debt,” emphasizes Radke - the Stormhold team have raised all private equity through friends, their families, credited investors, and each team member. Radke continues to be completely honest and transparent as to what Stormhold is about and what they are prepared to do to increase their value to their shareholders. In fact, Radke welcomes all Shareholders to the office. They are encouraged to sit in on weekly team meetings and see firsthand what it takes to run an entrepreneurial start-up entity. Uncompromising with how Stormhold conducts business and unwilling to damage its credibility, Radke will always put the interests of his shareholders first.
36
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
Yet, there is something more to his success than his transparent manner that has taken Radke and Stormhold to such growth in just five years. It’s his entrepreneurial spirit, determination, and ability to refuse to say ‘no’ that have him and his team believe in his plan that builds the company. “It’s not in my vocabulary to say ‘this isn’t going to succeed.” It’s never once come out of my mouth that Stormhold isn’t going to be successful. After all this
“Be upfront and honest with the people you are doing business with, and they’ll help you.” hard work, we’ve done everything we can to move forward, and now finally looking at the releases we’ve generated and the joint venture partnerships, it’s taken five years.” A success that may have seemed slow, but truly is amazing. “Ninety-five percent of start-ups fail, and five percent are usually new entities that came about by companies like Suzanne West’s for example. She’s done very well for herself. She steps outside of the box as well. She doesn’t need to follow what I call ‘the industry leaders’, because they said so. Nor do I. Walking in the +15’s in Calgary, I hold my head high. It’s difficult to do business in Calgary when [companies] don’t want you to succeed,” says Radke Because of his dedication and commitment to his company and shareholders, Radke has been approached by a number of colleges in and outside of Alberta to mentor and answer how he’s become a success while other’s want to see him stop succeeding. His answer, “A lot of blood, sweat, and tears is how you do it. A lot of torn relationships. Not only from a personal perspective, but from an industry perspective.”
ALBERTA’S
ENERGY
CRUDE OIL NATURAL GAS OIL SANDS NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CRUDE OIL PIPELINE REFINERY HYDROELECTRIC PLANT COAL MINE WIND FARM THERMAL ELECTRIC FACILITY OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
37
STAFFING & RECRUITING
KEEPING
TALENT KEEPING STEP
PROVIDES COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE IN TACKLING THE WAR FOR TALENT Making decisions around securing talent in your organization is time consuming and costly. Employer differentiation will be vital in the war to obtain and retain talent for your organization. At Step, we’ve had the conversations with the talent you need to work with your business. We found out it is vital for this top talent to work for an organization that has integrity and are consistently working towards achieving the highest work ethic while abiding by mutual respect in the workplace. Many companies have defined their values in line with their mission and vision statements, but do they actually function this way every day?
38
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
WHY DO PEOPLE LEAVE? 43%
LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND ADVANCEMENT
39% LONG HOURS
20% LACK OF FIT TO THE JOB
43%
4O%
32%
22%
17%
8%
HEAVY WORKLOAD
CAREER ADVANCEMENT/ PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIES
MANAGEMENT/WORK ENVIROMENT
UNREALISTIC JOB EXPECTATIONS
PAY/ BENIFITS
FLEXIBILITY/ SCHEDULING
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
39
T
oday, knowing that the people you want in your organization prefer to work for companies that make a difference, walk the talk, and treat each other with respect, there has never been a better time to adhere to those mission and vision statements. If you feel you need to revamp the corporate values to reflect securing the talent you now require to successfully achieve those goals and outcomes, rest assured! The top talent today have indicated if companies say it, they should live it! We are all aware retention is essential to remain competitive. The Human Resources Institute Alberta (HRIA) have been so kind as to share some of their data on the latest HR trends here in Alberta. Step is grateful for their insights, and this author has the utmost respect for this professional association’s
causing the voluntary departure? Have you exhausted the fact that there may be a manager or a co-worker impacting your corporate culture and driving your top talent out the door? Other common reasons staff left their workplace came in low in comparison to the above reasons. The reasons were 9% for cause, 11% retired, which is only going to grow, and 11% without cause or downsizing. Thanks to this survey we can see it is worth it to ensure there are measures in place to create sustainable work environments where people are genuinely happy, feel empowered, are treated with mutual respect, and can trust their leaders. According to the HRIA trends report, it is estimated the overall average of the total cost to process the loss of an employee can be at minimum $15,270.00. Large businesses can be hit
According to the HRIA trends report, it is estimated the overall average of the total cost to process the loss of an employee can be at minimum $15,270.00 participation in allowing us to share some of the latest HR data obtained from the HR professionals in this province and collated by Abingdon Research. Did you know, according to this latest data, one of the most common reasons your staff is resigning is to find a better opportunity? In fact, in the last half of 2013, 43% of employees left for that exact reason. Now it is this author’s position that if we were consistently walking the talk in our organizations, chances are this turnover would not be nearly as high. Agreed? Yes, salaries are important; however, if those salaries are competitive and reasonable for the work provided, wages are not the sole reason someone stays in your organization. The report also included some other reasons your staff may leave. One of those is for personal reasons. Between 43% who are leaving to find a better workplace and the 26% who are moving on for personal reasons, that’s 69% of the talent you’ve spent time and money on securing in your company! One may have to ask: what is really
40
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
by at least $18,400.00 with other specific sectors at higher deficits, and it is all due to staff turnover. It is obvious the turnover costs can be a substantial amount of our operating budgets. The loss of these once valued partners in your companies is significant, and according to the report, these numbers have not changed much since the last report in 2013. So what is being done to implement the changes needed to prevent the turnover rate and decrease these costs to companies? Alberta’s HR professionals feel they have been pro-active in reducing turnover and resignations. The report states 74% of companies have action to reduce voluntary resignations in the last year. As HR professionals, our Step Staffing team also believes in the value of the reports top three actions being taken to reduce turnover. These are as follows: • Better onboarding at 41% • Flexible work arrangements at 33% • Team building at 32% The data also established finding replacement
staff with the equivalent experience and qualifications is difficult, and the confidence in finding replacement staff is low. Alberta employers continue to experience difficulties in finding the right people to fill their vac ancies. This data has not changed signi ficantly since 2013 and continues to be a topic we often hear from our clients as one of their top concerns. Alberta’s economy continues its positive expansion by allowing workers a greater amount of flexibility and options to pursue the employers they want to work for. The latest HRIA survey confirms 34% of executive roles, 46% of managerial positions, and 52% of professional jobs can take up to six months to fill, and after all of that time spent looking, were they even the right fit for that position? Unfilled vacancies over several months, or even a year, can have a negative impact on strategic business goals. Your staff may need to take on the additional workload until vacant positions are filled, which could result in your business missing project deadlines or making errors, both of which none of us can afford to do. Using outside recruiters is something 49% of companies did in the last six months to assist them with the war on obtaining the right talent to fill vacancies. While 42% of HR professionals anticipate using these vital services for some of their vacancies over the next six months, keep in mind leveraging the right vendor, who has proven business practices and utilizes second to none tools that can help you tackle the war for talent, will provide you the comfort and confidence while saving you time and money without sacrificing quality.
