PIPELINE NEWS Saskatchewan’s Petroleum Monthly
December 2008
FREE
Volume 1 Issue 7
Midale Town Profile Page C1 State of the art truck wash Page B1 Oil Chat Crescent Point CEO Scott Saxberg Page A6
Kristine Michel handles casing pipe as it arrives in one of several Bert Baxter Transport Ltd.’s yards in Estevan. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
Check out our website at www.pipelinenews.ca
ESTEVAN, WEYBURN & AREA
COMMERCIAL
•
INDUSTRIAL
RESIDENTIAL Project Types
Services Offered • Project Management • Budgeting & Design • Design Build • Turn-Key Construction • Development Coordination
•
• Wood Frame Shops • Condominiums • Pre-Eng. Metal Buildings • Specialized Custom Homes www.wilhelmconstruction.ca • Commercial Retail
306-637-3230
A2
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
News
Notes
Sask. wages and employment continue to lead nation Residents of Saskatchewan are basking again for being on top for wages and employment. According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan has the highest average increase in wages and the lowest percentage of people collecting Employment Insurance. The average pay for employees in August were up 1 per cent from July moving to $760.46 per week. The year-to-year rise was also the largest in Canada with a growth of 4.9 per cent, much higher than the national rate of 2.8 per cent. “Saskatchewan’s economy is strong, providing a stable foundation for the people of this province,” said Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris. Denis Prud’homme speaks of some of the advantages and headaches of bringing immigrants in. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
All the business lost while shorthanded is simply gone Swift Current looks to Aboriginal Employment Development The City of Swift Current took proactive steps in moving to the future by meeting with three union groups and with Saskatchewan First Nations and Metis Relations on October 31. The meeting was held to sign an Aboriginal Employment Development (AED) partnership agreement. The agreement will prepare the municipal workplace to welcome more First Nations and Metis employees. Signing the agreement were Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 183, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1318, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2067. The growth of Swift Current through the boom of Oil and Gas has led to new business and plenty of job opportunities. To keep up with employer needs the deal was signed to keep up with the growth of the City.
By Brian Zinchuk Pipeline News Estevan - After running a large and successful long-haul trucking company, Denis Prud’homme is currently seeking people for the really long haul – by assisting companies bringing in immigrants to fill vacant jobs. The advice comes from several years of his own experience, warts and all. He shared some of that advice with the Estevan & District Board of Tourism, Trade & Commerce on Nov. 12. Prud’homme’s advice is in high demand these days, as on Nov. 18 he was named chair of the Enterprise Saskatchewan sector team on transportation and logistics. Prud’homme left for Ukraine shortly after his Estevan speech, recruiting immigrants. This comes after spending the month of June overseas. Prud’homme says there were four reasons for him to look at immigration. The first is a high “churn rate,” the turnover rate in the first 90 days. It was very high in his company and within the industry – as high as 90 per cent in
90 days. Secondly, it was hard to find truck drivers domestically. “Canada is a preferred destination for immigrants,” he lists as the third reason. Finally, there was a need for a sustainable strategy for recruiting. In some areas, like eastern Europe, it is possible to find highly skilled people willing to drive trucks, even engineers. They have a high work ethic, are very good at what they do, and are mechanically inclined. A trucker making $400 a month in Eastern Europe can earn $5,000 a month here. “They want to work all the time,” he says. “We’re not competing for customers anymore, we’re competing for employees.” Most companies, he notes, cannot service their customers. “If you don’t have a sustainable labour force, you’re toast.” The oilpatch, Prud’homme notes, needs to lobby for its positions to be considered for nomination under immigration programs. He notes a pilot program for restaurant help. “That’s what the oil industry needs to do.” ɸ Page A15
Prairie Petro-Chem “We Never Mistreat Oil” Head OfÀce: 738 - 6th St. ESTEVAN, SK. S4A 1A4 Phone (24 Hr.): 306-634-5808 Fax: 306-634-6694
Oil & Gas Treating Compounds
GENERAL LAB ESTEVAN INQUIRIES WEYBURN SWIFT CURRENT VIRDEN SERVICES SALES ESTEVAN SALES ESTEVAN SALES SALES Murray Miller Mike Lacoste Trevor Walls Darren Woodard Blane Fichter Brent Frehlick Greg Mouland Perry Miekle 421-3696 421-6578 421-3358 861-5490 741-1604 204-851-2901 Res.: 634-3895 Cell.: 421-0625 Res.: 634-7952 Cell.: 421-1306
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Enterprise Sask. teams Àeshed out Regina – Enterprise Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Party’s new take on economic development, is started to get fleshed out, with the Nov. 18 announcement of members of 18 different sector boards. The energy team will be chaired by Mick MacBean, Diamond Energy Services. Other members of the team include: Derrick Big Eagle, Eagle Drilling Services Ltd.; Brent Dunnigan, Arista Energy Limited; Jim Goldmann, Alliance Pipeline; Steve Halabura, North Rim Exploration; John Jenkins, TransCanada; Brenda Kenny, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association; Tony Marino, Baytex Energy Trust; and Roger Soucy, Petroleum Services Association of Canada. According to a government release, “Enterprise Saskatchewan (ES) will be the focal point for establishing broad partnerships involving all levels of government, industry, labour, Aboriginal people, post secondary institutions, and other stakeholders dedicated to the goal of sustained economic growth. Enterprise Saskatchewan and the collective partnerships will advance provincial economic development goals, strategies, and clear measurable targets for economic performance. “In collaboration
with industry and other partners, and with support from Executive Council, ministries, agencies, and Crown corporations, action will be taken to achieve the economic performance targets, encourage eco-
be pivotal in helping to position Saskatchewan as a region internationally recognized as being competitive, investment friendly, enterprising, and entrepreneurial, according to the release. As goals, the gov-
Enterprise Saskatchewan Energy Sector group: Mick MacBean, Chair, Diamond Energy Services Derrick Big Eagle, Eagle Drilling Services Ltd. Brent Dunnigan, Arista Energy Limited Jim Goldmann, Alliance Pipeline Steve Halabura, North Rim Exploration John Jenkins, TransCanada Brenda Kenny, Canadian Energy Pipeline Assoc. Tony Marino, Baytex Energy Trust Roger Soucy, Petroleum Services Assoc. of Canada
nomic growth, and enhance the competitive position of our province.” Premier Brad Wall noted, “Enterprise Saskatchewan will be organized and based on the key sectors of our economy. Its job, through sector participants, will be to identify, develop, and monitor competitive advantages and disadvantages in each sector and prescribe action. Reports will be public, and will add to the accountability of this and future governments when it comes to our stated objectives of being among the most competitive business climates in the country. In short, its role is to continually push the competitive envelope.” Sector teams will
ernment and all partners in economic growth will work collaboratively to “promote prosperous, growing, and sustainable sectors” through recommending policies and actions that: • Reduce and remove disadvantages and barriers to growth • Build on sector advantages • Enhance competitiveness and productivity • Encourage business creation, attraction, retention, and growth • Increase adoption of new technology and processes • Diversify and build the value-chain to strengthen clusters • Reduce skills gaps and labour shortages • Accelerate aboriginal
participation in all sectors • Increase exports of goods and services • Identify infrastructure challenges The sector teams will be accountable for identifying and reporting on the barriers to growth, making recommendations to remove barriers, prescribing prioritized action, and reporting on the progress on an annual basis. The sector teams will be comprised of approximately seven to nine members from their respective sector. These members: • Will effectively represent their sector; • Have a demonstrated track record of working collaboratively; • Have proven leadership abilities; • Understand economic development and factors influencing economic growth, particularly in their specific sector; • Are innovative and forward looking; • Have a variety of management skills and expertise; • Balance corporate responsibility with economic growth; • Will come from a mix of large and small business; • Are clearly recognized by their peers as representatives for a sector; and • Will wherever possible include members of Saskatchewan’s Aboriginal community.
News
A3
Notes
Sask. ¿nances remain strong The recent drop in oil price has not slowed the revenue growth for Saskatchewan through the province’s tax base, potash revenue and Crown land sales. “While an economic crisis is gripping other regions of Canada, the United States and countries around the world, Saskatchewan’s economy remains strong and we are well-positioned to meet the challenges we might face in these uncertain times,” said Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer. “Our employment numbers are solid, our population numbers are growing, and we are experiencing high commodity prices. We are expected to lead the country in growth this year and next.” After providing $334 million for the tax reduction package announced in October, overall revenue is only $203.2 million below the first quarter forecast. This mid-year revenue forecast is $2.9 billion over budget for a total revenue forecast of $12.26 billion for 2008-09.
Sask. delegation promotes province’s mineral opportunities in Beijing November 8 through to the 14th will be very busy days for a Saskatchewan delegation led by Jeremy Harrison, the Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Resources, Northern Resources and Oil Sands Development Meadow Lake MLA. Harrison will be in Beijing, China promoting the rich natural resources Saskatchewan has to offer the world. Included in this trip will be participation in the 2008 China Mining Congress and Expo November 11-13. “This allows us to showcase the many opportunities for investment in Saskatchewan’s mineral sector available to international investors,” said Bill Boyd, Minister of Energy and Resources. “We believe Saskatchewan is one of the most cost competitive jurisdictions on the planet for mineral exploration and mining activity, and the members of our delegation plan to deliver that message to everyone they speak to.
Prairie Mud Service “Serving Western Canada With 24 Hour Drilling Mud Service” Calgary Sales OfÀce: #1560-727 7th Ave. S.W. Calgary, Alberta 1-403-237-7323
TYSON ERETH Weyburn, Sask. Cell: 861-5544
JIM MERKLEY Glen Ewen 483-7633
Head OfÀce: 738 6th Street Estevan, Sask. Phone 634-3411 or 634-7361 Fax: 634-6694
WAYNE HEIN Estevan, Sask. Cell: 421-9555
IAN SCOTT Oxbow, Sask. Cell: 421-6662
Estevan: Ray Frehlick Residence: 634-2107; Cellular: 421-1880 Darwin Frehlick - Environmental Division Cell: 421-0491
Calgary: Chuck Haines OfÀce: 403-237-7323; Cellular: 403-860-4660 JASON LING Carlyle, Sask. Cell: 421-2683
GERALD SMITH Cell: 421-2408
CHAD STEWART Cell: 421-5198
A4
EDITORIAL
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Pipeline News Publisher: Brant Kersey - Estevan Ph: 1.306.634.1015 Fax: 1.306.634.0141
Mission Statement: Pipeline News’ mission is to illuminate importance of Saskatchewan oil as an integral part of the province’s sense of community and to show the general public the strength and character of the industry’s people.
Editorial Contributions: SOUTHEAST Brian Zinchuk - Estevan 1.306.634.1015 SOUTHWEST Swift Current 1.306.634.1015 NORTHWEST Geoff Lee - Lloydminster 1.780.875.6685 MANITOBA Brent Fitzpatrick - Virden 1.204.725.0209
Associate Advertising Consultants: SOUTHEAST • Estevan 1.306.634.2654 Jan Boyle - Sales Manager Cindy Beaulieu Glenys Dorwart Kristen O’Handley Deanna Tarnes SOUTHWEST • Swift Current 1.306.773.8260 Doug Evjen Andrea Bonogofski NORTHWEST • Lloydminster Daniela Tobler 1.780.875.6685 MANITOBA • Virden - Gail Longmuir 1.204.748.3931 • Estevan - Jan Boyle 1.306.634.2654
To submit a stories or ideas: Pipelines News is always looking for stories or ideas for stories from our readers. To contribute please contact your local contributing reporter. Subscribing to Pipeline News: Pipeline News is a free distribution newspaper, but is now available online at www.pipelinenews.ca Advertising in Pipeline News: Advertising in Pipeline News is a newer model created to make it as easy as possible for any business or individual. Pipeline News has a group of experienced staff working throughout Saskatchewan and parts of Manitoba, so please contact the sales representative for your area to assist you with your advertising needs. Special thanks to JuneWarren Publishing and Nickel’s Energy Group for their contributions and assistance with Pipeline News.
Pipeline News Estevan, SK Ph: 306.634.1015 Fax: 306.634.1041 Published monthly by Glacier Ventures International Corporation, Central Office, Estevan, Saskatchewan. Advertising rates are available upon request and are subject to change without notice. Conditions of editorial and advertising content: Pipeline News attempts to be accurate, however, no guarantee is given or implied. Pipeline News reserves the right to revise or reject any or all editorial and advertising content as the newspapers’ principles see fit. Pipeline News will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an advertisement, and is not responsible for errors in advertisements except for the space occupied by such errors. Pipeline News will not be responsible for manuscripts, photographs, negatives and other material that may be submitted for possible publication. All of Pipeline News content is protected by Canadian Copyright laws. Reviews and similar mention of material in this newspaper is granted on the provision that Pipeline News receives credit. Otherwise, any reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. Advertisers purchase space and circulation only. Rights to the advertisement produced by Pipeline News, including artwork, typography, and photos, etc., remain property of this newspaper. Advertisements or parts thereof may be not reproduced or assigned without the consent of the publisher. The Glacier group of companies collects personal information from our customers in the normal course of business transactions. We use that information to provide you with our products and services you request. On occasion we may contact you for purposes of research, surveys and other such matters. To provide you with better service we may share your information with our sister companies and also outside, selected third parties who perform work for us as suppliers, agents, service providers and information gatherers.
Editorial
Look east and at home before looking abroad Estevan – There seems to be an enormous disconnect, listening to the national news, and talking to business people in southeast Saskatchewan. Nearly every business person Pipeline News in the Estevan area has spoken to in the last month talks of the shortage of people. They could do more, if they had more bodies. Two restaurants are closed – one with a sign on the door citing the severe lack of staff. The owner of McDonalds is considering bringing in immigrants. Indeed, several companies already have, or begun the process, of bringing in immigrants to fill positions. One said they gave up on advertising for staff, because there was no response. The Estevan Board of Tourism, Trade & Commerce heard from the former owner of Prudhomme trucking how to bring in immigrants, an experience he has gone through extensively. “We’re not competing for customers anymore, we’re competing for employees,” Denis Prud’homme told the chamber on Nov. 12. Yet in Ontario, the hyperbole would have you believe the breadlines are wrapped around the block. Thousands of skilled workers are being laid off. Go west, young man. Go west, young woman. Heck, we’ll even take middle-aged folk. This edition of Pipeline News focuses on labourers, but we soon found it was impossible to talk about labourers without focusing on labour in general, and the lack thereof in specific. One can’t forget the thousands of First Nations people already in Saskatchewan. Bringing their full participation into the economy is a task everyone talks about, but no one has the answer to. They are here now, but dealing with cultural and other issues has led many to throw up their hands and seek immigrants instead. There’s a lot wrong with that
prospect, but it has become reality. There’s been a large movement afoot to bring in immigrants to fill positions across Saskatchewan. However, the changing economic picture in Central Canada is in some ways making those efforts moot. Why go to Ukraine, or Pakistan, or Sudan, or anywhere else beyond our shores when the labour supply in other regions of Canada is suddenly loosening up? Why fight your way through all the red tape of immigration and language assessment when there are a rising number of English-speaking Canadians in Ontario now seeking work? Wouldn’t it be easier to go set up a tent outside the Sterling Truck factory and hand out job applications? These are Canadians, highly skilled, that could be hired. All it takes is a moving van and the time to get here. Well, not really. See, before you bring over the former-auto workers, better bring some carpenters, plumbers and electricians first. That’s because the other limiting factor everyone is talking about here is housing. Several company owners told us they have to essentially find housing for a worker before they can hire them, otherwise there’s no point in offering the job. They would have nowhere to live. A landlord gets ten calls a day from people seeking accommodations. He has nothing to offer them, and has stopped giving advice. One trucker who came here from Calgary said he had moved between eight temporary accommodations in Stoughton, Estevan and Weyburn before he finally brought a mobile home into Weyburn. For a while, his home was his truck, then his family lived in a camper. Send us your hard-working, recently laid off people, Ontario. Just send some homebuilders first.
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A5
Opinion
Eat your greens, Bobby From the top of the pile Brian Zinchuk
I didn’t gain much from flunking out of engineering, but occasionally some things I picked up during those years of mental anguish do pay off. Geological Engineering 118, for instance. I never thought I would actually make use of terms like Mississippian or Devonian again, but now as an oilpatch reporter, they come up frequently. I even heard an real-honest-to-God engineer explain it to a TV reporter recently. I felt so smug – I knew what it was, kind of. What I regret, however, is that we didn’t have a hard-bound text for that class. Unlike every other class in which you had to mortgage your first born for text books, this class strangely had photocopied handouts. So now, 15 years later, I can’t go to my bookshelf and look up Mississippian in the same manner the behaviour of particle physics might strike me to dig up my $128 engineering physics text. (It hasn’t happened yet.)
Oh, sure, there’s the Internet, but it’s just not the same as a dusty old text book. Therefore, I think I’m going to have to come up with my oil conclusion of where all this own comes from. I found my theory and evidence to back it up under my kitchen table. As a single man, the floor got swept once a week, whether it needed to or not. As the parent of a 4 year old and a 20-month old, I need it to do it hourly. It never ceases to amaze me the detritus that accumulates under our table. I don’t think it’s so much kids hiding their veggies as Spencer feeling he must sully every horizontal surface within throwing distance. Google tells me archeology is the scientific study of past human cultures by analyzing the material remains (sites and artifacts) that people left behind. (Yes, I will Google archaeology, but not Mississippian. It’s a Freudian thing. Don’t ask.) Most of archaeology turns out to be digging through people’s garbage. If that arrowhead was still useful, the guy wouldn’t have left it on the ground, would he? Maybe it wouldn’t hit the broad side of a mammoth. Eventually all this garbage collects in layers – strata – and is buried until some grad student with too much time to waste decides to go digging with a toothbrush. Add up enough layers, add a few eons and a whole bunch of pressure and you get oil. Instead of
a toothbrush, you fetch a drilling rig and drop a million or two. This is where our messy dining room floor meets archaeology and geology. People who know about these things say the oil formed from all the dead plants and animals rotting over millions of years. That may be. But how did it get there to rot? What started it all? I think little Bobby Brontosaurus didn’t want to eat his broccoli. Bobby Brontosaurus hid his broccoli under the nearest fern when Mommy Bronty wasn’t looking and Daddy Bronty was reading the paper. His buddy, Stewie Stegosaurus also refused to eat his greens. That fern would go in one second, and out the next. Ptouie! Daddy Bronty was, of course, slack in his application of the broom after supper. So was Mr. Stegosaurus. It was game night, you know. The slime action of the partially chewed greens set off the chain reaction under the dinosaur’s table, and now I get to drive my fuel-guzzling SUV to haul my kiddies around. That’s as good of an explanation as I can come up with. Go ahead, prove me wrong. We eagerly accept letters to the editor. [Editor’s note: No broccoli was harmed in the writing of this column.] Brian Zinchuk is editor of Pipeline News. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net.