WHY THEY STAY 48%
46%
A GOOD MANAGER
FEELING APPRICIATED BY EMPLOYER
39%
28%
35%
32%
OPPORTUNITY FOR CAREER GROWTH
MANAGEMENT/WORK ENVIROMENT
PAY/ BENIFITS
FLEXIBILITY/ SCHEDULING
By Connie Cook BHRLR STEP STAFFING & RECRUITING
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
41
LIQUOR LANE
AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT I
n the wine world, we look to selfsustaining practices, such as sustainable agriculture, organic, and biodynamic agriculture, to help the environment. These are legally defined terms that, while differing in amount spent in time and money on getting certified from region to region, all work towards the same goal: creating a healthy, self-supporting farming eco-system. Organic wines are made from organically grown grapes (no pesticides, herbicides, etc) and have no added sulfites; although, there are natural sulfites in the grapes themselves. Biodynamic is akin to organic wines in that both are made without chemicals; however, it differs in that the vineyard is viewed as an ecosystem, while also accounting for effects such as lunar cycles and astrological influences. Sustainable agriculture is a scope
42
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
of practices that are ecologically sound but also incorporate social and economic responsibility. The latter of the three is the most common, because it is the most flexible when it comes to choosing what works best for the vineyard. These environmentally friendly practices not only support an accountability aspect in our concern for the environment, but it also produces stronger vines. So from the microbes in the soil all the way to the wine in our glass, there is less of a chemical imprint and more of a natural state.
By Devin McKay WINE ROOM EXPERT AT WILLOW PARK WINES & SPIRITS
DOMAINE CHAMPY MAZIS-CHAMBERTIN – 162.99 Founded in 1720 Domaine Champy (formally known as Masion Champy) is the oldest negociant in Burgundy still operating today. While it no longer assembles the grapes from smaller growers to make its wine, it has made big purchases in regards to vineyards throughout Burgundy. Although Champy practices organic methods, they are not technically certified organic. This is due to the sheer fact that almost all the vineyards in Burgundy are fractured with several different owners who all have several different viewpoints on how they make their wine and tend to their vines. You can see how trying this could become. Regardless, Champy does utilize organic practices in their winemaking, and it shows through in the final product no better than in their Grand Cru MazisChambertin 2009. This Pinot Noir is the pinnacle of the varietal bringing marvelous notes of ripe bush fruits, cake spice, minerality, and a rich mouth coating texture that gives way to a long smooth finish.
ST SUPERY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 – 22.49 Think old world ideology meets new world terroir. The Skalli family of France bought land in Napa in the 1970’s and has since been giving Bourdeaux varietals a new home in the Ruthford district. They have also taken with them the philosophy of sustainable farming in order to create a better environment not only for the surrounding area but the wine they make. These responsible stewards of the land have also become a part of “Napa’s Green” initiative, which strives to restore, protect, and enhance the regional watershed. This selflessness is not only shown through their caring of the land but the value that comes out of their extremely well priced wines. The St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc is a more luscious style with notes of citrus zest, juicy grapefruit, and even hints of the tropical fruit spectrum, all while having racy acidity throughout.
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
43
LIQUOR LANE SUMMERHILL ARIEL BRUT 1998 - 86.49 The first thing you realize when you step foot onto Summerhill’s terroir is this is more than just a vineyard: it’s a community. The Cipes family has owned and operated Summerhill since 1986 and from the beginning has had a commitment to organic and biodynamic practices in every aspect of their day-to-day lives. Their cardinal purpose was to create a sparkling wine based off grape clones out of champagne France, and this has led to their pinnacle vintage sparkling wine “Cipes Ariel 1998”. This sparkling wine, made out of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, has been purposely aged at Summerhill and has just been released for drinking. This lovely sparkling wine brings forth a very rich and complex style similar to that of aged champagne, with notes of brioche, custard, dried fruits, and a great nuttiness at full length.
CHAPOUTIER L’ ERMITE 1998 – 418.99 There is one word to describe wines from Chapoutier: terroir. Chapoutier wants the wines he makes to be an embodiment of the vintage itself, and for this reason, there is no such thing as a “bad vintage” in his eyes. His wines are the product of nature, and all we do as humans is guide the wine from grape to bottle. This view makes him a flagship producer for organic and biodynamic wines. The idea is you want to be proactive and not reactive. Thus, you make the vines and the environment around them naturally strong, so you don’t have to use chemicals and other techniques. This theory is displayed through his terroir driven single vineyard wine L’ Ermite, which is 100% Syrah and comes from 80 year old vines. It is characterized by the black fruit spectrum, spice, pepper, meatiness, and a light smokiness structured throughout.
44
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
oasis
FIND THE PERFECT VACATION HOME Escape the hustle and bustle and discover the rich lifestyle and beauty Arizona has to offer. Our residential vacation rentals are the very best, rivaling any hotel or resort standard. Each unique and individual home offers a wealth of amenities that showcase the ‘Best of the Valley of the Sun”. Treat yourself and the ones you love to an adventure that will create memories for a lifetime. Let us show you the way to relaxation and sunshine with one of our featured vacation properties.
IN THE SUN
To book one of these featured vacation properties call: 1.888.998.8031 or visit FEATURED PROPERTY
WINDROSE
FEATURED PROPERTY
FAIRVIEW
ONLINE
LOCAL EATS
BEER
REVOLUTION THE SPOT: Nestled on 8th Street at 10th Avenue SW, just a hop away from MEC and a short walk from the Core, Beer Revolution is bringing ‘pizza to the people’ as well as beer, lots of beer. Clean, modern, and subdued, the spot at Beer Revolution is welcoming and comfortable. The walls are adorned with TVs for sports viewing and, of course, their airport-esque arrival/departure signs announce the rotating tap schedule. The location is a perfect escape from the city towers by a few blocks and has a more relaxed happy hour or lunch than jostling and hamster caging it in the more densely populated corridors of downtown Calgary. WHAT’S SPECIAL: As mentioned, Beer Revolution is part of, and perhaps the foremost purveyor of, the ‘rotating taps’ phenomenon taking over drinking establishments everywhere. While they have a few permanent residents from local and in-house brewing, the other 22 taps are continually being changed, even sometimes multiple times a day to accommodate for a barrage of kegs from a multitude of diverse and aggressive breweries. An IPA from PEI, a wheat ale from the west coast, a raspberry beer from Rhode Island, a….you get the picture. You can watch it all in real time on the big boards spotted around the lounge: what’s in, what’s arriving afterwards, and what you have one last chance to get a pint of before it takes off back into rotation. It certainly beats staring at a board to see your Aunt’s flight has been delayed by two hours while you arrived 20 minutes early. The staff is readily trained to recommend and pair with food and educate you on your beer adventure. THE MENU: What goes good with beer? Wings: got’em. Pretzels: got’em. Nachos: got’em. But
46
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
the star of the show here is the pizza. Sticking to some strong philosophies from Naples, the pizzas are made with real San Marzano tomatoes. Special 00 flour is made into thin dough, and the pizza is baked in a 350-degree oven. On top, they went in a completely different and extraordinarily delicious direction. Clever names for the toppings make for an excellent match to your earlier selected beverage. For example, the Newton features prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, and figs naturally and the Blazing Saddle is topped with steak, banana peppers, Cajun remoulade, and horseradish aioli. One of the favourites, and most creative, needs to be the Junior Boy. It’s a Hawaiian amped up to 11. Prosciutto, grilled pineapple, roasted jalapenos, smoked cheddar, marinara, and a maple syrup drizzle makes a sweet and spicy pizza that will not be forgotten easily. Served square-ish and hand rolled, they truly are a unique pie offering in Calgary and must be tried. THE VIBE: Rock n’ Roll comes from the speakers, a revolutionary selection of beers comes from the taps, and an amazing blend of old school and new school thinking comes from the kitchen. All of this is wrapped in educated, prompt, and friendly service. Beer Revolution is part of the Brewster’s family, the Alberta based pub icon that has been serving great food and drink with great service at an agreeable price for years all over the cities of this fine province. The quality commitment of the company is seen in the presentation and professionalism at Beer Revolution, but it is kind of the crazy step child with its menu and approach. This makes a combination for a truly unique but enjoyable experience. A great place for lunch, a comfortable spot for happy hour or a game, and always a good time at night to meander a beer selection and share a pizza. The popularity of Beer Revolution has caught on, and they have added a second location in Edmonton, if you ever have to be up there. Beer Revolution 1080 8 ST SW Calgary, AB beerrevolution.ca By Chris Grabill
The big apple pizza
The star of the show-Naples inspired pizza
24 taps are continually being changed
The Wrap Blazing Saddle
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
47
STIRRING THE
I
s there anything more comforting than a warm bowl of soup? Soup can soothe anything from an aching body to an ailing heart to a heavy soul. It may not always cure, but there is something about its old-fashioned, comforting properties that seems to nudge the healing process. It is with this in mind that Susan Hampton, founder of Soup Sisters, gathered with others in the community to help women and children in crisis. Calgary Women in Energy have had the great honor of participating in Susan’s events and have made soup since 2012. Their participation and dedication to these soup-making sessions have helped to provide hundreds of liters of soup to women’s shelters and programs for youth in crisis right across the country. Soup Sisters was founded in 2009 with a very simple belief in the power of soup as a nurturing and nourishing gesture that could make a tangible difference. Two of societies most prevalent issues, domestic abuse and youth homelessness, would benefit from the care and warmth that comes in a bowl of soup. A powerful message that says ‘we care’ is now being delivered to over 25 residential shelters across the country through homemade delicious soup made with the finest ingredients. Soup Sisters is a year-round program where participants engage in a soup making event at a local professional kitchen under the guidance of a chef facilitator. Each event produces approximately 150-200 servings of nourishing soup that is delivered fresh to a local shelter. Events are social evenings with lively conversation, chopping, laughter and warm kitchen camaraderie that culminate in a
48
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
POT
simple, sit-down supper of soup, salad, bread, and wine for all participants. (www.soupsisters.org) The community has come together to help produce over 8,000 servings of fresh and delicious soups for women, children, and youth each month. Since March of 2009, over 250,000 containers of soup have been delivered to shelters all across Canada. Calgary Women in Energy lead by example. The ladies meet quarterly, engage to invest in others, and create relationships that foster teamwork and generate a culture of greatness. “It is through programs like Soup Sisters that Calgary Women in Energy were able to discover that who stirs the pot has an impact on what’s in the pot,” said Kristy Hysert, the President of Calgary Women in Energy. “The same is true in business and in every aspect of life. The most important ingredient we can put into anything is authenticity. Love, optimism, appreciation, and passion make programs like Soup Sisters possible. We look forward to continuing our support to Soup Sisters and our local community.” Calgary Women in Energy strives to be the voice for professional women in Calgary’s Energy sector through charitable acts of kindness and volunteerism. For more information on Calgary Women in Energy, or for membership inquiries, please visit www.cwie.org.