Oil in the truck and oil on the coveralls - a Wife’s Tale By Danica Lorer
Freelance Writer
“Honey, could you please pick up my dry cleaning?” It was a note I never expected to write. I buy no-nonsense wash and wear clothes even when working in professional situations, and I certainly never thought I’d ever find it on the counter meant for me. I never expected the man I married would even have dry cleaning. When we met he worked on a golf course spending the days in old jeans and t-shirts that could be easily tossed in the wash when they were covered with nice clean dirt. He recently moved to the oil
patch and the last thing I expected was the weekly chore of picking up clothes carefully wrapped in plastic film and hanging on brand new wire coat hangers. I admit I wouldn’t know what to do with clothes soaked in heavy crude and certainly wouldn’t want them tumbling around in the wash with my good dress pants, so I do my wifely duty and stop to pick up the dry cleaning on Tuesdays. I don’t really know much about what my husband does. I know that his truck has traces of black oil everywhere even on the interior of the roof where his hard hat might brush and that I’ve changed the floor mat at the back door more often in the past 2 years than ever before. I’ve heard the swearing that comes with waking up and disturbing my sleep as he fumbles around in the dark looking for his phone in the middle of the night and listened sympathetically to the sob stories about sitting on a lease road up to the wheel wells in snow waiting for a tow. It was a nice comfortable arrangement where our professional lives didn’t have to spill over into our home life. This week I took on the task of writing a few pieces for Pipeline News and have learned
a bit more about what my husband does. I had been ignorantly enjoying the 6 day off opportunities to get away and did a lot of nodding and smiling as he went on about things I didn’t understand and even though I have a curious mind, didn’t really try to learn about. Sometimes it seems we live in separate time zones and it gets a little crazy around here on Wednesdays when he treats them as Fridays and the rest of us still have our regular responsibilities to attend to for the rest of the week. A six day stretch off is wonderful when you want to get away for a long weekend, but can be a little bit too much for a guy who doesn’t like to waste days. He doesn’t really like to work alone so along with jobs I’ve held for more than 5 years I’ve also become his sidekick, ladder holder, wrench passer, measuring tape stretcher and otherwise personal assistant. It’s a tough job being an oil wife sometimes, but with the money he makes I don’t have to feel I have to find a job that pays better than the peanuts I make in the freelance writing business. Danica Lorer is the Maidstone contributor to our sister paper, the Battlefords News-Optimist.
PIPELINE NEWS INVITES OPPOSING VIEW POINTS. EDITORIALS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR WELCOMED. Email to: brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net
A6
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Oil Chat with Bruce Penton
Bruce Penton, associate-editor with the Medicine Hat Daily News and syndicated columnist will be contributing a Q&A with inÁuential Canadian Petroleum personnel each month for Pipeline News.
Scott Saxberg President & CEO
PN: The big Bakken play in southeastern was described by you in a recent interview as “Saskatchewan’s Hibernia”. Was that a little hyperbole, or is it that big? Scott Saxberg: It’s bigger than Hibernia. I think Hibernia is 1.8 billion, but the Bakken field is now in the five billion range. It’s the second largest pool in Western Canada, second only to Pembina. It could be bigger. It’s still a bit early to say it’s that big, but it’s close. PN: It stretches down into the States, too, doesn’t it? Saxberg: There are guys drilling trying to tie the two down closer to the border but it’s early to really know how far it reaches down. But there’s been more step-out wells drilled, but what we’ve defined, and some of our competitors, is roughly about 1,000 square miles in size and close to five billion barrels. PN: You were only 22 when you joined Wascana Energy Inc. in Regina in 1991. How big were your dreams at that time? Saxberg: (Laughs). That’s a good question. You know, I was obviously new to the oil patch and it was a great environment working there. I was in a small private company within Wascana called Pasqua Resources. It was very exciting. Like in my first month, I did my first deal. So it was a really great business experience. I was on the other side of the normal track of an engineer graduating. Typically, you start on the production side and work your way through. I started on the business side and got a good representation of the business and reserves and evaluations and acquisitions. We did a lot of different deals and early on, it excited me to want to do my own startup someday. I guess it’s the dream of a lot of guys. I guess it didn’t take me too long to latch on to that kind of dream. PN: Walk me up your employment ladder that started in 1991 and today sits as CEO of Crescent Point Energy Trust. Saxberg: I worked at Wascana for three years. We sold Pasqua to Northern Reef in ‘94. Then when we sold that, it was June or July of 1994, I moved to Calgary with Numac Energy. I looked after the southeast Saskatchewan production and southern Alberta and then the guys who ran Pasqua at Wascana started up a company called Magin Energy and I joined there in July of ‘96. When I went there it was at 400 barrels a day and I was the only engineer and we did quite a few acquisitions in a short time and grew the company pretty rapidly until ‘98, when oil kind of cratered and gas prices cratered and there was a big downturn. We survived through that and sold Magin in June of 2001. Through the period of time with Magin, I moved up and got promoted to manager of engineering and manager of business development and then we sold to Petro Fund in 2001 after coming out of the downturn. Then myself and Dave Balutis started up Crescent Point as a private co. just looking for deals. And right at that time, Paul Colborne, who I’d worked with at Wascana — he was one of the lawyers there who did a lot of our deals — had grown Star Tech from the time he left Wascana to that point, and we always kept in touch. He phoned me out of the blue in May of 2001 and said ‘hey, do you want to start up a company and join
me.’ Being not very well known and trying to raise equity through a private equity firm, I just jumped at it right away. He was well known and we got along great. So we wound up starting — myself and Paul — we put money into a private co. to complete the transaction that I was working on with Real Alto and we raised money through El Paso, out of Texas. It was actually run by Garry Tanner and Ian Dundas out of Enerplus. El Paso used to run Enerplus. Ian Dundas and Garry Tanner were in charge of their private equity investment. We were able to raise $9 million through them. Myself and Paul, and two other private investors put in money, and that was to get us through to when we IPO’d Crescent Point in October of 2001. PN: And now you’re big. Saxberg: Yeah, well . . . that deal there was pretty risky. It was 400-barrel-a-day transaction that we raised $9 million on, and oil cratered from $26 to . . . like $17 because of 9-11. But we were able to add value to the property and roll it into Crescent Point when we did the IPO. From there we did several transactions. I was VP of engineering up until 2003. We grew to about 5,000 barrels a day — pretty rapidly, through a series of transactions. And we merged with a company called Tappit Resources and converted to a royalty trust, That’s when I took over as CEO at Crescent Point and Paul went off and took over Starpoint (Energy Ltd.), which was our split co. PN: When the government changed the rules on income trusts a couple of years ago, you must have almost had a heart attack. Saxberg: Yeah, that had a big impact on us. We’ve done a few creative things. We battled with the government on that. Well, not battled, but worked with the government about the rules around that. Right around that time, we bought a company called Mission Oil and Gas, which was the Bakken play. It would have exceeded the rules that the government was putting in place on the trusts, so we went to Ottawa and worked with the finance people, and they actually changed the rules to allow our transaction to go through. Really, that was the only change the government made, so we had a pretty good effect on that. And this year, in March, we closed $600 million financing in a new company we created called Shelter Bay, which is a private company that Crescent Point owns 20 per cent of. We have a call option and profit sharing with Crescent Point on Shelter Bay that allows us to acquire Shelter Bay at any time and give us some pretty big benefits for Crescent Point. It keeps us within the safe harbour rules or the trust taxation rules, and allows Crescent Point to continue to grow. It’s a very unique transaction that nobody else has done. PN: So the future looks good. Saxberg: Yes. We just raised another $300 million in that company, Shelter Bay, in October, in a pretty brutal market. Right now, we’ve done some innovative and unique things in Crescent Point to continue that growth, and capture more of the Bakken play. PN: I’m going to switch gears dramatically and ask you about the university job you had in Winnipeg where you taped Winnipeg Jets practices. How did that start? Saxberg: Well, as you know, my dad (Marv) was in radio and TV broadcasting, so he did play by play for the (junior) Winnipeg Warriors and did some NHL play by play, so he knew all those guys. Back in 1982, Tom Watt came to Winnipeg as the coach and he was looking for a young kid to come in the dressing room and video. They had two VHS machines and you’d plug in a tape and tape the game and if they wanted to see some stuff between periods, the coaches would come back and watch the tape. It was the first video the NHL did. Only a few teams did
it. My dad got my brother, who was in radio broadcasting as well, to take it on as a part-time job. He did it for three or four years, and I took over from him when I was 18 and in high school. Now, video’s huge through the NHL and any pro sport. So when I started, I worked for Barry Long and Sudsy Sutherland back in ‘85 and ‘86 and it was like a night-time job to pay for my university. It progressed and I wound up doing video scouting, and all the motivational tapes. When I look back now, it was a great learning experience for the five or six years I did it. It prepared me to come into the real world. PN: So do you still wear your Jets/Coyotes heart on your sleeve, or is it Flames all the way now that you’re in Calgary? Saxberg: Now I have kids, I’m more of a Flames fan. I left Winnipeg in ‘91 and it took almost five years to get over the fact that they left. PN: You can brag to your kids that you knew some of those NHLers . . . Saxberg: It was Dale Hawerchuk and Thomas Steen and those guys. I just bumped into Bob Murdoch, my last coach I worked for. PN: It’s a wonder you didn’t end up in the hockey business. Saxberg: Back in February of 1991, I got a job offer to go to Wascana and it was a really bad market for jobs at that time, and I really contemplated just staying with the Jets. I worked for five different coaches and I knew everybody and once you get in . . . the guy who’s doing the video in Calgary has been there 20 years and they have guys now that travel with the team. It’s a pretty fun job. PN: But you’re a helluva lot wealthier now than you would have been as a video guy in the NHL. Saxberg: I know. PN: With the recent royalty changes announced in Alberta, how much more attractive has it become to drill in Saskatchewan? Saxberg: Well, there’s no question. The plays we’re developing in Saskatchewan are that much better than the plays that are being developed in Alberta. All things being equal on the royalty side, we’d still be in Saskatchewan because of the play that we’re in. But definitely the royalties have played a big part in where we’ve allocated our capital, for sure. PN: Has your company changed its approach since the recent fall in the price of oil? Saxberg: What we’re doing . . . we’re just about to put in our budget plans. But we’re obviously looking to protect our balance sheet and protect our distribution and focus our capital such that we stay within our cash flow. And we’ve got a tremendous amount of flexibility to do that with our drilling inventory, our fracking inventory and our balance sheet and cash flow and hedge position. We’re in such a great position managing our cash flow that we’re in a pretty solid position going into next year. PN: I know you’re an engineer by trade and not an economist, but what are your views on where the economy is headed in general? Saxberg: The economy? What I learned in ‘98 with the drop in commodity prices, it’s not a one-step drop. It’s a two- or three-step drop. So one thing affects another, which then affects another, then affects something you never thought about, which affects something else, and that’s kind of what you saw in the last two or three months. The sub-prime mortgages caught up with the investment banking houses, which then affected jobs which will then affect tourism . . . it’s a multi-level collapse of things. I believe it’s going to take longer for the economy . . . for the U.S. to dig themselves out of it and it’s got to take a mindset change of debt versus their lifestyle. Continued on Page A7
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A7
Crescent Point’s Scott Saxberg
Continued from Page A6 So that may take longer. I do believe, though, that the way oil is, OPEC and their ability to cut production and manage supply and demand, that oil prices and energy will move back. I’m hoping it doesn’t go too far the other way where it skyrockets past $140. But there’s potential for that if the cuts are too big. It could have more of a negative eect on the economy of oil going the other way. There’s not enough investment in oil production to match demand. It’s a timing thing. Once there’s a new president sworn in in January . . . it’s a new year and all the tax-loss selling is done, there’ll be some positive momentum going into next year. I think there’ll be a psychological change.
PN: With all your company’s
activity in Saskatchewan, what would it take to move your head oďŹƒce to Regina? Saxberg: I was there and worked there for three years and it’s a tough battle — when all the energy companies are in Calgary — to do deals and for us to raise equity for the province of Saskatchewan — this year we raised $900 million and we’re going to spend close to a billion between Shelter Bay and Crescent Point into Saskatchewan — we’re a lot better served for Saskatchewan to be done out of Calgary because that’s where everything is. You can’t change that. PN: How would you describe a relaxing way to kill two hours on a Sunday afternoon? Saxberg: Watching NFL foot-
ball or watching the kids playing hockey. PN: How’s the minor hockey coaching going? Saxberg: Yeah, I help . . . assistant coach both boys. This year I’m not as much with my older guy. I try to rotate between them, get to most of their games, and volunteer on that side. I’m pretty active in hockey. I still play hockey. PN: How old are your kids? Saxberg: Ten and 7 — atom and novice. PN: Have you noticed any change in Saskatchewan since the Calvert NDP government was replaced by Brad Wall’s right-ofcentre Saskatchewan Party? Saxberg: We were happy with the NDP government, what they did for us. The Saskatchewan
Party with Brad Wall has been very exciting. It’s always good to have a new face and a new mindset of things. I’ve been very impressed with him and their government. I think in general, on the energy side and the departments and the people working in those departments, they’re very strong. We think they’re probably the best out of the provinces where we operate. We love the atmosphere and the people’s ethics and the people’s work ethic. And Brad’s vision is strong. We’re promoting and trying to push in the STARS ambulance service in Regina. That’s a project we’re really trying to push. In Calgary, there’s the STARS air ambulance that services all of southern Alberta. If there’s a car accident or a heart attack, they’ll y out and bring them into the hospital where they’ll be treated. We’re trying to promote that in Saskatchewan PN: Where do you have more talent — in the kitchen or on the golf course? Saxberg: For me? (laughs) I don’t know if I’m good at either. I cooked for the ďŹ rst 10 years of our marriage while my wife worked as a music teacher. I think she’d say I’m not a bad cook. I’m probably a better cook than a golfer. PN: What would be your specialty then?
Saxberg: Four-cheese tortellini. PN: Have you got a hidden scar, and if so, what’s the story behind it? Saxberg: I just got a scar recently. Got hit on the side of the head with a hockey stick. It’s not really hidden. PN: What were some of your extracurricular activities in high school? Saxberg: I played on the basketball and hockey teams. PN: How did you meet your wife? Saxberg: We went to high school together, but met her after ďŹ rst year of university. We knew each other in high school, but never dated until later. PN: Tell me about your most memorable vacation? Saxberg: I guess our most memorable would be in Italy. We did a three-week tour with the kids through Tuscany and Rome and all that. PN: How do you see the next ďŹ ve years playing out for Crescent Point? Saxberg: I think we’re in a great position in the next ďŹ ve years to double our reserves and value just through developing our Bakken play and developing our company. I’m pretty excited over the next three to ďŹ ve years with our production growth and the potential to add value. I think we’ve very focused on that.
‡ 6$6.$7&+(:$1 ‡ $/%(57$ ‡ 0$1,72%$
‡ 2LOÀ HOG &RQVWUXFWLRQ ‡ 3LSHOLQH &RQVWUXFWLRQ ‡ 7UXFNLQJ 3LFNHU 7UXFNV ‡ 'LUHFWLRQDO %RULQJ ‡ +\GUR 9DF ‡ 2LOÀ HOG 0DLQWHQDQFH ‡ (QYLURPHQWDO 6DIHW\ 6HUYLFH 1(: ‡ ,QVXODWLQJ 0HWDO %XLOGLQJV
1HZ %UDQFK
(67(9$1
/$030$1
6:,)7 &855(17 (0$,/ FDUVRQ#FDUVRQZHOGLQJ FRP
&$5/</(
+$/%5,7(
(/,7( Â&#x2021; //2<'0,167(5
:$,1:5,*+7 $%
A8
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Landlord has no answer to give Estevan – Tell a local you’ve moved to Estevan recently, and invariably their response is, “Have you found someplace to live?” For a lot of people working in the patch, that’s not such an easy question to answer. For someone who provides housing, sometimes there is no answer to give. John Slatnik owns 10 rental houses, mostly
in Estevan, and Valley View Lodge, a former convent used as a form of boarding house. He says the lodge is like a bed and breakfast, without the breakfast. And unlike a bed and breakfast, people don’t pack up and leave in the morning. “The reality is everything’s monthly. They’re not letting go,” he says of his clients. When they
do leave, they’ve already got a buddy lined up who would like the room. Local hotel space is impacted by major project work at the SaskPower facilities near Estevan, he points out. “We don’t have enough hotels in peak periods.” The lodge is more longer term, for a single guy, Slatnik explains. “There are quite a few would would move here
“E XPERIENCE, S ERVICE & S AFETY Y OU C AN T RUST.”
Rockwell Servicing Box 549 Estevan, Sk. S4A 2A5
Tel (306) 634•5522 Cell (306) 421•3848 Truck (306) 421•4326 Fax (306) 634-3238
www.ensignenergy.com
with their families, but they haven’t been able to find any rental accommodations.” Slatnik has talked to people from Ontario in which both people in the couple are working, but they are considering move back, because they cannot find rental housing. “Even an unreasonable apartment is not an option.” Anything advertised promptly will result in 50 phone calls in a day, he says. During the summer months, some people stay in campers. “But it’s getting cold out there,” he notes. In the last month, he has averaged 10 calls a day from people seeking accommodations. “I’m certainly not first on the list,” he says, noting he’s been filled, more or less, for the last two years. It’s gotten to the point where he doesn’t know what to say. “I sometimes get calls at 10 o’clock at night – some poor guy has trying to get a place. “I quit giving suggestions,” Slatnik says, explaining he has nothing to suggest.
Landlord John Slatnik Àelds an average of ten calls a day from people seeking accommodations, but he has no advice to give. He’s full up.
With a real estate market that’s still hot, even when the rest of the country is not, why hold onto so many revenue properties when he could simply cash out? “I do intend to sell some of the properties in one to two years,” Slatnik says. “Some have gone up at least double. Some have tripled in value.” Most of them were fixer-uppers, he says, that he’s worked on. “I have
the skills to fix it up.” But finding deals on any more properties is unlikely, to say the least. “It’s long past when there’s a good deal out there.” It’s hard to find people to build anything, he notes. Slatnik notes little towns all around have seen houses, some abandoned as long as 20 years, bought up and renovated.
Estevan Office: Phone: (306) 634-2681 Fax: (306) 636-7227
30 Ton Picker Winch Trucks DENNIS TROBERT Owner - 421-3807
Bed Trucks
634-3009
Estevan
Norm Meyers
Low Boy & High Boy Trailers
Sales - 421-8640
General Oilfield Hauling
Les McLenehan
Vacuum Truck Services
Dispatcher/Sales - 421-8810
Steam Cleaning
Septic Tank Service
634-3144
67 Devonian Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan
Portable Bathroom Rentals Pressure Washing
Dry Steam Boiler
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A9
A10
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Chemical company ready to stretch out a bit Estevan – They occupy a the better part of a block on Estevan’s 6th Street, but they could use a little more room. “Our big thing right now is we’re gridlocked for facilities,” says Blane Fichter, one of the two principles in the Prairie Petro-Chem. The company produces predominantly
oilfield chemicals, industrial chemicals, and drilling-related chemicals. The company has locations in Melita, Manitoba, Oxbow, Weyburn, Swift Current and Williston, North Dakota. Much of their product is tailor-made for specific applications for individual clients.
“Every instance with every customer we treat as a unique situation,” explains Fichter. The other principle is Brent Frehlick. A chemical engineer, he spends much of his time working in the lab. Jokes about being a mad scientist in a white labcoat aside, Fichter notes several products that Fre-
hlick has come up with. Fichter’s background is as an electronics tech. “One of our strong points is we have a lab on site,” he explains.
“We’ve been in this since 1969. You get to know what your producing, what works in what area. The two first started
in the company in 1978, and went into it full time since the 1980s. For Frehlick, it was a family business. ɸ Page A12
Regina, Sask.
Custom Industrial Accommodation Skid shak office & wellsite units • 12’ x 28’ • 12’ x 56’ • 12’ x 24’ • 12’ x 40’ 10’ wide models available
Ph: (306)529-7539, (306)731-7199 www.hardshak.com
Jeff Gudmundson mixes up batch of scale inhibitor at Prairie Petro-Chem in Estevan. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
CONSTRUCTION LTD. ESTEVAN, SK. 634-5233
Expanding To Serve You Better! New shop located on the Shand Access Road
Welding General Oilfield Maintenance Pipeline & Lease Construction Estevan - 634-5233 Kipling - 736-2308 Don Biette 421-6004 Dwight Hall 421-3778 Michael Biette 736-7511
Tracy McConnell Owner/Manager 104A Perkins Street. P.O. Box 575, Estevan, SK S4A 2K1 Ph: (306) 634-7552 Fax: (306) 634-7558 Email: kashanchors@sasktel.net
STORAGE YARD FOR RENT
One Acre Oilfield Storage Yard in Estevan.
Call B. Noble at 306-634-9143 or 306-421-9866
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Estevan – There’s something about being the only guy around who does what you do. It’s got its ups, and its downs. Coulter & McGillicky Sales and Service of Estevan specializes in large pressure vessels, primarily treaters and free water knockouts, along with some separators. Kelvin Coulter, owner of the shop, says they are the only ones in Saskatchewan manufacturing such vessels from scratch. But being exclusive also means some headaches on the regulatory front. “Saskatchewan is a pain to work in,” Coulter says, noting there are some frustrations with the regulatory end. “They can’t keep up with the stuff now, and they’re making more red tape.” Coulter grew up in the business, which was founded several decades ago by his father, Jim Coulter, and his partner George McGillicky. Both were honoured in October by the Estevan Oilfield Technical Society with lifetime achievement awards. “My dad and his partner started it in the early 60’s,” Coulter says, noting they bought out another firm. Initially they primarily sold oilfield equipment and provided service crews. “Dad started to design treaters when I was a little guy,” notes Coulter, now 43, who started helping out when young. “I’ve been here since I was 10 years old.” In the 1980s they quit running service crews. Eventually the focus would be on their pressure vessel construction. Kelvin Coulter took over the business in 1997. Free water knockouts strip the free water of the oil for disposal. It is also possible to strip off gas in a three-phase unit. A treater, while similar, normally separates water, oil and gas. It normally has heat in it, Coulter explains, whereas a free water knockout does now. “Your main foal with a free water knockout is to get clean water. Your main goal with a treater is to get
Dustin Tangjerd welds a stand at Coulter & McGillicky Sales & Service, with a treater in the background. Most of the Estevan pressure-vessel manufacturer’s work is treaters and free-water knockouts, according to Kelvin Coulter, one of the partners in the Àrm. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
clean oil out,” he explains. The shop employs three to five people on average, plus Coulter. He likes to do things himself – including his own drafting and books. A quick glance at his drawings show the skills of a draftsman despite no formal AutoCad training. “I love doing it. I just don’t like sitting at the computer all the time.” And when he’s needed in the shop, Coulter will jump right in. Business has been pretty good, he says. “You’re always really busy, or you’re slow. With all the quality control, there are a lot of used vessels in the field that are not meeting code any more and will have to be
replaced. There’s always something to do.” Most of his work is local, but his vessels have ended up from Manitoba to Alberta, as well as into the US. “I just got a bid from Iraq,” he says with some surprise in his voice. The day Pipeline News stopped by, oil hit $50/bbl. Does that hurt? “For sure. I’ve noticed it already. The last two-three weeks, my phones have been pretty damned quiet.” “I think it’s got to settle down between $80 and $100 a barrel. At $140, everyone is in too much of a panic.” Coulter doesn’t seem too worried. “When oil was $12/bbl., I was busier than a bugger.”
HORIZONTAL, SLANT OR DEVIATED WELL PUMPING? THE EAGLE SOLUTION VALVE ADVANTAGE FOR SUCKER ROD PUMPS A traveling valve for incorporation within any API down-hole rod pump. The valve is attached to the bottom of the pump plunger.
INCREASED PRODUCTION
Stationary Ball - Closes on the Up-stroke
x
With conventional pumps landed at an angle, ball seating can be delayed. Often times 20% or more of the stroke movement occurs before the ball can re-seat itself properly. Regardless of angle The Eagle Solution Valve pulls itself open & closed immediately at the extreme ends of the stroke by the frictional drag created between the drag plunger and the pump barrel. This can create a more efficient pump. x
The Eagle Solution Valve performs just as efficiently horizontally as it does vertically. x
Pump Plunger
The exclusive design provides greater flow capacity (23 % more than a standard valve of the same size).
INCREASED PUMP LIFE x
Solution Valve Seat Bowl
Both ball and seat are always stationary & centered within the valve - prevents uneven wear on the valve. x
Stationary Ball - Open on the Downstroke
The ball rotates within every stroke, creating a self lapping effect on the ball & seat - extends life. x
The ball and seat can be reversed which doubles operational life, at no additional cost.
Pump Barrel
REDUCED SERVICE COSTS Solution Valve Drag Plunger
Standing Valve - Closed
A11
Standing Valve Open
x
Greater pump efficiencies may result in; slower pump jack speeds = less pump jack, tubing, and rod wear.
The Solution Valve’s unique, exclusive, patented design in travel valve technology works wonders in gassy fluids, increases pump efficiency, and reduces or eliminates fluid pound. Over 130 Solution Valves have been run on pumps used to pump water from horizontal CBM wells landed at approximately 82 degrees. For more information on how a Solution Valve can be installed on your next pump contact Ryan or Don At Conn Pumps, # 208, 110 – 11th Ave. S.W. Calgary, AB, T2R 0B8 Ph: (403) 262-5151.
A12
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Prairie Petro-Chem looking to grow ɺ Page A10 “We try to train our customers. There’s a lot of inexperienced people out there,” Fichter notes, with the influx of new people into the oilpatch. “Ninety per cent of our trouble calls are chemical not applied properly.” “We’ll design a product, we’ll put it in place, and do a followup.”
There’s a lot more to selling highly specialized chemicals like this than most sales. Fichter calls their sales staff “technical reps,” because they will sometimes be found in the lab. The product is complex, including factors like how it is added, retention time, and place of application. “We need to understand their systems,”
Fichter says of their clients. “Our biggest selling line is a demulsifier,” he says, explaining the product takes and emulsion and separates it into water, oil, and B.S. If you think B.S. is another way of saying “bovine feces,” you’re wrong. It’s basic sediment – the solids like sand and iron sulphides.
No, she’s not a mad scientist with a glowing potion. We just placed a Áash under Jocelyn Schappert’s hand to make it look like her calcium titration was glowing. Schappert is a lab technician with Estevan’s Prairie Petro-Chem. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
Lab technician Jocelyn Schappert performs a titration in Prairie Petro-Chem’s lab.
PERCY H. DAVIS LTD.
CUSTOMS BROKERS
Forwarders & Consultants Export/Import Specialists EDI Networking
SUN VALLEY LAND LTD.
International Package Express Service (IPX) HEAD OFFICE North Portal (306) 927-2165 Estevan (306) 634-5454 Regina ...................... (306) 352-2662 Saskatoon................. (306) 244-4847 Regway..................... (306) 969-2126 Moose Jaw ............... (306) 694-4322
Nationwide Services Internet Address: http://www.percydavis.com E-mail Address: info@percydavis.com
Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday and All The Best in 2009!
Offering Complete Land Services Surface & Mineral Land Acquisitions Owned & Operated by Keith & Janice Hanson #306 Wicklow Centre - 1133-4th Street, Estevan, SK
634-6684
www.sunvalleyland.ca • land@sunvalleyland.ca
“What’s different today from 15-20 years ago is we used to be able to treat a fair bit of areas with a narrow product line.” Now companies are looking more intensely at their dates, observing new things. “What it all stems back to is lifting costs,” Fichter says. As such, a major addition to their services is looking at customer’s production figures. They factor in things from a chemical standpoint, including demulsifiers, corrosion control programs, scale inhibitors, and even bactericide. Bacteria? From underground? “We run little culture tests,” Fichter explains. “They’ll chew away at pipe and rod strings.” Paraffin wax is a huge problem in oil treatment, he adds. They do similar work with drill mud chemicals, with the affiliated company, Prairie Mud Services. One newer product they’ve developed to deal with carbon dioxide floods is kill fluids, heavy water that will hold back downhole pressure. “We’ve developed a remote facility for killing wells,” he says. “We spend hundreds of thousands [of dollars] in product development for that CO2.” Knocking on his desk, Fichter says this is the first time in probably a year he hasn’t had to look for new hires on the chemical side. Their employs are good, long term people who “remember the good times and bad times.”
For All Your: • Hot Oiling • Flowline Cleaning • Tank Cleaning • Dry Steamer Boiler • Flowline Jetting • Frac Fluid Heating • Back Pressure Trucks • Steam Heaters
Ph: (306) 634-4797 or 634-7334
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A13
MP focused on HR, skills and labour Estevan – SourisMoose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki is now in a position to have some impact on the labour situation in Canada. “I was appointed as a parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour,” Komarnicki said. The appointment came Nov. 7. The posting comes at a coming at a time when the economy is in flux and labour issues are sure to be front and centre. His role includes a number of parliamentary duties, including bills, adjournment proceedings, filling in during question period when the minster is away, and
“
I’m happy to be in a portfolio that’s dealing with some of the issues. I’ve got my work cut out for me. - Ed Komarnicki
”
all the committee work for the minister. “It’s a huge department,” Komarnicki notes, adding he will see how it ties into the interests of the constituency. He speaks of labour mobility, noting “As a country, we don’t want
to put up obstacles to trade and labour.” Inter provinciall y, you should be able to apply anywhere where the work is, he says. ɸ Page A28
Acutec Messenger • Spill Prevention Monitoring. • Tank level inventory reporting. • Equipment runtime monitoring. • Pressure or temperature sensor monitoring. • Turbine Áow meter volume reporting. • RectiÀer monitoring. • Analog and modbus input channels • Four Discrete input channels NO/NC (Real Time Clock Onboard)
Satellite Communications
See us for all of your instrumentation needs!
W E ’ V E M OV E D
We Offer A Complete Stock Of: Angles • Brass • Beams • Cable • Chain • Channel • Flats • Pipe • Expanded Metal • Sheet & Plate • Rebar • Wire Mesh • Rounds • Shafting • Bolts • Hardware • Square & Rectangular Tubing • Tools & Fittings • Welding Supplies
Highest Market Prices Paid For: Steel • Cast • Brass • Copper • Stainless Steel • Radiators • Batteries • Lead • Aluminum etc.
Order Desk - 842-3548 1-866-84STEEL (1-866-847-8335) mryglod.steel@sasktel.net 1305 Railway Ave., Weyburn, SK 842-4185 or 842-4462 Fax: 842-7799
SURFACE BIT RENTAL HOT SHOT SERVICE LIGHT OILFIELD HAULING 24 HR SERVICE CHAD FROESE
ETM Manufacturing Jeeps, AlutrecAluminum, Aluminum,Step StepDeck Deckand andHighboys Highboys EMT Manufacturing Jeeps, Low Low Beds, Beds, Boosters Alutrec 845110691002
845110691001
CELL: 306-421-3728 RES: 306-634-7538
Go ahead! Buy her a dishwasher instead! She won’t mind!
45/ck/ht/Edm Trailer G2 OD#67_6379733_L 04076959/rk
w w w. e d m o n t o n t r a i l e r. c o m
As a side benefit, you’ll also find out how well your head fits into a dishwasher.
26420 TWP RD #531A Acheson, AB
P h : 1-86 6 - 5 3 4 - 1 8 0 5 2008
(780) 875-0203 LloydMall Lloydminster
2008
EDMONTON TRAILER SALES LEASING LTD.
Renting All Kinds of Trailers
A14
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Want workers? You are going to need housing Estevan – Housing is the number one issue for the Estevan Board of Tourism, Trade and Commerce, as well as the city of Estevan, according to Lynn Chipley. She’s speaking from many angles when she says that. First, Chipley is the broker behind Century 21 Border Real Estate in Estevan. Second, she’s a city councillor. Third, she’s the current president of the local chamber of commerce. You can’t have an energy boom without workers. To have those workers, you need someplace to put them. “Everyone sees a boom coming, but they don’t do anything about it until it happens,” she says. “The simply cannot build affordable housing without subsidies.” “We have developers willing to come here to build mid-income,” she notes, defining that as a house in the $225,000 range. But $12/hour jobs simply can’t support those mortgages. There hasn’t been an apartment built for rental purposes since the 1980s. Several condos have gone up, but there is great pressure on the rental market.
Sixty to seventy units built under condo title have sold since the spring of 2008. As a result, it put those people who couldn’t afford to buy them looking for other accommodations, she explains. It’s gotten to the point where there may need to be a shelter in the community, that despite the fact “a lot of these people are employed.” Two restaurants in recent months have closed due to staff shortages. “I think we would have people come here for those jobs, but they can’t find somewhere to live. They can’t stay.” As part of the solution, Chipley suggests an owner-occupied mobile home park, something that would show pride of ownership. She notes camps in the area, and says, “We prefer to bring families here.”
V-Bottom Frac Tanks
Arriving Daily!
• 500 bbI capacity • Single axle easy moving capability • Isolated line for mixing gels • Easy fill capability • Takes up less room on location than standard 400 bbl tanks • Rentable by the day or month • Moved from and to location by Semi Unit
Super Heaters Have Arrived Booking Fast Call Now
• Single or dual 16 mBtu/hr Heat Exchanger • Sch 40 or 80 pipe • 2” or 2 1/2” coil assy • Hydraulic drive 3 x 2 -13 centrifugal pump • 2600 gallons propane storage • 2 - rear tool boxes • Side and rear suction and discharge • Flow meter
Lynn Chipley wears many hats, but the all come to one conclusion – housing is the biggest issue for the city of Estevan.
WE RENT • Scissor Lifts/Electric & Dual Fuel • Man Lifts/Straight Boom & Articulating Boom • Zoom Boom Forklifts
G. T. & H HOLDINGS INC. Phone for Details & Bookings Leon 577-7133 • Don or Ken 483-2828 John Prette 421-9676
Dustin Hockey 421-3623
Rob Hildebrand 421-3495
Matt Clausen 421-6214
Bob Garrow 421-3235
Blair Heaman Virden, MB 204-748-7963
Mike Rookes Dominic Cote 204-851-5382 421-0973 Nolan Balon 461-6012
Chad - Cell: (306) 421-1896 Garry - Cell: (306) 421-0529 Estevan, SK
BAKER PETROLITE Estevan OfÀce 83 Devonian Street
636-1640
Virden OfÀce
204-748-6858
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A15
Denis Prud’homme seeking people ɺ Page A3 It’s more than a matter of just bringing a body in. That person needs to fit in with your expectations and company. The face-to-face interview is still important, he notes, saying that such an interview is 60 per cent fact and 40 per cent gut. A webcam interview before going to see someone is a good idea. “You’re the best judge of what you’re looking for. Be careful hiring consultants, he notes, and get it in writing what you expect of them if you do. Be very specific. He had been burned before. Make an effort to welcome the employee, he notes, saying the most important thing is integrating them into your company properly. There are potential pitfalls here, he warns. If the integration isn’t done right, you could have oil and vinegar. “You will have cultural segregation, no ifs, buts or maybes.” Be aware of perceived unfair practices. He notes the tendency to treat new people specially due to the effort it took to get them. That can lead to problems. “You tend to treat them dif-
ferently than you do domestic personnel.” Things like language assessment are also best done yourself. If they don’t speak English well, it will totally affect their standard of living. Embassy testing is all over the place, Prud’homme explains. “When you get a few in with the same language, they will group together and Sergey does the talking,” he said as an example. Bringing in immigrants changes your corporate culture, he adds. One thing to look at is why people leave your company. If they leave in less than thirty days, it was likely a poor selection process. In under 90 days, the cause was likely poor orientation and training. If people are leaving after six months employment, “You have issues with your management.” Immigration is part of a sustainable employment strategy, Prud’homme says. One should not rest when shorthanded. “All the business that was gone while we were short of people, it’s gone,” he says.