By Kristy Hysert DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT FOR CALGARY WOMEN IN ENERGY.
Since March of 2009, over 250,000 containers of soup have been delivered to shelters all across Canada.
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
49
WOMEN IN WORKBOOTS
SMART
TRUCKING Catherine MacMillan is the founder of Smart Trucking, an online resource and network of truckers who are passionate about their work. Here she shares her story of how she became an entrepreneur in an industry that has been traditionally targeted to men.
T
here’s just no doubt about it, the trucking industry is a man’s world. Big rig trucks, diesel engines, CB radios, loading docks, heavy equipment... these are all part of the world of trucking that has traditionally belonged to the men. But, in recent years, the number of women in trucking is slowly increasing. There’s bound to be some challenges for a gal, no matter what her role, in any industry that is seriously dominated by males. As the owner of a small produce-hauling fleet, I’ve tripped across a few interesting situations in the early days of my involvement in trucking. Mostly the men were surprised and voiced, ‘why would a woman have anything to do with trucking?’. Honestly? It never really did cross my mind that
50
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
I was any different than anyone else in the trucking industry. I never once thought I had to try any harder than a man to be successful. It was all about doing the job. I believe the key to success in any job, is to have the confidence and the drive to do the job and do it extremely well. Gender has absolutely nothing to do with job success. My advice is keep your nose to the grindstone and stay focused and true to your goals. WHY TRUCKING? I grew up around trucks... my grandfather was a trucker, so I knew a lot about big rigs. Way more than most others girls as I found out! After owning a truck for several years ago, back when there was good money in trucking and the industry wasn’t so heavily regulated as it is now, I made the decision to take the whole thing to the next level. My entrepreneurial spirit was calling out to me in spite of the fact that my two university degrees were completely unrelated to trucking! Slowly but surely, as the capital was generated, more and more equipment was added to my fleet. The hard work and long hours started to pay off. I was able to build up a successful small fleet, specializing in produce hauling. Trucking has been
a big part of my life, and thus a great passion. Two days in this business are rarely the same and that’s one of the things I love about it. I’d certainly encourage any woman to pursue a career in trucking whether it be the role of a dispatcher, a truck driver, a fleet owner, or warehouse worker. If you’re able to master the skill set required for the work, go for it. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry is a nonissue in my books. Trucking has been a huge part of my life for many, many years. Along with the successes, there were trials and tribulations too. The Smart
I grew up around trucks... my grandfather was a trucker, so I knew a lot about big rigs. Way more than most others girls as I found out! Trucking website and other associated social platforms have been great ways to pass on my experience and lessons learned to others in the industry. This networking came to be a way for me to ‘give back’ to the trucking community. As the editor of the Smart Trucking website, my interactions add a whole new dimension and richness to my life. I interact with truckers, fleet owners and other industry employees. It’s awesome to share stories and information with others in the business and share how professionals continue to grow in their field. Check out our website at www.smart-trucking. com and read about Gals and Their Rigs, one of our feature sections showcasing women who love their careers in the trucking industry.
Previously featured in Women in Workboots Magazine Vol 1
Catherine MacMillan
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
51
VESPA’S EVENTS
52
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
WHAT’S
COOKING CATERING TRENDS IN 2014
There has been a definite shift in meal service at events from the traditional buffets and plated five course meals of yester-year to more of an interactive food station to create ‘buzz’ and curiosity amongst the guests. Cocktail style receptions are rising in popularity with smaller plates and smaller bites to offer a variety of teasing treats to excite every palate in the room. Menu selections have also diverted their focus to provide enticing options. This cleaner, neater presentation allows caterers to strive for what they do best: provide patrons with quality versus quantity and, most importantly, uniqueness.