TRANSPORT LTD.
LIGHT OILFIELD HAULING 1 ton Dodge Dually with a goose neck 32 ft. deck trailer. Canada HSE Registered
“24 HOUR” HOTSHOT SERVICE
Great Service for Great People! MONTE DZUBA TYSON DZUBA (306) 861-7689 (306) 861-6483 RES: 842-1409 • FAX: 842-1221 Weyburn, SK. Serving Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba!
10
1st invoice for new customers % billing out of Estevan & Weyburn
off
Fishing & Rental: Overshots Spears Jarring Equipment Drill Collars & Handling Equipment Power Swivels Washover Equipment Pipe Recovery:
Freepoint (For all Tubing, Casing up to 7” & Drill Pipe/Collars) Backoff Equipment (Starting at 5/8”) Chemical Cutters Jet Cutters Perforating Tubing Punches
Casing Jack:
Casing Jacks Power tongs for back-offs and replacing casing
Sales Representatives
93 Escana St. Estevan Sk. Phone: (306) 634-4095
Troy Smith Moosomin, Sk 306-435-7095 Garth McLearn Lloydminister, Ab 780-808-1902 Clint Busse Swift Current, Sk 306-672-7672
A16
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
PIPELIN
Saskatchewan’s Petroleum Mont
Thank You for all your support in 20 200 100 Mile Auto Parts 100 Mile Realty 3D Maintenance A&S OilÀeld A1 Anchor Aberdeen River Associates. AC Power Accurate OilÀeld Supply Ackland’s Grainger ACL Manufacturing Action Towing Acutec Systems Ltd. Adoil Inc. Advantage Powder Coating Aero Advertising AGI Envirotank All Out Auto Repair All Weather Shelters Alliance Energy Services Allomatic Transmission Altus Geomatics Annugas Compression Apex Distribution Apex OilÀeld Arnold’s Sand & Gravel Ashland Industries Astro Boiler B&B OilÀeld Badger Baker Hughes Baker Petrolite Bandit OilÀeld Hauling Bear Slashing Bend Tec Fabricating Bennet Dunlop Ford Berkshire Investments Bert Baxter Transport Big - Ice Flood Pump Big Country Energy Services Big Dog Seeds Big Sky Drilling BMW Weatherford Border Tank Rentals Bourassa Park Brake & Drive Brenda Noble Brothers Coating Bully Blast & Paint C&N OilÀeld C’s OilÀeld CA Shaw Insurance Brokers Cactus Autobody Canadian Advance ESP Canadian Sub Surface Energy Services Cara Dawn Carlyle Motor Products Carnduff Agencies Carnduff Electric
Carol’s Eats & Treats Carson Welding & Maintenance Cathedral Energy Services Cavalier Land CB Trucking CD Oilwell Servicing Ltd. CE Franklin CEDA Century 21 Chad Equipment Champion Technologies Chasing the Dragon Chemicals By Sterling Cheyenne OilÀeld Service Cheyenne Sernick Construction City of Swift Current CJS Coiled Tubing Classic Jewelers Cliff Nankivell Trucking College Park GM CONN Pumps Crackmaster Crossroads Inn Bar & Grill Crown Advertising Crude Master Transport C’s OilÀeld CSL Industrial Supply Cummins Custom Canadian Homes Custom Truck Sales D&D OilÀeld Rentals Dale’s Welding Ltd. Danatec Dancin OilÀeld (Kindersley) Dash Tools Dayman Trucking Days Inn Del Equipment Delanoy Ventures Ltd. Demby Trailer Dempsey Laird Trucking Denham Chrysler Dennis Blackburn Dennis Moe Remax Dex Sandblasting Diamond B Transport Diamond Energy Services Directional Plus Do All Metal Fabricating Don Kelly Don’s Tire Shop Doull Site Assessments Dow Trucking Ltd. DPS Microbial Solutions Duce Electric Dura Products Dutch Haaven Industries Dwight Blomander – Great West Life
Eagle Drilling Service Eagle OilÀeld Services E-can OilÀeld Service Edge OilÀeld Service Edmonton Trailer Sales Edward Jones Elias Scales Eltek Emeco Equipment EMR Drilling Enbridge Endeavor Machining Solutions Ener-test Enseco Ensign Rockwell Servicing Envirotrap Systems Equal Transport Ernie’s Coffee House Essential Coil Tubing Estevan Meter Estevan Motors Ltd. Estevan Plastic Products Estevan Telephone Answering Service Estevan Trophy and Engraving Ever Ready Energy Ex-Cel Well Servicing Extreme Excavating Fabro HD Factors Western Factory Sports Fast Toys For Boys Fast Trucking Ltd. Fastenal Fieldtek Holdings Fire & Safety Centre First Truck Centre Flaman Truck Sales FOORD Trucking Ltd. Formula Powell Fort Garry Industries Four Season Rentals Frontier Inspection Frontier Peterbilt Full Throttle Full Tilt G.T.H. Holdings Garrison Oilwell Genesis Cleaners & Laundromat Gibson Welding Girard Bulk Glen Peterson Construction GLM Industries Global Savetax Consultants Goodon Industries Gordy’s OilÀeld Services Gosselin Pipe & Steel Great Plains College
Great Plains Ford Great Plains Well Servicing Greg Cousins Construction Grenco Grey Owl Engineering GT&H Holdings Inc. Gydrodata H&L Repair Habanero Resources Hallcon Crew Transport Hard Shak Structures Harley Davidson-Yorkton Harris OilÀeld Construction HD Management Heavy Crude Hauling Hei Bro Tech Petroleum Henry’s Repair Hertz Equipment Rentals Hess Fishing & Rentals High Card Mechanical & Pump High Energy Hodgins Auction Hopf OilÀeld Service Hot Tools Humpty’s Restaurants Hurricane Industries Husky House Hydrodig Independent Pump Co. Industrial Communications Systems Industrial Electric Ltd. IROC Energy Services Irwin’s Machining & Welding Itcomputes ITEC Jackie Fitzsimmon Jamal Contacting Inc. JetLube Jim Pratt – Investors Group JJ Trucking Johnstone Tank Trucking Joker OilÀeld Services June Warren Publishing K.Fox Welding Kal Tire Kash Downhole Anchors KBY Hotshot Services Kelly Lafrentz Trucking Kelly’s Hot Shot & Trucking Kelsey’s Kendall’s Auto Electric Kenilworth Combustion King Koin Laundry King’s Department Store KOS Energy KRJ Custom Fabricating Kudu Industries L&C Trucking
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
NE NEWS
thly
08! Have a safe and happy holidays. Land Solutions Lane Land Services Larsen’s Construction LD Allan Enterprises Ltd. Leachman OilÀeld Trucking Leclair Transport Lloydminster Paint & Supplies LR Truck Centre Lynco Lynx Transport M.E.T. OilÀeld Construction Mack Auction Magnum Fabricating Main Track Café Manitou Flush-By Marlin Travel Marshall’s Safety Services Maurer Construction Mayco Well Servicing McCombs McGillicky OilÀeld Merit Ford Sales Merit Towing & Recovery MET Construction Mi Casa Mick’s Stop & Shop Midale Petroleum MidÀeld Supply Midwest Surveys Inc. MiFab Manufacturing Inc. Mighty Hamster Trucks Mill Land Millennium Directional Drilling Service Minard’s Leisure World Miniota Motor Inn Moody’s Equipment Moose Mountain Mud Mr. Bill’s Family Restaurant Mryglod Steel & Metal Murray GM National Oilwell Varco National Trailer Parts Neufeld Petroleum New Age Electronics New Drill Generators Newalta Newco Tank Corp. Nickle’s Energy Group Nissan Lloydminster Norberts Trailers North East Recyclers North West Custom Northeast Recyclers Northern Factory Work Wear Northridge Energy Dev. Group Northwell Rentals Northwest Custom Hauling Northwest Tank Lines
Norwest Engine Rebuilders NSWB NWRC Oil Wives Club of Estevan OK Tire Store Old Fashion Foods Outlaw OilÀeld Hauling Packers Plus PAI Medical Group Paradise in the Okanogan Parkside OilÀeld Payne Transportation Peak Energy Peddler Consignments Penn West Penta Completions Percy H. Davis Ltd. Petro Technologies Petroleum Society Lloydminster Phair OilÀeld Pink Ninja Pinnacle Industrial Services Pipemaster OilÀeld Plains Environmental Pongo Holdings Ltd Power Dodge Power Tech Industries Prairie Mud Service Prairie Petro Chem Prairie Rat Hole Services Prairie Western Reclamation Precision Contractors Precision Drilling Precision Rentals Precision Well Servicing Premay Equipment Prodahl Environmental Propsand Rotors Prospector OilÀeld Services ProTrac Gear Ltd. PS Electric Pump Jack’s Saloon & Steakhouse Purrfect Dry Cleaners PWM Steel Services Quality Slickline Quality Wireline R. French Transport R.C. Props & Rotors R.L. Electric Racken Enterprises Recon Red Hawk Well Service Redhead Equipment Redline Well Service Reinhart Property Reliance Industrial Reliance Safety Renegade OilÀeld Construction
Rhodes Electric Richardson’s Jewellery Ridgid OilÀeld Services RJ Hoffman Holdings RL Electric Rocky Pine OilÀeld Services Ron’s the Work Wear Store Ross Industries Rough N Tough Roy’s Transmission Royal Lepage Rubber Duck Stamp Sabre Machining Safe-Tee Management Safety Source Sam’s Trucking Sanjel SaskArc Savanna Well Servicing Sawyer Safety Schlumberger Scorpion Cycle Scott Land & Lease SE Education Foundation SE Options Consulting SE Regional College Senchuk Ford Sales Ltd. Serenity Yoga Studio Shellshock OilÀeld Service Sholter Horsman Shur Transport Silverback Hydrovac Services Silverwood Toyota Skylift Services Sonar Inspection Sonic OilÀeld Service Souris Valley Paving South Sask. Rat Hole Southern Plains Co-op Pet. & Agro. Southern Range Well Servicing Spearing Service Spectra CU Spectra Financial Spider Plow Spiral Lift Tools Steam-Est Industries Stellar Signs Stoney Mountain Rentals Stream Flo Industries Stuart Wright Sun Valley Land Ltd. Sunbelt Superior Propane Supreme OilÀeld Svein Bryeide Construction Swayze’s Concrete Sweet Ride T&T OilÀeld
Talisman Energy Tanner Trucking Target Safety Tarpon Energy Services Tartan Controls Taz Well Servicing Techmation Electric & Controls The OfÀce Three Star Environmental Three Star Trucking Tierra Alta Productions Titan Logix Titanium Tubing TLC Landscaping TNT Tank & Trailer Sales Tony Roma’s Total OilÀeld Rentals Total Transfer Totem Drilling Town of Carnduff Transco Trent Emmel Tri Land Welding & Machining Trican Well Service Tri-land Welding Trilogy Trinity Safety Tri-Smith Holdings TriStar Oil & Gas Trophy & Engraving Truck Zone True Torq Power Tongs Tryan Services TS&M Supply TSB OilÀeld Construction Ltd. Tutthill Construction United Centrifuge Universal Contract Logistics Vapor Force Viking Surplus OilÀled Equipment Watson Land Services Wayne Schell Trucking Weatherford Weatherford Wireline Services Weyburn Oil & Gas Show Wheatland Machine Shop Wild Rows Pump & Compression Wilhelm Construction Winalta Homes Inc. Winterhawk Hydrovac Services Wolfe Equipment Wood Country Wrangler Well Servicing X-Terra Xtreme Oil Tools
A17
A18
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
$10 million investment made New carbon capture research centre opens Regina - A new international research centre that will help make Western Canada a world leader in carbon dioxide capture and storage was established Nov. 6 by the government of Saskatchewan, Royal Dutch Shell and the University of Regina. The U of R is a pioneer in carbon dioxide capture technology through its research and participation in the Weyburn enhanced oil recovery project.
Ten million dollars has been invested in the creation of the new centre, which will be known as the International Performance Assessment Centre for Geologic Storage of CO2 (IPAC-CO2). The investment came in two equal parts of $5 million each from both the government of Saskatchewan and Royal Dutch Shell. Located at the U of R, the new centre will assess
ENVIROTRAP SYSTEMS Secondary Wellhead Containment
This is what our customers are saying... I am pleased to say the operators are ecstatic about the new version of covers on this last round of containments. We tried some of your competitors containments and I surely wish we had not. In any case we will be putting in an order later in the fall and you will be our only supplier from now on. Bruce Miners
proposed carbon capture projects around the world, provide management advice and performance monitoring, inform the public and share findings with other research organizations. “Our government is proud to work with the University of Regina and Royal Dutch Shell in this public-private partnership that will make an important contribution to the challenge of climate change.” said Crown Corporations Minister Ken Cheveldayoff. U of R president Vianne Timmons said locating the new centre on campus is logical given the institution’s record in greenhouse gas mitigation research. “We are confident the centre will allow us to expand our research enterprise to help provide environmental solutions both in Saskatchewan and beyond our borders,” she said. The centre will work internationally to allow the best expertise in the world to be brought to bear on the issue of geological storage of CO2.
RON’S THE WORK WEAR STORE LTD.
enerPLUS RESOURCES Pembina Lead Operator
THE PROBLEM
Name Brands At Prices you can Afford We carry sizes for the
Big and Tall. Dare to Compare, but see us last.
Environmental damage from wellhead packing failure and seepage costs the oil industry millions each year. EnviroTrap will save you $$$: • reduce reclamation, clean-up, steam cleaning, disposal costs • reduce wellhead rust and corrosion • protect stuffing box packings from snow, rain, wind, debris • contains blowout contamination • help meet ever-increasing government environmental standards Preserve your good working relationship with landowners by demonstrating your commitment to responsible environmental practices.
THE SOLUTION
For that hard to buy for person we also carry
ADVANCED DESIGN FEATURES fully enclosed and self-contained durable, rust-free construction U.V. resistant all hardware is corrosion-resistant stainless steel sloped collection tray provides natural drainage, making the unit more drainage efficient and maintenance-free tapered polish rod washer drains migrating fluid back into collection unit automatic pumpjack shutdown also available 360º installation
EASY TO INSTALL, EASY TO USE
3 quick, easy installation (well shutdown during installation is recommended) 3 separate models available for any style stuffing boxes 3 spacious, semi-transparent holding tank - instantly monitor fluid levels 3 EnviroTrap two-piece cover is easy to remove and replace to accommodate packing changes and cleaning 3 available with Murphy Auto shutdown switch
GIFT CERTIFICATES 202 MAIN CARLYLE 453-6167
112 2ND ST. WEYBURN 842-3006
1210 4TH ST ESTEVAN 634-8232
(A Division of Total Energy Services Ltd.)
TRUCKING
RENTALS
• 400 BBL Tanks, Lined, • Pickers Sloped, Steam Coiled, • Bed Trucks • Winch Tractors Sumped & Sour Serviced, ACID Enviro-Vac Units, • Texas Beds Flare Tanks • Rig Mats • Invert Systems
MIDALE 306•458• 2811
• Surface Sump Tanks • Caterpillar Loaders • Vapor Tight Equipment • Portable Flaring Equipment • Flow Back Separators • Pre-Mix Systems
midale@totaloilÀeld.ca
CHEMICAL BARREL CONTAINMENT STAND 360º INSTALLATION WELLHEAD CONTAINMENT UNIT
NEW CHEMICAL PUMP BOX
B unit cost is less than clean-up cost from one packing failure B minimal or no installation cost B minimal maintenance requirements - parts and service readily available if needed
PUMPS FOR SALE Oilwell A-358 triplex pumps, Bronze Áuid ends, 4 1¼2” plungers, lubricators, on skids with White Superior engines, coolers, control panels, pulsation dampeners, running takeouts
MISSION STATEMENT “We Work In Harmony With Both The Oil Industry & Landowners To Protect Our Environment” ENVIROTRAP SYSTEMS 1-306-489-2250 Sales Contact: CHEYENNE OILFIELD SERVICES 1-306-483-7924 E-mail: envirotrap@sasktel.net www.envirotrap.com
sales@chadequipment.com 306-823-4561
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A19
Big bad moon Guitarist Joe Satriaui sings “Big Bad Moon.” One wonders if he was referring to the moon hanging over this rig northeast of Midale. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
SERVICES LTD.
24 HOUR SERVICE 719 5th Street, Estevan, SK
Everyone screws up By Brian Zinchuk Low Earth Orbit – If your strawboss ever gets on your case for losing your safety glasses, gloves, or grease gun, tell him this story. Maybe he’ll leave you alone. The Associated Press reported on Nov. 19 that spacewalking astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper lost her whole tool bag, the size of a backpack, while doing a grease job on the International Space Station. It seems a problematic joint on a solar panel has been grinding away, so the focus of several space walks is to essentially do a lube job, the same way an oiler might grease up and pour oil on the chains of a wheel ditcher – by getting dirty. The job includes using special gloves to apply lubricant. It’s kinda tough to do, however, when your grease gun explodes, and
then it and the whole tool bag simply float away. These things are supposed to be tethered but, well.... The result was she had to share the tools of another astronaut, and
we have another satellite in orbit – one highly educated, insanely expensive oiler’s toolkit. Just make sure it doesn’t fall out of the sky and land on a right of way near you.