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
53
VESPA’S EVENTS
Y
ou will continue to see presentation styles in bite sized appetizers and canapés served in large spoons or bowls. Chefs strive to delicately prepare a sampling of options to tempt guests to be a bit more adventurous and try things they would have normally steered away from. You may also see acknowledgements of the local producer where the foods have been purchased to bolster the farm to table movement and assure consumers they are eating ‘real’ in every sense of the word. Grilling has rivalled sautéed, broiled, and baked once again, and it is considered the best way to prepare food and optimize flavours, presentation, and quality. Sous-vide, which is French for vacuum packed, is also on the rise and involves cooking food in air-tight plastic bags in a temperature controlled ‘bath’. This process depends on the steam to cook the item slowly and thoroughly, for up to 72 hours in some cases, with the intention to retain its moisture and maximize its flavour. Although Mediterranean cuisine is the leading favorite, Middle Eastern influences ranging from areas such as Turkey, Israel, Morocco, and Iran are becoming more attractive choices this year. Unique spices from the region are integrated into the meals to showcase ethnic diversity and create a memorable twist. Food allergies are always a primary concern during menu selection and preparation. Gluten-free options have significantly increased, and chefs are more resourceful in what they are serving. Quinoa, amaranth, millet, and wild rice are not only gluten free but dubbed super foods and are in demand, which allows chefs to provide different and healthier options. These grains are also being milled into flour, and bakers are creating rich, dense breads which are a true shift from options available only a couple of years ago. Dairy-free sensitivities are focusing on other sources, such as soy, coconut, almond, and rice milk, during food preparation. Oils are evolving to create that signature dish by using sources derived from grape seed, nut, avocado, and other non-traditional oils versus olive, canola, and sunflower, which have been the standard. Desserts are shifting from the standard large portions to a variety of eye catching mini-desserts, hand crafted ice creams, and gelatos. Innovative flavour pairings in desserts will continue to gain popularity through the use of salted caramel and coconut lime. Comfort food, little bites, hot donuts smothered in maple syrup and bacon, as well as alcohol infused desserts will also continue to be sure-fire crowd pleasers. No matter what you choose to serve at your events, a hint of sweet at the end of your meal is guaranteed to win your guests over. Bon appetite! Sylvia M. Vespa
SHINDIGS AND SOIREES, AN EVENT COORDINATION & MANAGEMENT COMPANY 403-909-9095
54
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
55
ENVIRONMENT
ON
NATURES SIDE MAKING SMALLER FOOTPRINTS ON THE ALBERTA OILSANDS REGION
T
he Fort McMurray area is notoriously known as the centre of oilsand operations. But what most people don’t known is that salt was mined in the area from 1924 to 1950 and in some geological areas holds a thickness of 200 meters. So, with review and the given history of The Alberta Salt Company, triggering the assumption salt deposit in the Fort McMurray area should be adequate, Kevin Baumann awaited confirmation. After Baumann received proof the salt formations would be ideal for the development of a waste disposal cavern he persevered launching his venture White Swan Environmental Ltd. [named after the areas legendary Cree Indian chief White Swan]. He then leased mineral rights on 59 townships south of town and started accumulating pre-distributed surface leases for the drilling of the company’s first wells near Hangingstone just off Highway 63. In addition, the company entered into an agreement to purchase an existing pre-built treatment facility with rail access just off of Highway 881. The company plans to use both of these Fort McMurray area locations for waste processing, 1-A disposal and cavern disposal. Baumann who has previously developed waste facilities near Pembina, Paddle River, Grande Cache in Alberta and one in Estevan, Saskatchewan was also involved in an ownership position in the historical Melville disposal cavern. It was this involvement that confirmed to Baumann that caverns are the utmost environmentally sound disposal option for liquid solids and solid oilfield waste provided they are operated correctly. In Baumann’s opinion, if there was ever a location
56
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
for a third party cavern it should be near the oilsands. “I have surveyed loads and customers on 881 and 63 and it’s amazing the waste volume that travels long distances south on an annual basis. The new locations will create a positive reduction in truck traffic being a benefit to all.” Says Baumann. Stressing that White Swan’s projects are a constructive benefit for the region with his number one priority being minimal environmental impact. For this reason, each site White Swan develops will be on pre-disturbed leases such as a battery site, core site or abandoned well locations. When asked why not a landfill? Baumann replied, “It is a sensitive area and in my opinion more landfills would not build any company a greater social license, although they would generate revenue. Unfortunately, a landfill is seldom out of site out of mind they are not separated by 600 meters of over burden, special casing and cement. With 176 square kilometers of ponds in the region one would think another surface storage area isn’t necessary.” On July 17th White Swan Environmental Ltd. spudded their first disposal well with First Nations and area elders on site to bless the project. Baumann himself metis along with son Derek Baumann and two of his grandchildren took part in this traditional ceremony. By Darla Rathwell WHITE SWAN ENVIRONMENTAL To assist in funding White Swans growth the company is conducting a private placement opportunity for family friends and accredited investors
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
57
TECHNOLOGY
The Wilson Centre’s namesake, Mr. W. Brett Wilson addresses the topic of “entrepreneurship with a social purpose” to a sold out crowd at Pitch Party 2013.
58
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
IDEA
CHALLENGE $30,000 TO STUDENT
ENTREPRENEURS
AWARDS
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well amongst students at the University of Saskatchewan, where programs such as the Wilson Centre’s i3 Idea Challenge are encouraging students to experience first-hand what goes into launching a business.
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
59
SkipTheDishes.ca pitches their online food delivery service at the 2014 i3 Idea Challenge Finale. Left to right: Chris Simair, Paul Thomson, Max Gooding and Josh Simair.
Onatha Studios demo’s the OnaPEP, (left) which is designed to turn PEP therapy for children with cystic fibrosis into a video game. The concept began as a fourth year Engineering Design Project at the University of Saskatchewan. Left to right: Dalton Mainil, Thomas Bazin, and Tyler Spink.
60
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
T
he W. Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence was established in 2007 as a partnership between the University of Saskatchewan and U of S Alumni, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr. W. Brett Wilson. Since opening, the Centre has been connecting creative thinkers from across different backgrounds and disciplines, facilitating the formation and development of new business ideas, and supporting early stage entrepreneurs on their journey towards success. One of the Wilson Centre’s largest programs is an annual business idea competition called the i3 Idea Challenge. The competition calls for individuals to submit a three page summary of their business idea along with a three minute video pitch. The submissions are vetted by a panel of judges, and the winning startups are awarded cash and in-kind support to help take their businesses to the next level. This year’s top prize of $15,000 was won by SkiptheDishes, an online food delivery service. Second place ($10,000) went to MagnoPlug, a new type of power-connector that eliminates the difficulties and safety issues found with the traditional 3-pronged plug, and third place ($5,000) went to Thrive Juice Co, a raw & nutrient dense cold-pressed juice company. “The finalists we chose represent a wide range of business ideas. What they all have in common is a highly marketable product or service, and a knowledgeable team committed to taking the idea forward,” said Meghan Gervais, Senior Advisor, Major Projects at Saskatchewan Research Council and one of this year’s i3 Idea Challenge judges. Over the past six years, the i3 Idea Challenge has helped create more than 40 new business ventures and has awarded more than $330,000 to student entrepreneurs. Among many others, past contenders of the i3 Idea Challenge include Onatha Studios, with a system that integrates video gaming into the airway clearance therapy for children with cystic fibrosis, Farm at Hand, with cloud-based farm management software, and 3Twenty Modular, a leading designer and manufacturer of modular workforce housing and offices. “It’s extremely rewarding to help these passionate young entrepreneurs,” says the Wilson Centre’s Director, Stephanie Yong, “Their success is a great example to look up to and we hope it encourages others to creatively identify and explore new business opportunities.” By Nicole Walsh PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT THE W. BRETT WILSON CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCELLENCE
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
61
ARTIST PROFILE
MICHELLE HOOGVELD 62
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
Y
ou probably wouldn’t believe that my career as an artist began on a folded up ping-pong table. With my twin sister on one side, and me on the other, I would paint for hours in my parents’ garage, listening to music on an old static-filled radio, experimenting with colour palette’s and a variety of styles. My fascination for painting continued while attending Lynn University on a full soccer scholarship in Boca Raton, Florida. I remember sneaking into the universities art studios just so that I could paint through the night; scraping and dripping and layering paint, intuitively creating and ultimately discovering my affinity towards mixed media painting. After graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Design, I had my first solo show in Delray Beach, Florida, fueling my desire to continue on as an artist. I then went on to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education from The University of British Columbia. Ever since, I have been selling my work to private collectors throughout Canada and the United States. Recently, I was juried into the 2014 Western Showcase Stampede Auction and was also was selected as one of the winners to create all of the artwork for the 2014 Calgary Stampede Rotary Dream Home. My work emulates our urban environment, emphasizing habitual routine, the people we encounter, and the personal associations we have towards objects. I seek to understand the faces and structures of our everyday lives and to portray our surroundings through the use of oil and spray paint, found objects and images, inks and papers and a variety of mediums that stimulate expression and add depth to my paintings. Currently, I am represented by Gibson Fine Art Gallery and work out of my home studio in Calgary, Alberta. If you are interested in a specific piece or commissioning a custom painting or mural, please inquire at info@michellehoogveld.com SEE HER WORK ON THE NEXT SPREAD
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
63
64
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
65
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
ADD/ADHD PART 1: NATURAL REMEDIES
66
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
CONNECTED
A
ttention deficit disorder (ADD), today known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is a disorder that manifests with symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention. The treatment of ADHD may involve behavioral interventions, medication, and schoolbased interventions alone or in combination. Parents are usually involved in the delicate and often stressful decision process regarding the choice of therapy. Together with the treating physician, the family must evaluate the risks and benefits of the various treatment options to determine the optimal treatment strategy. People are often surprised to hear there are natural or alternative medicine approaches for treating ADHD. Often people are not aware of these and families have never heard of such choices. With that being said, what are these therapeutic choices, and is their evidence supporting their use in children or adolescents suffering from ADHD?
VENDOR OF THE MONTH
MAKING SAFETY MANAGEABLE
A Staff of Well-Trained Safety Professionals
CONTINUED WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW COMPANIES LIKE CORSAFETY ARE USING OILFIELD HUB TO GET IN THE DOOR WITH OPERATORS TO BECOME PREFERRED VENDORS?
100% Western Canadian Owned & Operated GIVE US A CALL AT 403-537-6561 OR SEND US AN EMAIL
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
67
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH Evidence-based therapies are those whose effectiveness has been demonstrated in well-controlled clinical trials. One product has enough sufficient clinical trial evidence to consider it an evidencebased therapy for ADHD. This product contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and phosphatidylserine. Preliminary research demonstrated the benefits of supplementation with phosphatidylserine on mental performance and perceived stress. Pilot clinical trials demonstrated that phosphatidylserine taken daily for two months significantly improved ADHD symptoms. A placebo-controlled, randomised trial demonstrated that phosphatidylserine significantly improved ADHD symptoms and short-term auditory memory in children.