OfÀce: (306) 634-4577 Fax: (306) 634-9123
MEL TROBERT Manager Cell: (306) 421-1261
A20
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Kicking pipe beats tending bar By Brian Zinchuk Estevan – Sorting incoming and outgoing pipe in Estevan’s Bert Baxter Transport Ltd.’s yards, you’ll find Kristine Michel, often training new yard workers. “I started here four years ago, but I took a little bit of time off for mat leave.” She would have gone back to work a little sooner, but her hubby wasn’t too keen on taking parental leave. “”There was no way I could convince my husband,” she says. “I was hired to work the year – loading pipe, unloading trucks, keep track of where everything is,” Michel explains. ɸ Page A21
TRAILERS TRAILTECH HYDRAULIC DUMP TRAILERS Available with: - pintle hitch - gooseneck hitch - tri-axle - tandem axle
BUY • RENT • LEASE CUSTOM BUILT DEMBY EQUIPMENT TRAILERS Available with: - tandem axle - tri-axle - gooseneck -tag - tandem dually - tridem dually
(306) 861-5655 www.dembytrailer.com
Kristine Michel handles casing pipe as it arrives in one of several Bert Baxter Transport Ltd.’s yards in Estevan. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
OILFIELD RENTALS Drill Collars
Mobile Catwalk Trailers
4 1/2 Equipment
Mud Motors
Annular BOP Unit
Drill Bits & Mills
Well Head Flanges
Casing Scrapers
Fishing Equipment
Tubing Bailers
Rod Overshots
Tubing Swivels
with handling equipment
Kristine Michel handles casing pipe as it arrives in one of several Bert Baxter Transport Ltd.’s yards in Kindersley. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
(306) 842-3322 Weyburn, SK
(both fluid and air)
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A21
Training greenhorns ɺ Page A20 Prior to that, she worked in a bar. “I got tired of waitressing, and I got married.” Her husband wasn’t fond of the bar life, either. Besides, she notes, “Better money here in the oilfield.” Michel and another yard worker were unloading casing pipe on the east side of Estevan when Pipeline News caught up with her. Much of her day is spent handling pipe, including drill stem and casing pipe. “It comes in from Edmonton and area, and we ship it out to the rigs.” She spends a lot of time of late training new hires. Most prefer to move onto working as a swamper on a truck, where they get to spend at least some time in a heated truck. Swampers don’t like working in the yard, she says. “It takes a little more to be outside all day, kicking pipe.” “We’re always looking for guys.” Michel lives in Bienfait, and has two kids, 2 and 11. “You’ve got to make sure you pay attention to where your fingers and toes are. “Dress warmly and be careful. That’s all there is to it,” she says.
Kristine Michel, left, and John Hart handle casing pipe
• GRAVEL HAULING • ROAD GRAVELING • CRUSHING & SCREENING
• 3/4” & 1 1/2” Road Gravel • Pit Run • Crusher Chips • Bedding Sand
Kristine Michel, right, and John Hart handle casing pipe as it arrives in one of several Bert Baxter Transport Ltd.’s yards in Estevan.
OILFIELD OPERATING Ltd.
Swayze Concrete Ltd. Dennis • 861-1186 1531 Railway Ave. PO Box 563 Weyburn, SK S4H 2K7 Ph: 306-842-6558, Fax: 306-842-0414
Swayze Concrete Ltd. Randy • 482-7647 Hwy 318 North PO Box 573 Carnduff, SK S0C 0S0 Ph: 306-482-3617, Fax: 306-482-3350
13th Biennial Saskatchewan
Oil & Gas Show Exhibition Grounds, Weyburn, SK
June 3 & 4, 2009 Set-up and golf tournament—June 2, 2009 ➟Chairman: Ron Carson, Carson Welding & Maintenance
By Patricia Ward, Weyburn Review
➟Vice Chairman: Dennis Krainyk, Apache Canada Inc.
OilÀeld Operating Safety & Consulting Consulting 3 Program Development & 3 Completion, Workover and Construction Supervision
3 Contract Battery Operating Andy Schroeder (306) 421-9288
Implementation
3 CertiÀed External Safety Auditor C.S.O./H.S.A.
Shelley Schroeder (306) 421-3351
1111 - 5th Street ESTEVAN, SASK. S4A 0Z3 PH: (306) 634-4087 • FAX: (306) 634-8817 as.oil@sasktel.net
➟Honourary Chairman: Hon. Bill Boyd, Minister of Industry & Resources
Home of the Saskatchewan Oil Patch Awards
THE SHOW YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS… ■ Golf Tournament ■ Exhibits ■ Socializing ■ Barbecue ■ Hospitality ■ Keynote Industry Speaker (TBA)
Sponsored by…
WEYBURN OIL SHOW BOARD P.O. Box 1450, Weyburn, SK S4H 3J9 Tel: (306) 842.3232
Fax: (306) 842.4348
e-mail sk.oilshow@sasktel.net Web Site: www.oilshow.ca Office located at Prairie Agencies Ltd.
33 Fifth Street NE, Weyburn, SK
A22
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
WHEN YOU WORK THIS HARD Estevan – Sometimes when you’re behind the wheel you your rig, you might just imagine yourself burning around the track, dirt flying and adrenaline flowing. For three guys from the Estevan area, they don’t just daydream, they do. In mid-November, they did, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Davin Emmel, Devin Raynard and Les McLenehan all race in the IMCAmodified category –dirt racers, with Estevan Motor Speedway as their home track. When not making dirt fly, Emmel is a partner in Dart Services, a concrete pump and screw pile outfit in Estevan. Raynard’s business card says “Raynard Trucking, Benson Sask.” in the shape of a Harley Davidson logo. McLenehan works as a dispatcher for Outlaw Oilfield Hauling. The trio packed up the sweetest toy hauler you can imagine – a truck purpose built for racing. It can haul three cars on two levels, has its own generator, and is ɸ Page A23 pulled behind the cross between a semi and an RV.
NOW HIRING Journeyman & Apprentice Electricians & Instrumentation
OilÀeld Electrical Construction & Service *Instrumentation * Genset Rentals * * Motor Sales, Rewinds & Repairs 310 Kensington Ave., Estevan, SK
(306) 634-5617
24 HOUR SERVICE
Davin Emmel’s cleaning up his race car after a week in Vegas, racing. Depending on the weather, there might be another southern race this winter, he says. Emmel is a partner in Dart Services of Estevan.
ne No Pay in a G No
CUSTOM INDUSTRIAL FABRICATION AND CNC MACHINING • SASK’S #1 OVERHEAD CRANE MANUFACTURER, PARTS, SERVICE • FLOC TANKS • SHALE BINS (High or Low) • FOUR SIDED BINS • MUDTANKS • PRE-MIX TANKS • COMBINATION TANKS • BLOW BACK TANKS • PIPE RACKS / PIPE TUBS • DRILLING RIG BUILDINGS • CAMP SUPPORT UNITS • SKID PACKAGES and much more!
DESIGN. ENGINEER. FABRICATE. PAINT. DELIVER. Regina, Saskatchewan Calgary, Alberta
877-721-2270 www.pinnacleindustrial.com
Payne Transportation is a full load, multi facet, common and contract carrier, offering flat and step decks, 53 ft. dry vans, and temperature control service, operating in all 10 provinces, 2 territories, and 48 states plus Alaska with head office in Winnipeg, MB, and terminals in FT. Saskatchewan, AB, Montreal, PQ, and Houston, TX. Payne Transportation also operates a scheduled Expedited LTL service between Texas and Alberta, catering to the oil and gas industries. Scheduled bi-weekly team LTL service departing every Tuesday for Friday delivery and Friday for Monday delivery.
Payne Transportation is now providing weekly Regular and Hot Shot Service from Texas to Estevan, SK., Weyburn, SK., and surrounding areas and return. Houston, TX.: Departures every Tuesday for Thursday delivery. Estevan, SK.: Departures every Wednesday for Friday delivery.
For information call: Lisa - Ft. Saskatchewan, AB. 866-467-2963 Opt.#1 Stacy - Houston, TX. 866-467-2963 Opt.#4 Joe - Winnipeg, MB. 866-467-2963 Opt.#2 www.paynetransportation.com
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
YOU
GOTTA
PLAY
HARD
A23
TOO
Éş Page A22 The Duel in the Desert was tough, Emmel notes. There were 220 cars, â&#x20AC;&#x153;And they only start 28 for the main event.â&#x20AC;? He personally just missed it, coming in second in the last chance event. His ďŹ rst race was a fourth place, having started at the back of the 14-car pack. The next race had front row start and a second place ďŹ nish. The third, last chance race started Emmel 4th, but ďŹ nished second. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went forward every time I was on the track.â&#x20AC;? He reports. Raynard started at the pole and won a heat. In the qualiďŹ er he came 12th, and needed 8th. As for McLenehan, well, â&#x20AC;&#x153;He kinda struggled,â&#x20AC;? Emmel says. McLenehan suďŹ&#x20AC;ered bad draws, and was stuck at the back. On his last night, he started dead last and ended up third.
Devin Raynard does some axle work prior to heading to Las Vegas to race in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Duel in the Dessert.â&#x20AC;?
Davin Emmel displays the interior of most gearheadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a rolling pit area.
3KRQH )D[ +RXU 6HUYLFH
Â&#x2021; &UHZ :RUN Â&#x2021; *UDYHOOLQJ Â&#x2021; %DFNKRHV Â&#x2021; ([FDYDWRUV Â&#x2021; *UDGHUV Â&#x2021; 'R]HUV Â&#x2021; 6NLGVWHHUV
ZZZ SUDLULHZHVWHUQ FRP
BORDER TANK RENTALS LTD. â&#x20AC;˘ LEADERS IN OILWELL DRILLING PRODUCTION RENTAL EQUIPMENT â&#x20AC;˘ P.O. Box 1238
PHONE: (306) 634-7700
ESTEVAN, SASKATCHEWAN S4A 2H8
TANKS
(All sizes)
â&#x20AC;˘ Mud â&#x20AC;˘ Shale â&#x20AC;˘ Premix â&#x20AC;˘ Processing â&#x20AC;˘ Polymer â&#x20AC;˘ Cone â&#x20AC;˘ Flare
FAX: (306) 634-9963
ELECTRICAL
â&#x20AC;˘ Gensets - 40 KW - 200 KW â&#x20AC;˘ Light Towers â&#x20AC;˘ Transformers GENERAL Mudvac's, Transfer Pumps c/w Manifolds & Hoses, Trash Pumps, Matting All Sizes,Bowen Power Swivels, 125 h.p. Boiler OILFIELD HAULING
A24
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Get to work
November 5 was take your kid to work day, with Grade 9 students fanning out across Estevan. Darrin Leptick, on the forklift, showed his son Bradley what it’s like to hustle barrels. Darrin Leptick is the safety co-ordinator for Prairie Petro-Chem in Estevan. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
Kelly LTD.
EV-DO expands in several oilpatch areas Weyburn – SaskTel is continuing its rollout of high speed wireless service throughout Saskatchewan. In late October and early November the Crown corporation announced upgrades to service in several areas, many of which serve the oilpatch. Those areas include Weyburn, Belle Plaine, Stoughton, Onion Lake, Caron, North Battleford, Moose Jaw, Melville, Benson, Pense and Smiley areas. According to a SaskTel release, the new EVDO Rev A enhancement enables a host of wireless data services, including web browsing, content
General Oilfield Hauling Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta 8 to 30 Ton Picker Service Winch Trucks, Bed Trucks Air-Ride Equipment Tank Rentals
634-8888 - ESTEVAN, SK
downloads and video streaming. This expansion is part of an ongoing $11.3 million project to expand or improve EV-DO service in 64 locations across the province. “SaskTel’s commitment to offering its customers world-class wireless services is evident from this latest improvement,” Minister of Crown Corporations Ken Cheveldayoff said. “This project to deliver improved wireless data service to residents and businesses across the province will help bring SaskTel’s total investment in digital cellular service to over $170
FACTORS WESTERN Are you looking for a new form of Ànancing?
Does your business have: - expansion plans - limited cash Áow - credit worthy accounts - restricted bank credit - a successful product or service Factors Western can help! Website: www.factorswestern.com email: cbezaire@factorswestern.com
Phone: 634-9939 Cell: 421-8642 Fax: 634-9976
million.” “With the much higher speeds made possible by EV-DO Rev A technology, and an EVDO capable device, SaskTel cellular customers will be able to use wireless data services such as web browsing, content downloads, streaming video, streaming radio, email and instant messaging at speeds close to residential internet high speed connections,” SaskTel President and CEO Robert Watson said. “We will continue to invest in our network to provide our customers with the latest wireless technologies over the largest digital cellular network in the province.” EV-DO Rev A is a third generation network technology available to Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular carriers that will support peak average upload speeds ranging between 350 kbps and 550 kbps, and peak average download speeds ranging between 2000 kbps and 2300 kbps. These speeds are in the range of high speed internet offered via landline. In order to use EVDO Rev A, the customer must be using a EV-DO Rev A capable device in the EV-DO Rev A locations. If customers roam outside of the EV-DO coverage area, the device will switch to 1X coverage automatically. SaskTel’s entire digital network has been enabled with 1X functionality since 2003.
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A25
Oil Wives Club convention The Oil Wives Club of Estevan recently attended the 52nd Annual Association of Oil wives Clubs convention. This years convention was hosted by the Oil Wives Club of Drayton Valley in Edmonton, Ab on Oct. 16-19th. Representatives from all 28 clubs were in attendance. Back row L-R Lori Gonas, Dawn Ramstead. ,Cindy Beaulieu, Susan Mack, Tina Hauck, Kelly McConnell. Front row L-R Connie Spencer, Kathy Gibson, Marie Hoffort, Mae Lawrence, Roni-Sue Coulter, Helen Schreyer.
Three Star TRUCKING LTD. • OilÀeld Tank Trucks • Hot Oil Trucks • Pressure Trucks • Vacuum Trucks • Bobcat & Gravel Trucks • Payloader • OilÀeld Reclamation 2-WAY RADIO EQUIPPED 24 HOUR SERVICE Ken Boettcher - 443-2474 Res Edgar Bendtsen - 443-2350 Res Tim Boettcher - 443-2488 Res Jim Boettcher - 443-2205 Res Grant Anderson (204) 686-2201 Res
443-2424 FAX: 443-2433 BOX 160, ALIDA, SASK. S0C 0B0
Acquire, Exploit & Explore A Proud Producer in Southeast Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan OfÀce: #6, 461 King Street Estevan, Saskatchewan S4A 1K6 (306) 637-3462 www.tristaroilandgas.com
CLIFF NANKIVELL TRUCKING LTD.
WATER & CRUDE VACUUM TRUCK SERVICE
• 24 Hour Service
• Oil Hauling
2 Locations: Kisbey & Lampman Phone: 462-2130 • Fax: 462-2188
A26
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Sucker rod pumps beneÂżt low volume wells Â&#x201E; By Stephan Burnett Pipeline News Lloydminster - Close to 75 people attended a presentation put on by National Oilwell Varco
at the Wayside Inn in Lloydminster on Nov. 12 for the Petroleum Society Lloydminster Heavy Oil Section. Derek Krilow provides technical sup-
port for Nation Oilwell Varco throughout the Lloydminster region, throughout the Foothills and into the Kindersley region. Krilow spoke about
WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE THINKING BIG â&#x20AC;˘ Pipeline Construction â&#x20AC;˘ Facilities Construction and Installation â&#x20AC;˘ Horizontal and Directional Drilling â&#x20AC;˘ Environmental Reclamation and Remediation â&#x20AC;˘ Plant and Facilities Maintenance Mike Brasseur, Division Manager (306) 634-4554 (306) 634-4664 Cell: (306) 461-8111 Email: mbrasseur@bcpl.ca Web: bigcountryenergy.com
sucker rod pumps for heavy oil applications. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of the people involved in heavy oil production donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know what has been tried and some of these systems have an application today in steam assisted gravity drainage (SAG-D) and conventional as well as horizontal wells,â&#x20AC;? said Krilow. A tremendous amount of design and work was done prior to the installation and application of progressive cavity pumps. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of this design work has been lost in the slow down of the early 80s. A lot of people left the industry through retirement and a lot of this knowledge was lost and now that oil companies are look-
Surface & Mineral AcquisiĆ&#x;ons Crown Sales Public ConsultaĆ&#x;on AcquisiĆ&#x;ons & Divestments Renewable Energy
ing at pumping lower volume wells thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a movement back to sucker rod pumps,â&#x20AC;? said Krilow. While a conventional progressive cavity pump has the tendency to pump off the well a rod pump system is a lot less expensive to put into place. Once a system is properly applied, the longevity a sucker rod pump system can be longer than a progressive cavity pump, Krilow explained. A sucker rod pump is a positive displacement pump. It has a piston, a cylinder and two valves that work in conjunction with one another. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basically a hollow piston, a plunger,â&#x20AC;? says Krilow. Progressive cavity
pump is a rotary pump that rotates the rod 360 degrees, very similar to an auger. Krilow explained that sucker rod pumps are more applicable to low volume wells but progressive cavity pump are still the preferred method for pumping heavy sandy oil. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are some people in the industry that know and have been around for many years. We also have a bunch of new people in the industry that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know what a rod pump is all about. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a movement toward the sucker rod pumps on lower volume wells. A rod pump is considerably less money than a progressive cavity pump and not only that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also about servicing.â&#x20AC;? ɸ Page A31
TO HELP YOU CREATE AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY, WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL CONSULT WITH AN EXPERT - YOU. Changing markets and our changing lifestyles can send a once-balanced portfolio into disarray. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so important to take advantage of our free portfolio review at least once every year. Together weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll assess how changes in your career, aspirations and goals can impact your prior investments and make the necessary adjustments to help keep you on track. Though we may be knowledgeable on the markets, no one knows your life better than you.
www.landsoluĆ&#x;ons.ca
Seasons GreeĆ&#x;ngs!
Schedule your free portfolio review today, because no one knows your Ă&#x20AC;nancial goals better than you.
Orville R Acton, CFP 119 3rd Street N.E. Weyburn, SK S4H 0W4 306-842-4628
Tyler Knibbs Estevan, SK S4A 1Y3 306-634-4870 www.edwardjones.com
Calgary, AB 403.290.0008
Edmonton, AB 780.414.0008
Bentley, AB 403.748.2661
Lloydminster, AB 780.870.5226
Lampman, SK 306.487.2505
Member CIPF
Victoria, BC 250.389.2212 Typefaces are as follows:
Large Ad
Small Ads
*VU[YVS LSTPUH[L WHYHMĂ&#x201E; U PYVU Z\SWOPKLZ HUK HZWOHS[LULZ PU VPSĂ&#x201E; LSK WYVK\J[PVU HUK PUQLJ[PVU ^LSSZ
The environmentally friendly alternative. www.dpsmicrobial.com
Red Deer, AB Calgary, AB Frobisher, SK
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A27
API Threading (Approved Gauges) • Custom Lathe & Millwork • In Shop & Mobile Welding • Pressure Welding • Aluminum and Stainless
CORY IRWIN (306) 483-2376 • OXBOW, SK.