Alternative health practitioners often treat children with ADHD using herbal remedies. This therapeutic approach is common and clinically justified Subsequent to the conduct of pilot studies, a well-designed trial in 200 children diagnosed with ADHD randomised to receive either 300 mg of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) enriched phosphatidylserine per day or placebo for 15 weeks was performed. This study also included a 15 week extension phase. One hundred and fifty of the children continued into the open label extension phase for an additional 15 weeks, in which they all (including the placebo group) consumed 150 mg of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) enriched phosphatidylserine per day. Efficacy was assessed using Conners’ parent and teacher rating scales (CRS-P, T), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). The most significant result in the product treatment group of the double-blind phase was the significant reduction in the Global: Restless/Impulsive subscale of CRS-P and the significant improvement in
68
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
Parent Impact-Emotional (PE) subscale of the CHQ. A subgroup analysis of children with a more pronounced hyperactive/impulsive behavior, as well as mood and behavior-dysregulation, revealed a significant reduction in the ADHD-Index and hyperactive components. Data from the open label extension indicated sustained efficacy for children who continued to receive the product treatment. Children who switched to product treatment from placebo showed a significant reduction in subscales scores of both CRS-P and the CRS-T as compare to baseline scores. The safety evaluation demonstrated the consumption of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) enriched phosphatidylserine by children with ADHD, as indicated in a 30 week evaluation period, is safe and well tolerated without any negative effect on body weight or growth. There is a lot of research in dietary treatments because of reports linking ADHD with the “Westernstyle” (often referred to as the North American diet) diet. ADHD is linked to diets high in fat and refined sugars. Some of these diets may sound interesting for your child, but implementing these into the family’s daily routine will be a challenge. The implementation will be an issue for the decision process! In practice, additive-free and oligoantigenic/elimination diets are time consuming and often disruptive to the household. If you are willing to make a long-term dietary change, this could be an option to investigate and discuss with various health professionals. Dietary research clearly stresses the importance of educating parents and children on the benefits of a healthy diet, especially avoiding foods or ingredients shown to predispose to ADHD. This issue will be examined in next month’s issue (Part 2 – Foods and ADHD). Research has shown supplementing with zinc in patients with known deficiencies can enhance the effectiveness of the medication stimulant therapy. Other studies found zinc supplements may reduce hyperactive, impulsive, and impaired socialization symptoms, as well as other ADHD symptoms. These did not help the attention-deficiency symptoms, as assessed by the Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder Scale. Alternative health practitioners often treat children with ADHD using herbal remedies. This therapeutic approach is common and clinically justified. Unfortunately, from a modern medicine point of view, it is not evidence based in that there has not been a clinical trial performed in children with ADHD. Simply, the practitioner prescribes the remedies based on the symptoms or conditions they are trying to manage. Alertness and concentration are improved using cognition-enhancing herbs, such as Ginkgo biloba and Korean ginseng. Support for the nervous system is provided using nervine tonics, such as Scullcap. Calming herbs, such as Passion Flower, are used at night to assist restorative sleep. Adaptogens, such as Eleutherococcus, and tonics, such as Korean ginseng and Ashwaganda, are used to support the stressed and depleted child. Bottom line, there are several alternatives that can be used to help manage ADHD in children and adolescents. Nutrition is clearly a major
factor in your child’s health and well-being and should be part of the family decision process. It is important to discuss these alternative approaches with your child’s physician if you are concerned about the long-term impact of drugs, such as Methylphenidate, on your child’s health and wellbeing. You are not alone with this concern, so be proactive and raise the issue during the risk and benefit decision process. Chances are the physician may not be aware of these choices, and they will be interested in discussing any therapeutic option that has evidence of safety and effectiveness. Keep in mind ADHD is a complex disorder to treat, and a parents’ involvement is a crucial element in a successful therapy. By Guy Chamberland, M.SC., PH.D., MASTER HERBALIST, HEALTH PRODUCT CONSULTANT CONTACT HIM AT GUYCHAMBERLANDMASTERHERBALIST@LIVE.CA.
ADVOCATE
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
69
TECHNOLOGY
SPOOLABLE
COMPOSITE PIPES NOT ALL ARE CREATED EQUAL
A
s recently as seven to ten years ago, usage of high-pressure reinforced spoolable composite pipe was still in the early adoption stage in the North American oil and gas service. Since then, the technology has gained significant acceptance and has displaced a growing portion of steel pipe usage in high pressure applications. These applications include flowlines, gathering lines, produced water lines, water and CO2 injection lines, saltwater disposal lines, and frack water management lines, all of which can be highly corrosive. There are at least five manufacturers of spoolable composite pipe who are active in North America. The purpose of this article is to identify the value brought by spoolable composite pipe, the various types of technology in the market today, and issues that should be considered by an end-user specifying engineer. When properly applied and installed, reinforced spoolable composite pipe can provide many years of safe, reliable, and maintenance-free operation. THE VALUE PROPOSITION Usually reinforced spoolable pipe is first tried by the user to solve a corrosion problem. Because the pipe is non-metallic, solving corrosion issues is a key benefit. However, once users see how fast and easy the pipe is installed, they often then select the pipe for economic reasons. The benefits of using spoolable composite pipe also include:
70
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
• Low installed costs and fast completion of projects. • Increased safety because of small installation crews and less equipment on the Right-of-Way (ROW), • Low environmental footprint, again due to less equipment and activity on the ROW. • Low ownership costs by eliminating expensive corrosion inhibitor chemical programs. • No welding, no x-rays, and no cathodic protection. • Increased cash flow because production comes on quicker. • Able to handle high pressure and temperatures. • Light weight, low freight costs, and easy to handle in the field. • Compliant with industry standards. • Proven materials. THE TECHNOLOGY There are usually three materials used in the manufacture of spoolable composite pipe. The inner liner is usually made of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), a material that is corrosion resistant and has many decades of successful experience in low pressure oil and gas service. But, HDPE by itself is pressure and temperature limited. Because of its low friction characteristics, HDPE has a higher flow rate than steel pipe of comparable diameters. For example, often an operator can deploy six inch composite pipe instead of eight inch steel pipe