Pipe shortage A shortage of pipe has companies hoarding their own, and looking for places to stick it. Bert Baxter Transport Ltd. of Estevan has had to Ànd any empty lot available to service the high demand for pipe storage. Here a brand new loader is unloading casing pipe during its Àrst day in service. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
Controlled Pressure Pressure Drilling Controlled Drilling and Services andTesting Testing Services The Answer is Clear. Contact Frank Faber of Cavalier Land to meet all of your land needs! Box 1137 Carlyle, SK, S0C 0R0 Ph: 306.453.6780 Fx: 306.453.6412 www.divestco.com
LECLAIR TRANSPORT
data
decisions
delivery
Lyle Leclair - Cell: 306-421-7060 Larry - Cell: 306-421-7131 General Oilfield Hauling Office: 842-2699 Office:(306) (306) 842-2699 Fax: Fax:(306) (306)842-0676 842-0676 Weyburn, Weyburn, SK SK
(403) 693-7500 (403) 693-7500 Calgary, AB AB Calgary,
A28
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
When hiring Scott Land, YOU hire the Advantage... • Surface Acquisitions, Freehold Mineral Leasing, Administration Projects • No project is too small or too large • Most active Land Company in Saskatchewan & Manitoba, with a proven 25 year track record • Experienced Field Agents • Competitive Rates, Including an Emerging Company Plan (ECP) package to all Junior Start-up Companies
Scott Land & Lease Ltd. 1460 - 2002 Victoria Avenue Regina, SK S4P 0R7 Toll Free: 1-888-939-0000 Fax# 306-359-9015 www.scottland.ca
Kurtis Greenman, Mineral Manager 306-790-4350 Chad Morris, Surface Manager 306-790-4363 Laurie Bielka, Assistant Branch Manager 306-790-4360 Crown Sale Inquiries 403-261-6580 Main Line 306-359-9000
Three Star ENVIRONMENTAL * Environmental Protection Plans * Impact Assessments * Pre-Site Assessments * Environmental Audits & Assessments * Well Site & Battery Abandonments * Drilling Waste Management * Pre/Post Water Well Testing * EM Surveying * GPS Mapping
443-2429
FAX: 443-2453 BOX 160, ALIDA, SASK. S0C 0B0 www.threestarenvironmental.com
Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki frames a recent picture of himself conferring with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
JACK!
IT’S ABOUT TIME
Jack knows time is money PAYS FOR ITSELF
INSTALLATION
YOUR TIME
The increase in oil/gas production is immediately measureable not only in time, but real dollars.
It only takes a few hours to have your compressor up and running, practically eliminating production downtime.
Our safety qualified installers will perform maintenance checks when required, onsite, saving you the trip in.
– 4 WEEKS
– ZERO
– 1 DAY
www.annugas.com Toll Free
1.866.ANNUGAS
COMPRESSION
CONSULTING
LTD.
ANNUGAS ANNUGAS PRODUCTION PRODUCTION ENHANCER ENHANCER ®
New challenges ɺ Page A13 In recent years, he’s noted changes in the constituency. Barely five years ago, driving through the same constituency, he saw boarded up buildings. More recently, he say nine rigs from the highway near Kisbey. Asked about the possibility of encouraging people from out east to come here to work, he notes, “If there is work, and it provides people with as good of a lifestyle as they are accustomed to, they would not be offended. It’s getting a mindset change that the west is doing well economically.” “I’m happy to be in a portfolio that’s dealing with some of the issues. I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
DOUG COLPITTS Owner/Manager
Box 609 Carlyle, SK S0C 0R0 Bus: (306) 634-8084 Cell: (306) 577-8833 Fax: (306) 453-6478
Looking for employees Contact your local Pipeline News Sales rep. to get you 35,000 Circulation on your career ad!
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A29
Newly appointed board of directors
BADGER DAYLIGHTING™
Safety It’s What We Do. It’s What We Deliver. Full Service Hydrovac Fleet Available to Saskatchewan • Tandem Tandem • Tri Axle • Tandem • 4 x 4
The Association of Oil Wives Clubs appointed their new board of directors. Back row- Left to right Mae Lawrence, Club of Estevan - Board Membership, Jo-Ann Givens, Club of Okotoks - Nominations, Pauline McWatters, Club of Red Deer - Historian, Karen Ebel, Club of Lloydminster - Past President, Roni Sue Coulter, Club of Estevan - Constitution, Carol Murray, Club of Calgary - Treasurer, Front row-Kathy Conklin, Club of Medicine Hat - President, Virginia Mueller - Secretary
Joker
Saskatoon ......................... (306) 934-2964 Swift Current ..................... (306) 773-0724 Lloydminster ..................... (306) 875-1640 Kindersley ......................... (306) 463-6006 Carlyle................................ (306) 577-3400 Weyburn ............................ (306) 848-0906 Carnduff............................. (306) 482-5270
Toll Free: 1-800-465-4273 www.badgerinc.com
Oilfield Services Ltd. Cimarron Prince VAC
SPECIALTIES LTD. “FOR ALL YOUR ANCHORING NEEDS”
Services
Box 275 Wawota, SK S0G 5A0
Ph: 421-0509
Barrie Wock
SpeciÀc Targeting
Cel: 306-577-7838 Jay Leader Cel: 306-577-7462
Contact your local Pipeline News Sales rep. to get you 35,000 circulation on your career ad!
+ Extended TTerm erm Financing ONLY 8 LEFT
up to 96Months
w/up to $11,000
Only $63,395 + taxes/fees Cash!
NEW
$73,000 MSRP Unit #14748
‘08 ‘08 Duramax Duramax Diesels Diesels SAVE - SAVE - SAVE - SAVE
CMP Specializes in...
Also
deep discounts!
NEW
Incentive Cash!
Large Cash Deal Incentives
SALE - SALE - SALE - SALE
2008 GMC SIERRA 2500 SLE DURAMAX CREW 4WD
(0% Financing Available) 17” Aluminum Wheels Large Selection of Quality All Terrain Tires Preowned All Makes, All Models Fog Lamps High Idle Switch 06 Dodge - 1500 Sport Quad 4wd - Dk Gray ONLY 65 k HEMI Automatic Climate Control Brake Control Reclining Bucket Seats w/Dual Pwr. & Man. Lumbar
ONLY $22,923
CASH ONLY A Must See Truck! Unit #15447A
60Month Terms Avaliable w/Huge Cash Incentives
UP TO
0% 60
MTHS
on most 2008 models!
Tons of 2009s on the lot & more on the way! With great rates!
SONOMA RED Steering Controls UNIT #13722 XM Satellite Radio HD Trailering Pkg On-Star & MUCH MORE!
$44,950 PLUS TAXES/FEES
02 Sierra - 2500 Ext. 4wd Duramax - Pewter 188 k
or
96 Month Finance only $321 bi-weekly everything included
ONLY $16,995
Locally Owned Unit #14880
A30
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Black gold girl Affordable housing key to apprentice
Hey Girls!
Just wanna have fun? Join the Oil Wives Club of Estevan, a social club for women whose significant others work in the oil patch. We understand relocation and how hard it may be to meet people in a new town. With our long established “Links of Friendship” via over 29 clubs in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan, you will always have a group of friends wherever the patch may take you and your family. Our motto is “Fostering Friendship” and we meet every third Thursday of the month... just to have fun and a meal. Come out and meet with women who share similar interests and take the opportunity to make life-long friendships. Our next meeting will be held January 15, 2008.
For more information call Cindy Beaulieu at 634-4970 or Connie Spencer at 634-1012 Check out our website at: www.oilwives.com
Estevan – The promise of being able to own a house brought her family to southeast Saskatchewan, and now at 20, heavy duty mechanic apprentice Brandi Day already has her own. “I’m originally from Kelowna, B.C., and live in Frobisher now,” she says. Day chose to live in Frobisher and commute into Estevan due to the affordability factor. “I was able to buy a house out there. It’s a little cheaper.” “My family moved out here for work and to be able to own a home. Back in B.C., it was getting a little ridiculous for housing prices,” she says. Her father is an oilfield contractor, and her mother works with as a department manager for a big-box retailer. “They came in ’06, I came in April ’07.” Day is in her first year of apprenticeship as a heavy duty mechanic at Wil-Tech Industries in Estevan. Pipeline News found her tearing apart a winch on a winch truck. The bushings were shot, she points out. She plans on taking her first round of training at SIAST’s Kelsey Campus in Saskatoon this upcoming spring. “There’s a bit of a wait list right now,” she says. Why heavy duty mechanics? “It’s always been interesting to me, and WilTech was hiring. I applied, and got a job in October, 2007. The promise of working in a nice, warm shop was appealing to her. She has spent the summer of 2007 as a drilling rig roughneck. Her work was in Manitoba, for Venture Drilling. “It was pretty Brandi Day works on a winch truck winch at Wil-Tech Industries in Estevan. good. Tough work, but good money,” she says. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
We Know Downhole
Partners with Saskatchewan in Developing a Secure Energy Future
www.talisman-energy.com Carlyle (306) 453-2545 • Shaunavon (306) 297-2601 • Calgary (403) 237-1234
From some of the world’s most common and widely used packers like the sturdy AS1-X to advanced Open Hole Treating systems, Xtreme Oil Tools sets the standard for innovation, performance and reliability in packer technology. Our packer system selection is the most comprehensive in the industry, and forms the foundation for a complete range of fit-for-purpose completions for all types of well environments and applications, from the simplest single-zone completions, to the most complex horizontal, multilateral and intelligent completions.
Local Distributor for:
Odour Control Systems Enviromentally Friendly Removal of H2S
“Packing Quality and Service into Everything We Do” 634-7966 • 106 Perkins Street, Estevan, SK www.xtremeoiltools.com E-mail: cmcgillicky@xtremeoiltools.com
Sized to your speciÀc needs For more information call Phone: 306-842-2008 Fax: 306-842-2009 www.edgeoilÀeld.ca Cost Effective Easy to Install Non-Toxic
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
A31
Extreme labour shortage? Although Ànding workers in this area is difÀcult. The labour situation in Estevan hasn’t gotten that desperate. Young Mr. Raynard here is cleaning Áoors to keep himself occupied while his dad works on his race car before heading to the “duel in the Dessert” in Las Vegas. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
“Experience the Service!”
...Your One-Call Source for OilÀeld Rentals
Units less costly ɺ Page A26 The amount of time and money put into servicing sucker rod pumps is lower than progressive cavity pumps. “Rod pumps can be serviced by pulling the sucker rod string when it can be serviced or a new unit installed. With a progressive cavity pump to service the unit you have to pull both rods and tubing which can be expensive and take more time,” said Krilow. National Oilwell Varco has a number of sales hands that talk to the customer Krilow overseas. “We manufacture a complete line of artificial equipment,” he says. National Oilwell Varco has been a manufacturer of artificial lift system for over 100 years and possesses a worldwide system that has withstood the test of time. “We’ve managed to survive and prosper because of the product and the people.”
Leading the industry in production & specialty chemicals
OIL TREATING COMPOUNDS ESTEVAN OFFICE 634-7627 Fax: 634-7827 Kelly: 861-6045 Jeff: 421-7973 Chad : 421-0338 Lyle: 421-2491 Armand: 421-8286 Darcy: 421-1551
CARLYLE OFFICE 453-6494 Fax: 453-2598 Trevor: 577-8046 Mike B: 577-8153 Mike L: 577-8982 Paul: 577-1916 James: 577-8650
One Call:
1.877.347.1628 Quality - Service - Commitment www.ApexOil.ca
♦ :HOGLQJ ♦ )DEULFDWLQJ ♦ 0DFKLQLQJ ♦ +\GUDXOLFV ♦ 3DLQWLQJ ♦ 6DQGEODVWLQJ
A32
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
SALES AND RENTALS OF NEW AND RECONDITIONED OILFIELD EQUIPMENT • New 400/500bbl API 12F Cert. Steel Tanks • New 400/500bbl API 12P Cert. Fibreglass Tanks • New 100bbl to 1000bbl Tanks
Canadian Distributor for Palmer Tanks!! • • • • • •
New 28” x 60” 500psi Portable Test Seperators New 6’ x 20’ Vert. 75lb Treaters New 8’ x 30’ 75lb FWKO’s Flarestacks Tubing TRUCKING Wellhead Equipment • 37.5 Ton Picker with Dual Winch • 22 Ton Picker • (3) 20 Ton Texas Bed Trucks • (2) Tri-Axle 51’ Oilfield Floats c/w Centre Roll • Tandem and Tri-Axle Hiboys • One Ton Trailers • Sandblaster & Painter
View our website for a complete listing of services and equipment!!
Ph. 306-455-2705 Fax 306-455-2250 codygrimes@eagleoilfieldservices.com www.eagleoilfieldservices.com
Box 330 Arcola, SK S0C 0G0
PIPELINE NEWS Saskatchewan’s Petroleum Monthly
B-Section December 2008
Night rigs The sun may be setting, but work is non-stop on this service rig, foreground, and drilling rig, background, working north of Midale in mid-November. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
Lots of life in tight-knit Midale By Brian Zinchuk Midale – Most small towns in the Saskatchewan oilpatch are made up of small operators working in the oilpatch service sector – usually mom and pop operations. Maybe there’s a small welding shop that does fab work, a flushby operator, water haulers, that sort of thing. Then there will be one or two larger firms, like BMW Weatherford in Maidstone, or NOV in Turtleford. Midale is a little different, in more ways then one. For starters, most of its oilpatch involvement is on the larger side, especially for a small town. Northeast of town, there are two major plants – one for Apache Canada, the other a terminal for Enbridge. Adjacent to the Enbridge terminal is a Plains Midstream collection point. The Apache plant is implementing a major carbon dioxide flood project.
Hwy. 16 West, Lloydminster, AB 1-866-875-7665 1-780-875-7667
www.tnttankandtrailer.com • Registered B620 Certified Shop
FINANCING AVAILABLE with
Scott Cable (780)221-6500
A freshly dug pipeline right of way runs to the Enbridge plant. On the other side of it, Carsons Welding can be found doing some well head connections for Apache. You’d have to be careful gopher hunting in this area. You could end up plunking a roughneck instead, there’s so much drilling rigs and service rigs active. In town, what used to be a hospital is now the head office for Midale Petroluems. They’re not a simple service company, but a going concern as a junior producer, and have been around for decades. Total Oilfield Rentals, on the other hand, is the new entrant in town. They’re one of sixteen Total locations in Western Canada, the first in Saskatchewan. Another recent business is Palko Energy, a water disposal site 14 km north of town, run by the Peterson family who has farmed there for the better part
We will work with you to suit your needs! • SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • REPAIRS
Hutchinson TC 406 Heil DOT 407 38-46 Cubes. 9 & 11 Cube Pressure Truck 1 or 2 Compartment. Tank 16 & 22 Cube Crude Tank
6 in stock!
Heil DOT 407 Body Job Tank 18-22 Cube. 6 in stock.
of a century. South of the Highway 39 is Lynco Construction. Next to Lynco is Tyco Flow Control. “We’re a young company, in business for four and a half years in Midale,” says Ivan Herlick, one of the partners of Lynco and field co-ordinator. They’ve been building in “leaps and bounds because the industry is going hard.” Lynco started in Wapella in 1997, but moved its main operation to Midale in 2004. Another office is in Red Deer, Alta. They’ve now got about 55 employees, and are opening a new shop. One of the partners is spending a lot of time in Moose Jaw these days, getting the new shop there up and running. That shop will work on potash as well as oilfield fabrication work, but will end up sharing some projects with the head office, according to Herlick. ɸ Page B2 Hutchinson 18 cube TC 406 Crude Triaxle Puptrailer
Hutchinson 36 cube TC 406 Crude Insulated triaxle with lift axles
Heil DOT 407 32 Cube, Quad Wagon. 2 units.
Heil DOT 407, 55 Cube, insulated, Super B, internal lining, alum wheels 24 units
09 North Country Triaxle End Dump Air ride, sealed end gate, sliding tarp, LED lights
NEW & USED FOR SALE OR LEASE TO OWN
B2
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Every lot taken in Midale
Midale is sporting the latest fashion trend for small towns in Saskatchewan – a new subdivision for all the people moving to town. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
ɺ Page B1 The Midale Central School K-12 school has seen an influx of students, with 32 new students this year. Of those, 12 were kindergarten, the rest moved in, spread throughout the grades. A sampling were from Newfoundland and Manitoba, the bulk were from Alberta and Saskatchewan. Jon Gillies, a teacher who has substituted at midale once told Pipeline News about one time a young student had come up to him to show off his expensive new bike. Gillies asked why he didn’t lock it up. He then looked over to the bike rack and realized that bike locks where not common at all. It was complete change from the inner city school he used to teach in, where several students in his class at any one time would be sentenced to school as part of youth court judgements.
It’s that sort of story Herlick of Lynco likes to hear, and something he wants to see continue. He wants Midale to come out ahead at the conclusion of the current wave of work. When that wave of work flows out, he wants a community that can still operate, and not be left with a big empty spot. “The problem has been accommodations for people in rural Saskatchewan,” he says. “We’ll adapt and it will come out. It will be a positive thing for the community.” Of their 50 or so employees, some commute from Weyburn, other from Estevan, some are renting in town, some own in town, according to Herlick. “People are cautious to move. You’ve got to feel it out. We’ve had four families move here.” The growth is reflected on the east side of town. That’s where you find is a feature many Saskatchewan
small oil towns have had to develop in recent years – a new subdivision. Two houses are up, and another basement is started. “These little towns, you need a lot of years to build things up,” Herlick says. When asked if they are encouraging staff to move to Midale, he responds, “Yes.” Why? They have lots to offer for education, a good rink with artificial ice, and room for expansion, he says. Some of their employs are Saskatchewan ex-pat who had gone to work in Alberta, and came back, tired of the faster pace of life in Alberta. “Fort McMurray – awesome place to make money, hard to raise a family,” he says. “People want to come home.” Allan Hauglum is mayor of Midale. He works just down the road at NewAlta’s Halbrite location as a lead operator. “The oilpatch has really helped the town boom,” he says. He’s been on council for two terms, and in his third year as mayor. In the last year, the town of approximately 550 has sold 22 lots – nine infill and 13 in the new subdivision. “We don’t have an empty lot left in Midale,” he says. “We’ve sold 13 new lots. We’ve developed them and filed them up.” Those lots went for $17,500 each, and will probably be it, for a while. “We’re lucky we expanded our water treatment plant when we did,” Hauglum says, noting the work was done two years ago.
• OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS •
“Community First”
M IDALE PETROLEUMS LTD. Midale, Saskatchewan
Ph: 1-306-458-2303
• OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS •
• OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS •
• OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS • OIL & GAS •
1-888-458-2270 458-2270 www.lynco.ca
P.O. Box 240 Midale, SK S0C
Box 81 Halbrite, Sask. S0C 1H0
• Oil Tank Truck Service • Steamer • Vac • Pressure Trucks
306-458-2331
Ivan Herlick of Lynco Construction talks of the four families they’ve had move into Midale recently. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
B3
Apache Canada’s CO2 Àood extends Midale ¿eld 40 years By Brian Zinchuk Midale – It seems everyone has heard about the EnCana carbon dioxide sequestration program at Weyburn. What is not so widely known is that Apache Canada is doing a similar project north of Midale, at its Midale field. The project has been running commercially since 2005, having started as a pilot project in 1984. North of Highway 39, the Apache Midale plant sits in the middle of contiguous land holdings stretching 15 miles east and west, and 12 miles north and south. Drawing carbon dioxide from the same pipeline that feeds Weyburn, Apache is injecting CO2 into the now-55-year-old Midale field, extending its like by approximately another 25 years, giving the field another forty
Prairie Public, the Fargo, North Dakota PBS station, was up in Midale on Nov. 20 to do a documentary on Apache Canada’s carbon dioxide Áood. The pipes behind them bring the carbon dioxide in from the pipeline, and send it out again to injector wells. years of expected production. The local impact
of Apache’s operations in the Midale district cannot be understated.
Apache pays 32 per cent of the tax roll for the local Rural Municipality
of Cymri No. 36, according to RM administrator Pam Scott.
The company employs 28 people directly at Midale. Approximately 80 contractor employees are also working as a result, sometimes peaking over 100. “A high percentage of what is going on in Midale is related to the CO2 flood,” notes Dennis Krainyk, who runs the local operation for Apache. Otherwise, he notes, Midale would be a small farming retirement community. The project has gained enough interest to be the subject of a documentary by Prairie Public, the Fargo, North Dakota PBS licensee station. They were up on Nov. 20 to check the operation out. Watch for next month’s Pipeline News, when we go in depth with the Apache Canada carbon dioxide flood project at Midale.
• General Oilfield Hauling • Hotshot Service
C
• Pilot Car Service • Winch Trucks • Air Ride Hiboys • 53’ Air Ride Step Deck • 24’ Gooseneck • 24/7
Scott (Scooter) Boyes • 306-482-8886 Jason (Jake) Boyes • 306-482-8883 Shawn (Gump) Boyes • 306-482-8313
B4
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
The burgers and soups are favourites of the Nomex crowd at Midale’s Tumbleweeds Restaurant.
Do it Once Do it Right Packers Plus Energy Services Inc.
website: www.packersplus.com Email: cara.ganje@packersplus.com
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2009! #2-Malmgren Drive, Box 171 Estevan, SK S4A 2A3
Shop: (306) 634-9056 Fax: (306) 634-9058
Member of CAODC, locally owned with four free standing double rigs and two free standing single rigs
Ron Newett - 861-1062 • Al Vilcu - 861-5253 Field Supervisor - Darren Wanner • 861-9990
Southern Range Well Servicing Ltd.
Box 895, Weyburn, SK, S4H 2L1 southernrange@sasktel.net Bus: (306) 842-3401 Fax: (306) 842-3402
Tumble into Tumbleweeds
Midale – Ask where to go for lunch in Midale, and Tumbleweeds Restaurant comes up. With a recently renovated, boldly coloured interior, Tumbleweeds can be found on Main Street in Midale. There it’s not uncommon to find guys in blue Nomex there for a burger. Even with just one person running the show after the lunch rush, the service is extremely prompt. Ask those guys in the Nomex what to eat, and they suggest the burgers, in particular the chicken burger. It’s real chicken, not some meat by-
product mashed into a breaded patty, and it goes down well. Connie Fonstead and Jaelynne Swenson are the owners. Covering the afternoon, you can find Lois Duncan. Much of their clientele is oilpatch, Duncan notes. “Mostly, I would say. The other portion is seniors who come in for their daily coffee, two times a day. What the favourite? “Everybody likes the soups. It all depends on who’s cooking at the time,” Duncan explains. Each of the owners has their own specialties.
PARKSIDE OILFIELD SERVICES LTD.
• 5 Mobile Steamer & Washer Units • 5 Tractor Mower Units - For Lease Mowing • Lease Seeding • Texas Gates • Straw for Reclamation • Wellhead Enclosures • Snow Removal
Office: 306-538-4487
Box 278, Kennedy, SK S0G 2R0 Cell: 577-7694
In 20 seconds, your skid steer or CTL can be a self-propelled scraper
Ashland
w w w. a s h l a n d i n d . c o m
Customer comments:
“
Moving Dirt has never been so cheap
“
“ “
“
I’ve dramatically reduced my fuel cost per yard
“
you have to see it to believe it
watch it NOW!!!
www.youtube.com Search: “Ashland Ground Hog Scraper”
',* '(/,9(5 '803
$1,000 Rebate Factory Sales Representative:
George S. Adair Swift Current, SASK 306-774-8559 mobile 306-773-0996 of¿ce 306-778-7421 fax gadair@shaw.ca
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
B5
Independent, and comfortably so By Brian Zinchuk Midale – There’s an oddity on the main street of Midale. There, in a modern building, is a credit union. But unlike credit unions across Saskatchewan with made-up words for names, this credit union actually has the name of the town still attached to
it. Midale Credit Union is becoming one or a precious few independent credit unions, one that has not been swept up by the wave upon successive wave of credit union mergers that has crossed this province numerous times in recent years. They’re quite happy to keep it that way, according to general
manager Bob Harris. Credit unions are often a sign of the strength of the community. In this case, Harris notes, “This community is very tight knit. We have some pride of who we are and where we come from.” “We can’t see any benefits of doing it,” he replies when asked why they haven’t merged with someone. Harris says they provide good service right now.
“We’re still very viable, with good support from our membership,” he says. We must be doing something right, because we continue to grow. An example of that may be that a good percentage of the mortgages for the recent boom in residential lots in Midale ended up with Midale Credit Union. A large number of those lots were in turn driven by the strength of the oil patch in the area. ɸ Page B6
Training Opportunities
TRAINING COURSES H2S Alive - Dec. 9; Jan. 8 & 21; Jan. 30 (Carlyle) Confined Space - Dec. 10; Jan. 13 CPR/1st Aid - Dec. 15-16; Jan. 6-7 & 19-20; Jan. 28-29 (Carlyle) CPR/1st Aid Refresher - Jan. 14 TDG/WHMIS - Dec. 17; Jan. 15 Supervision, Team Leadership & Motivation (Enform course) - April 6
Call us if you need a class set up just for you - we deliver safety training on our site or yours. We also offer 1A Truck Driving - call 637-4921 for info.
Call toll free to register
1-866-999-7372
Check out our website at: www.southeastcollege.org
Midale Credit Union is one of an increasingly rare breed, an independent credit union. Its strength is in no small part due to the strength of the local oilpatch.
PO Box 32, Carlyle, Saskatchewan S0C 0R0 Phone: (306) 453-4411 Fax: (306) 453-4404 E-Mail: jwaugh@mmmud.ca Jason Waugh - Operations Manager 306-577-9900 (Carlyle) Trevor Van Alstyne - Field Supervisor 306-421-0344 (Estevan) Ryan Toms - Field Supervisor 306-452-8182 (Redvers) Chad Jackson - Warehouse Manager 306-577-9734 (Carlyle)
Specializing in Non Damaging Biodegradable Drilling Fluids Designed for Horizontal Drilling
“Serving The Oil and Gas Industry with 24 Hour Drilling Fluid Service”
B6
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Extending life of the Àeld North of Midale one Ànds the Midale formation, with plenty of pumpjacks still working on the 55 year-old Àeld. Apache Canada is using carbon dioxide Áood to substantially lengthen the life of the Midale Àeld. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
Midale Credit Union * Bed Trucks * Winch Tractors * Pickers
RIG MOVING Phone: 482-3244
ɺ Page B5 Is their growth tied to the oilpatch? Yes, it is, comes the answer, although he ads agriculture is important to the area too. Harris points to two relatively recent companies that have come to the community – Lynco Construction, and Total Oilfield Rentals, as good signs. “Over the last five years, we’ve probably doubled in size.” In giving back to the community, Midale Credit Union offers each high school graduate of the town’s school a $500 scholarship if they choose to attend post-secondary education within two years of graduating.
Barb Wire 12 1/2 GA Double Strand ........... $63.45/roll Peeled Rails 2-3x16’......................................................$8.25 each Rough Spruce Lumber 2x6x16’ sp. ...............................................................$8.85 2x8x16’ sp. ............................................................... $12.50 1x6x8’ sp 240 pcs. per li. ft. .....................................$510.00
Fence Posts From- 3-4x6’ treated ............................... $3.75 each Up to- 6-7x8’ .................................................$16.00 Every size in between.
Farm Buildings • Post Buildings • Dimensional Frame • Engineered Steel Buildings Includes: metal roof, metal wall, metal flashings (outside corners ridge roll, base flash, eave flash, gableflash, J channel, drip flash), steel insulated walk in door and lockset. Construction Crews Available * Prices do not include taxes
CWD
Call Today for Competitive Pricing!!
Metal Cladding
"Thinking windows? Shop and compare!"
Many types & proÀles available.
WINDOWS AND DOORS
Insist on CWD windows and doors. PVC Windows - Metal clad windows Patio and garden doors - Insulated steel doors
Call for comparative pricing!
Now stocking various lengths of Galvalume & white/white metal. Farm and industrial, galvanized, galvalume and coloured. 26, 28, 29 & 30 gauge metal ordered to suit your size and needs. Phone for pricing with your individual requirements!
WOOD COUNTRY ESTEVAN
MCLEAN
TISDALE
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Ph: (306) 634-5111 Fax: (306) 634-8441 407 Kensington Avenue, Estevan
How do I get a ticket to win the car?
Are you drilling in the Bakken? We provide innovative solutions: • Bakken Frac Pump Cavins, Downhole Desanders & Gas Separators • Don-nan Gas Separator Innovative solutions for todays dynamic pumping challenges • Great Service • Competitive Prices • Quality Products
We wish all of our customers and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It has been a pleasure doing business with you! Locally Owned and Operated
Phone 634-7892 www.ipc-sk.ca
Break The Safe!
with every purchase get a combination & try to open the safe for tickets to win the Estevan Mercury Christmas Car! Win 10, 20 even 50 tickets at a time!!
Proud to be an active part of the community
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
B7
Launched just in time for Bakken push Midale - They’ve dabbled in the oil business off and on over the last few decades, but now a venture launched with their sons is taking off. It doesn’t hurt that their location is right in the middle of the Bakken action, and their service is in high demand. Palko Energy Ltd. is a water disposal outfit located 14 km north of Midale, on Highway 606. As the sun sets, their horizon glows with drilling rigs and flares next door. It also glows with the headlights of water haulers, coming to dispose of their load. Steven and Kim Peterson are the brothers who head up the operation. Steven’s sons Kyle and Kurtis, and Kim’s son Jason are also part owners. “Right now we’re a custom salt water disposal,” says Steven. “We’ve been part of this Bakken thing.” The two families have been working together on the family farm for as long as they can remember. Currently they farm 4,000 acres organically, a sizeable operation for organic farming. Their farmyards are three km south, near the correction line. Asked if it’s a century family farm, Steven notes it’s pretty close, but not quite. “We’ve been partners for over 30 years,” Kim says, Steven Peterson is one of the partners in a new family oil services operation – a water disposal site as they finish each other’s sentence, an indication of north of Midale. what both report is a great relationship. Normally we take 35 to 40 trucks a day. Today, I’m sure over 40,” he says as trucks queue up. BERT BAXTER TRANSPORT LTD. Their 10,000 bbl. capacity is full at the time of Pipeline News’ visit, so it’s one of those few times where drivers have to wait. They can put 7,000 bbl. of produced water down their hole each day. As many as seven trucks can unload at one time. “We identified a need for extra saltwater disposal capacity in the area,” explains Steven. They bought a suspended well that “never amounted to much.” “We got this started before the boom started in the big Bakken play. That’s the ironic thing,” notes Kim. They set up 18 months ago. “That’s 90 per cent of our business.” “The real push came in the last year,” Steven says. It’s been busy enough for them to start the process of developing a second disposal well. They have the ability to do some custom treating, but it’s a sideline. “The Bakken oil separates so easily,” Kim notes. The interview takes place in a newly arrived office trailer. It showed up the day before. Prior to that, “We ran out of our half-tonnes,” Steven says. The new office will allow for improved paperwork. With enough work to keep family members 301 Kensington Ave. 9540 60th Ave. there from early in the morning to late at night, the Estevan Edmonton question arises whether they will have time to farm next year? Phone: Phone: Both go, “Umm . . . ” and look at each other. Yes, they will still be farming, but there will be adjustments, Steven says. ɸ Page B8
(306) 634-3616
(780) 435-0541
www.bbaxtertransport.ca
L & C Trucking Ltd. Phone: 634-5519 or 634-7341 24 Hwy. 39 E. Estevan
• • • • •
GENERAL OILFIELD HAULING TANK & TREATER MOVING 24 HOUR PERSONALIZED SERVICE PIPE CUSTODIAN PUMP JACK HAULING
B8
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Running the crane
OILFIELD LEGAL SERVICES
Crane operator Kevin Belanger hails from the Edmonton area, but has been recently working in southeast Saskatchewan. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
OILFIELD LEGAL LEGAL SERVICES OILFIELD SERVICES • Purchase and Sale of Oil and x Purchase and Sale of Oil and Gas Gas Interests Interests Creating Mineral, Royalty and x• Creating Mineral, Royalty and Family Trusts Family Trusts x• Incorporation of Oil FieldField Companies Incorporation of Oil Companies x• Re-organizations Re-organizations x Tax Deferred Transactions Tax Deffered Transactions x• Business Arrangements involving • Oilfield Business Arrangements involving Servicing Companies OilÀeld Servicing Companies
Riggin up Jack Dyck, originally from Courtney B.C. and now from the Edmonton area, works on rigging for a lift at Midale. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
Right in time for Bakken push 319 Avenue N.E., 319 Souris Souris Avenue N.E., Weyburn, SK
ɺ Page B7 Kim notes they don’t want to be spread too thin. “We have all the major trucking compa-
Weyburn, SK
(306) 842-4654
(306) 842-4654 www.nswb.com
www.nswb.com Over 35 years of legal Overexperience 35 year of legal experience
nies in here,” Kim says, and the drivers have been excellent. “The drivers are great. They respect the facility and are great to work with.”
One can travel the country just by talking to the drivers, they note, as they’ve had drivers from all over hauling to their facility.
Trust Your Truck to the Pros With over 40 years of combined mechanical service we’ll get you back on the road! • SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • LEASING • GENSET SERVICING • MOBILE SERVICE AVAILABLE
Serving Saskatchewan & Manitoba
637-2121 Toll Free 1-866-332-2121 Fax: (306) 637-2124 89 Escana Street, Estevan Mon. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ON CALL 24 HOURS A DAY
Parts & service for all makes & models!!
H Y D R O VA C S E R V I C E S 306.388.2225 - 306.421.5954
FOR RENT Double End Skid Mounted ATCO Wellsite Trailer. 12’ x 56’ currently located in Melville area, excellent condition. $170/day.
Phone Don
780-984-2340
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Labour shortage includes local pub
B9
Clean Cover-Alls Make Happy Workers! Let Purrfect Dry Cleaners turn your dirty, oily cover-alls into clean reusable items at a fraction of the cost of replacing them!
We clean coveralls and oilÀeld clothing only! Don't wait! Turn-around time that much quicker with 2 machines!
For nearly three decades, Rose Ng has been serving up a meal, and more recently, a beer, in Midale. Ng owns and operates Midway Service Restaurant & Motel and the Devil’s Pit bar.
“
When it’s a bad time, there’s so many people coming to you, looking for work. I’ve seen it many times
”
- Rose Ng Midale - “Right now is a good time. How long it lasts, we don’t know.” So says Rose Ng, who has been a fixture in Midale since 1979. She’s seen plenty of ups and downs in that time. She owns and runs Midway Service Restaurant & Motel and the Devil’s Pit bar, situated on the south side of Highway39 in Midale. The hotel was bought in 1991, and the bar was built in 1998. The restaurant sells Chinese and Canadian fare, with a specialty of dry ribs. “We sell a lot of dry ribs,” she notes. The 11 room motel is booked solid, she notes. “Right now we have mostly Boundary Dam boys.” Most of their clientele is oilfield, however. “Here it is all oilfield business,” she says. With all the rig activity in the area, is there more business in the bar? “Oh yes,” she replies. Like everyone else, Ng has felt the short-
age in labour. She usually has four or five part time staff, but if someone can’t come in, she has to fill in. “Luckily, I have a niece working for me,” she says. “Everywhere it’s a shortage.” When things are slower, resumes come in, she notes, as people are more hungry for work. “When it’s a bad time, there’s so many people coming to you, looking for work. I’ve seen it many times.” Lots of people come to work for a short term basis, while their husband is at work, she notes. It’s not easy competing with oilpatch wages, either. She doesn’t want to jack up the prices, for instance, and scare off customers.
204 Souris Avenue North, Estevan
634-4417
AFFORDABLE HOUSING is AVAILABLE MANUFACTURED HOMES
Lots now available in Estevan and area!
Canadian made SRI Homes with quality, style AND 10 year warranty! Both 16’ and 20’ wide models to choose from - create your own design or purchase units in stock. Lots available in Weyburn and area.