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
71
and accomplish flows that can satisfy the project requirements. The second material employed is used as a reinforcement material that allows the pipe to now handle higher pressures. The liner travels through a series of winders where the reinforcement wrap is applied at very specific angles. Depending on the pipe manufacturer, the reinforcement material could be braided Polyester, fiberglass strands, or various types of steel bands and cords. Other reinforcement materials could include carbon fibers and Kevlar® aramid fibers, again, depending on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers wind these various fibers in a dry (or unbonded) process and others use an epoxy to bond the fibers. Either approach has its own merits and should be understood prior to making a purchase decision. The third and final pipe material utilized is an extruded HDPE (or other plastic) layer used as a protective outer jacket to protect the pipe during installation. Pictured here is one manufacturer’s design, SoluForce®RLP, that depicts a pipe cutaway showing the HDPE liner on the right, the Polyester braided reinforcement wrap in the middle, and the extruded HDPE jacket on the left. All of these materials are fully compatible with the chemistry seen in oil and gas production. Connecting multiple reels of pipe is accomplished by using couplings made of coated carbon steel,
stainless steel, and now a totally non-metallic electrofusion coupling has been developed. Pipe terminations are done by installing weldneck or flange fittings, which are made of a variety of corrosion-resistant materials. Steel risers can be welded directly to the weldneck fitting if the user wishes to bring steel pipe to the surface. All these fittings are typically installed in the field, and most manufacturers provide field service training for the user’s chosen contractor. The fittings design varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but some utilize a fitting installation process that is pressed into and then crimped on to the pipe, which is very similar to a hydraulic hose type of connection. The pipe is fully tested at the plant prior to shipment. Typically, a section of pipe is pressured to a burst point several times higher than its rated design. The ratings are developed by following stringent industry standards requiring extensive long-term testing at high pressure and high temperatures. Other tests include cyclic performance where continuous and constant pressure amplitudes are exerted on the pipe. Axial and circumferential strengths are developed through design and testing of various reinforcement materials and various winding angles of the reinforcement material. Long lengths of pipe are shipped on reels that are then deployed in a variety
The real payoff is when the operator gets long lengths of pipe in the ground safely, quickly, and cost-effectively. Note the lack of people and equipment normally seen in steel pipe projects. Spoolable pipe requires smaller crews and fewer pieces of equipment.
72
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
What’s missing in this picture? No Side Boom equipment, less excavation equipment, no welding trucks, no cranes, and no x-ray techs. Plus, no need for cathodic protection or chemical programs.
of installation methods including open trench, surface lines, and plowing. Line crossings are easily accomplished by dragging the pipe under the line crossing the installation trench. Road and creek crossings are easily done by pulling the pipe through the crossing bore. Diameters available range from two inch through to eight inch and pressure ratings can be more than 2000psi. A variety of other fittings and accessories are available including T’s and Y’s, threaded terminations, tracer wire, etc. Because of its flexibility, elbows are usually unnecessary. Because of the durability of the outer jacket, padding the trench is usually not necessary. Spoolable pipe can be pigged and hot-oiled if warranted. However, this is usually unnecessary due to the smooth HDPE inner wall. PROJECT DISCUSSION It is important the project engineer and the spoolable pipe manufacturer collaborate during the project design phase. Field personnel should also be included so all aspects of the project are understood before the project kicks off. The overall project goals should be discussed as well as: • Design and operating pressures and temperatures – now and in the future. • Project location, construction methods, and terrain.
Electrofusion non-metallic coupling and a stainless steel coupling
• A map showing the pipe routing including lateral connection points. • Chemistry of the fluid or gas in the pipe. • Operating conditions including pump types. • Project timing. • All aspects of user expectations. There are many sub-categories and topics to the above points; however, they are not intended to be discussed here. The project team should choose a spoolable pipe manufacturer who can be more than just a vendor and one who can knowledgeably discuss these technical sub-categories. They can be a real resource to the project team and, through the course of the overall project discussion, can often recommend ideas to assure the project is completed safely, on time, and on budget. High pressure reinforced spoolable composite pipe should be considered when pressures and temperatures exceed the limits of other low pressure pipe materials. If the project utilizes diameters in the two through eight-inch range, then it should be considered as a good alternative to steel pipe. Once the project hydrotest is successfully completed, the operator can be assured of safe and reliable operation throughout the project’s design lifetime. By Steve Swanstrom
Pipe is easily deployed with a pick-up truck and trailer.
Landowners appreciate the low impact spoolable pipe installation has on their land.
OilfieldPULSE | AUGUST 2014
73
What’s all the HUBbub about? Changing the way you buy in the oil and gas industry! Better manage and reduce expenses surrounding the sourcing and life cycle management of your services, supplies and rentals.
â–Ş Centralize Preferred Vendor Management â–Ş Supply Chain Order Processing â–Ş Source Projects Faster â–Ş Eliminate Non-Productive Time â–Ş Improve Accountability and Control â–Ş Increase Profitability and Cost Efficiencies
Improve the collaboration and communication within your company and between you and your suppliers Oilfield HUB addresses your productivity challenges as a strategic component of your operations, all within a single web based tool.
Phone: 403-537-6560
Toll Free: 1-866-883-8848
Call us to arrange a private tour of Oilfield HUB!
Sales@LeadstoneGroup.com
www.OilfieldHUB.com