WE PROUDLY SERVICE WHAT WE SELL!!
PARK COTTAGES With the Candian dollar dropping by over 15%, the 2009 Park Cottages will be at least 15% higher. This is a $9,000 increase on a $60,000 Cottage. The good news is that the Park Models that we have in stock were bought at par. If you are interested in one of these units - NOW IS THE TIME to buy! "Where Adventures Begin"
SELLING QUICKLY!
Call Dick Michel today to set up an appointment 1-877-842-3288 921 Government Rd. S., Weyburn, SK.
1-877-842-3288....CHECK US OUT ONLINE AT....www.minardsleisureworld.com
Ralph French
Direct (306) 577-8553
Tank Trucks
Greg Cutler
Direct (306) 577-1950 r.frenchtransport@yourlink.ca
Office/Shop: (306) 457-3774 Fax: (306) 457-2735 24 HOUR EMERGENCY (306) 455-2741
B10
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Turtleford: everything By Brian Zinchuk Turtleford – These are the essentials of Turtleford, from a former pipeliner’s point of view. While Pipeline News tried to canvas as much of the community as possible, please forgive any oversights: Major operations:
Husky Energy operates a battery just south of Turtleford. Canadian Natural Resources and Geocan also have significant operations in the Turtleford district. Other operations: 3K Oil and Flint are active in the area. National Oilwell Varco moved
in two years ago as a supply and pump shop. Local players: Ken’s Oilfield and Oil ‘n’ Ag are both active in local oilfield maintenance. Oil ‘n’ Ag operates a storefront as well. First Nations: Thunderchild First Nation is located just
For great Christmas gift ideas stop in to see our Harley-Davidson fashion, collectibles & accessories! Shipping available!
Harley-Davidson of Yorkton Yorkton, Sk.
Ph: (306) 783-1999 www.harleydavidsonofyorkton.com
Gift certificates are always a great gift!
The question is, are you man enough for a turkey club from Percy’s? This is one of the more popular menu items with the local oilpatch workers in Turtleford.
Penta Completions Supply & Services Ltd. COMPLETE ROD PUMPING, SUPPLY, OPTIMIZATION, DESIGN & FIELD SERVICES
- Steel and Fiberglass Sucker Rod Sales - Dynomometers - Fluid Levels - Vertical and Horizontal Well Rod Design - SAM Pump-off Controllers - Wermac VFD Sales website: www.pentarods.com
BUS: (306) 634-7399 FAX: (306) 634-6989 58 Devonian Street P.O. Box 667 Estevan, Saskatchewan S4A 2A6
lhaukeness@pentarods.com mekkebus@pentarods.com jistace@pentarods.com ysever@pentarods.com
north of Turtleford. Its chief is Dale Awasis. Thunderchild is active in the patch, with production occurring on the First Nation. Fuel: Turtleford & District Co-op operates a cardlock on the west side of town, off Highway 303. Race Trac Gas is the only game in town when it comes to interacting with a human while fueling up. Race Trac has a repair bay and a decent selection in its confectionary. There’s also a sign on the door warning about oily boots.
At Prairie Land . . .
Land Acquisitions Freehold Mineral Specialists Surface Acquisitions Pipeline Right-of-Way Rental Reviews Damage Settlements Seismic Permitting Crown Sale Attendance Title Registration . . .
Prairie Land & Investment Services Ltd.
Saskatchewan & Manitoba s Freehold Mineral Specialists
DON PONTIUS
Calgary Office: (403) 264-4911 Suite 500, 521 - 3rd Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 3T3
TERRY JORDAN
Regina Office: (306) 757-5600 Suite 300, 2425 - 13th Avenue Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 0W1
Toll Free: 1-800-667-8025 Fax: (306) 586-7669 Swift Current: 1-800-667-8025 eml.postoffice@prairie-land.com www.prairie-land.com
We Place Our Clients First.
Where do I get something like a hydraulic hose? Both within spitting distance of the intersection of Highways 303 and 26, Oil ‘n’ Ag and National Oilwell Varco provide most of your usual oilfield supplies. Food: Asking a few people where to go for lunch, Percy’s Pizza and Subs came up. Located on Railway Avenue, just off were Highway 303 meets Highway 26, Percy’s is a combination restaurant/ laundromat/car wash. It’s the only car wash or laundromat in town. Oilsoaked trucks and coveralls can be cleaned in the car wash and laundry, but please leave your oily boots at the door of the restaurant. Asking co-owner
Tricia Graham for what’s popular, and she serves up a 12-inch turkey club sub on a cheese bun. It’s a mouthful, with crisp bacon and even crisper cucumbers. “We sell a lot of clubs,” Graham says. I didn’t get a chance to ask what a “Hoser Heaven, eh?” pizza is, but it sounds intriguing. “We have a lot of oil guys around here,” she says. “They’re probably 85 per cent of our customers.” In the cooler of the small confectionary area can be seen sausages made by a family member of Andrea Newton, the other owner. The pair bought the shop a year and a half ago. It’s a quick meal. Come in, get your sub, and get out. No wonder Nomex is a common sight. ɸ Page B11
Does your oilfield waste go to a safe place? Did you know that Plains Environmental is the first class 1A rated disposal facility in Saskatchewan and that our facility secures your waste from ground, water, as well as airborne contamination? Did you know that our facility is the only one in Saskatchewan fully licensed to accept Upstream, Midstream, Downstream, NORM and Industrial waste?
There is a safer way to dispose of your waste. For more information Phone (306) 728-3636 Or look us up at www.plainsenvironmental.com
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
B11
you will need to know Tricia Graham prepares what’s popular with the oilÀeld crowd at Percy’s Pizza and Subs in Turtleford. Turkey clubs go over well with the nomex crowd, according to Graham.
ɺ Page B10 Pon’s Family Restaurant can be found on the main drag, serving a mix of Canadian and Chinese food. It’s the quintessential Saskatchewan Chinese cafe, and they’ve been there so long the menu features photos of their kids, telling people where they all are now. The menu tops out around the $11 range, and the waitress reports the common order is the Chinese dinner for one. That’s what I have, with chicken fried rice, mushroom chow mein, an egg roll and dry boneless pork. It went down well, accompanied by a can of pop from the cooler. The third and final restaurant is the Four Leaf Inn, where the owners put a sign on the door of the inn guiding people to come to the restaurant when they’re making lunch. The menu is extensive, offering full fare breakfasts and a wide choice for lunch and supper. The list includes quesildias, pizza, sandwiches, steak, seafood, ribs and chicken. I didn’t have the opportunity to try out a meal there, however. Groceries: For the times you don’t feel like eating out, there’s a Co-op Marketplace grocery store and Main Street Market. Both can be found on the main drag. Accommodations: The Four Leaf Inn
has 21 rooms available. They cater to the summer travelling crowd and oilpatch. Jay and Jessica Lee are the owners. If you live out of your RV, there’s not a lot of service in the community per se. The Lions Park has some electrical, and you can fill up your reservoirs. Full hook-ups don’t exist in the town itself. There is an RV park at Livelong to the northeast or you might have to head out to one of the lakes. Mayor Roland Olson says they have accommodated a large crew by basically having trailers all over town, and making use of the community’s trailer court. Brightsand Lake and Turtle Lake to the north are prominent resort communities. Pharmacy: Turtleford Pharmacy is on Main Street. Watering hole: Turtleford Hotel is the main bar in town, while the Four Leaf offers a small lounge. Recreation: Turtleford is close to lake country, with 16 resort villages in the RM of Mervin. The RM might have a permanent population of 1,269 people, but during the summer season that swells to 5,000 to 7,000. Brightsand and Turtle Lakes are a short drive to the north. Brightsand has a regional park. There are three golf
courses there, one 18 hole course with grass greens, the other two being nine-hold sand green affairs. Mervin, just to the southeast of Turtleford, also has a lovely nine-hole course with grass greens. Bowling can be found at Livelong or Mervin. Turtleford has the requisite indoor skating rink and three sheets of curling ice. There’s a library on Main Street. It offers free internet. No wireless Wi-Fi unsecured hotspots were picked up during a brief scan of the downtown with a wireless sniffer. Then again, if this wireless sniffer were a hound dog, I would suspect that dog doesn’t hunt.
Ltd.
DRILLING • COMPLETIONS • PRODUCTIONS • Lab facility • Fresh water available • Industrial Cleaning Products Blaine Fallis
Dean Carriere
General Manager 306-421-2623
Technical Service Rep. 306-421-1238
Steve McLellan
Rick Breisnes
Chemist
421-5502
SWIFT CURRENT Kevin Burton - Technical Service Rep • 421-3473
92 Hwy. 39 E, Estevan • www.cbsterling.com
306.634.6549
JUST ARRIVED! Several sizes to choose from
NEW SHIPMENT OF OFFICE TRAILERS! Equipped with air, heat, fridge, coffee maker, microwave, electric toilet & satellite.
RENT OR PURCHASE ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE & SERVICE PLC’S, VFD’S BATTERY CONSTRUCTION TRENCHING MOTOR SALES & REPAIRS 24 HOUR SERVICE 62 DEVONIAN ST. ESTEVAN, SK.
PH: 637-2180 FAX: 637-2181 LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED
ONE 2006 PRE-OWNED UNIT Available for sale!
GET YOURS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! "Where Adventures Begin"
921 Government Rd. S., Weyburn, SK.
mlw@sasktel.net 1-877-842-3288....CHECK US OUT ONLINE AT....www.minardsleisureworld.com
B12
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Dining/Hotel/Bar Guide
The three main ingredients for the travelling petroleum worker are: Where to stay, where to eat, and where to kick back after a long day in the \eld or shop.
Pipeline News knows how you feel and has put together some great establishments you should visit your next trip through their location. Be it a fantastic steak at Pumpjacks Saloon & Steakhouse or Main Track Cafe in Weyburn or somewhere a little smaller like the Crossroads Inn Bar & Grill. You cannot miss with any of them for great food and great service. Everyone knows about Humptyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Husky Houses, but you cannot forget to drop by these establishments for â&#x20AC;&#x153;refuellingâ&#x20AC;? with great food just about any time of day. A few places who have the local reputation for all occasions are The Of\ce Bar & Grill in Carlyle, Carolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eats & Treats in Macklin and Kelseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Mr. Billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Ernieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all in Lloydminster. If you are in the neighbourhood, stop by and tell them that Pipeline News said to stop by for a bite and a drink.
Bon Appetite, Cheers, Sleep Well!
The OfĂ&#x20AC;ce Bar & Grill Main Street, Carlyle, SK â&#x20AC;˘ Lunch, Menu & Buffets â&#x20AC;˘ Supper â&#x20AC;˘ Steak, Pizza, Appetizers
A
healthy See us for the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest selection of lifestyle starts vitamins &
here
natural foods.
Old Fashion Foods
Take-out Orders 306.453.2044
405 Souris Avenue NE Weyburn, SK. â&#x20AC;˘ 842-3003
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Got Good Food Fast!
Mickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stop N Shop OXBOW TAKE OUT â&#x20AC;˘ CATERING â&#x20AC;˘ Chester Fried Chicken â&#x20AC;˘ Pizza Made to Order â&#x20AC;˘ Fast Food Menu â&#x20AC;˘ Subs â&#x20AC;˘ Salads â&#x20AC;˘ Sandwiches â&#x20AC;˘ Hot Campbellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Soup â&#x20AC;˘ Chili â&#x20AC;˘ Fresh Baking
Saloon & Steakhouse
*YVZZYVHKZ 0UU )HY .YPSS
â&#x20AC;˘ LIVE ENTERTAINMENT â&#x20AC;˘ OUTDOOR PATIO â&#x20AC;˘ BIG SCREEN SPORTING EVENTS â&#x20AC;˘ PRIVATE MEETING ROOMS
Hours: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. Daily
483-5266 â&#x20AC;˘ 512 Railway Ave. On Hwy 18
596 18TH ST. (1ST AVE.) WEYBURN, SK 842-3838
4HPU :[YLL[ :[V\NO[VU
â&#x20AC;˘ 12 Modern Rooms â&#x20AC;˘ Air Conditioning â&#x20AC;˘ Phones/Cable TV â&#x20AC;˘ Refridgerators â&#x20AC;˘ Vehicle plug-in parking
â&#x20AC;˘ Tavern/Bar â&#x20AC;˘ Full Menu â&#x20AC;˘ Steak Pit â&#x20AC;˘ VLTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;˘ ATM
OPEN DAILY FROM 5:30AM
SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS 6:30AM TO MIDNIGHT
REFUEL
Stressed for Time? Call in your order and we will have it ready!
842-9030 FULLY LICENSED DINING
SPORTS LOUNGE OPEN DAILY FROM 12:00PM
BREAKFAST â&#x20AC;˘ LUNCH â&#x20AC;˘ DINNER MENU
Junction 13 & 39 Hwy Weyburn
â&#x20AC;˘ Fuel Station â&#x20AC;˘ Restaurant STOP FOR B REAK AND ORDER FAST YO BAG LUNCH UR TO GO!
Fill up your tank and satisfy your appetite for great food! We're here to break up your long haul with a fresh cup of coffee, a hot meal and a friendly smile.
Husky House 201 4th Street Estevan, SK. 634-3109 Open Daily 5AM - 10PM
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
B13
Eco-conscious and connected By Danica Lorer Freelance Writer Lloydminster - Entering Lloydminster from the south drivers can’t miss the new West Harvest Express on the west side of the highway. The hotel is only 2 years old and has already gained a reputation for cleanliness earning an Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association Housekeeping Award. Manager Christine Repp is proud of her staff members who work hard to keep up high standards. The hotel is one of only a few properties in Canada that have earned 5 green keys in the Green Key Eco-Rating Program. The hotel boasts high quality environmentally friendly water heaters and furnaces. They use energy efficient light bulbs and recycle.
The hotel serves many oilfield business travelers as well as families and teams on the weekends. Common Wealth Centre, a 25 million dollar facility is connected to the hotel with a skywalk. The centre is home to 2 NHL sized hockey rinks, a leisure ice surface, 2 field houses, an outdoor speed skating oval, an indoor running track, fitness and physiotherapy services and a mini-golf. Individual hotel guests can use the centre’s facilities as no extra charge. West Harvest Express offers a deluxe continental breakfast that includes waffles, boiled eggs and yogurt beginning at 5:30 a.m. during the week to accommodate working guests. West Harvest Express doesn’t have a restaurant or room service but shares the large parking lot with Spiros Res-
A skywalk connects the West Harvest Express to Lloydminster’s Common Wealth Centre multiplex. Photo by Danica Lorer
taurant and a soon to be opened Tim Hortons. The facility also has meeting rooms and a BBQ on a large patio that can be used for guest functions. Rooms have all the regular amenities and range from
standard rooms to one and two bedroom suites, family rooms with bunk beds and even suites with Jacuzzis and steam showers. West Harvest Express, 1402-50th Ave. Lloydminster, AB 1-780-875-8884.
Clean and comfortable at Holiday Inn By Danica Lorer Freelance Writer Lloydminster - Lloydminster’s Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites has just celebrated its first anni-
versary. This full service hotel is found in the core of Lloydminster’s business corridor on Highway 16 near a number of popular restaurants and
hotels. Guests are greeted in a comfortable and spacious lobby that houses a brand new Smitty’s Restaurant.
Front Office Manager Terre Kuzyk says that they have been very busy “Eighty per cent of our business is made up of people working in the oilfield, 20 per cent are long term stays.” She says that they are able to negotiate deals with long term guests to meet their needs. Rooms are furnished with 1 king or 2 queen sized beds with refrigerators and other regular amenities. There are also 16 suites. The hotel offers a pool, hot tub and fit-
nesscentre with a variety of machines. “It’s all new and fresh, a home away from home, we want to make people feel comfortable and live up to the Holiday Inn name” said Kuzyk. There are meeting rooms and a business centre with faxing, copying and internet. Kuzyk praised the staff saying that everyone works up
to industry standards working as a team to offer guests a good experience. The Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites has 100 rooms over 4 floors and offers registered guests free parking. Ninety per cent of the hotel’s rooms are smoke free. Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 561244th St. Lloydminster, AB 1-780-870-5050.
The Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites lobby in Lloydminster. Photo by Danica Lorer
Dining/Hotel/Bar Guide
7115 44 St. Lloydminster, Alberta T9V 2X1 Intersection: 44th St & 66th Ave
5621 - 44 St. Lloydminster, AB T9V 0B2 (780) 872-7070
www.ribs.ca
Unit 10 - 5405 44th St., Lloydminster, AB
780-875-3388
CARMEN KINDRAT Owner 5001 - 50 Avenue Clock Tower Building Lloydminster, SK S9V 0P8 Phone: 825-5515 Fax: 825-5514
4903-44 Street Lloydminster, Sk (306) 825-9889
Carol’s Eats & Treats 4713 Main St.
Macklin, Sk
SOL 2C0
Catering to your worksite Dine-In or Take Out
Family Restaurant
Kindersley
Cafe: (306) 753-2330 • Carol Ann Moss Cell: 753 – 7308 • Home: 753 - 3338 Business Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mon - Fri 105 11th Ave. W. | Kindersley, SK | (306) 463-4155
B14
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Maidstone: The guide for all the essentials By Brian Zinchuk Maidstone – These are the essentials of Maidstone, from a former pipeliner’s point of view. While Pipeline News tried to canvas as much of the community as possible, please forgive any oversights: Major operations: Husky, CNRL and Baytex are the big three producers in the Maidstone area. Another thirty or so smaller producers also work in the area, according to the RM of Eldon. Local players: Most of the local players are based in Maidstone’s industrial park on the south side of town. They include GreMur Indsutries, BMW Weatherford, L & L Oilfield, J & R Trucking, and TWB Trucking. Hardy Excavating is associated with Wesco, a concrete redimix plant. First Nations: Thunderchild First Nation has substantial holdings, including reserve land, north of Maidstone. To the southeast are Little Pine First Na-
tion and Poundmaker First Nation. Fuel: Just north of town are Petro Canada and Husky cardlocks. In town, A & S Corner Store runs a Fas Gas franchise. There is also a Husky in town. Both Fas Gas and Husky are located on the old Highway 16. Where do I get something like a hydraulic hose? Keranda Industrial Supply, located on Highway 21, caters to most of these needs. BMW Weatherford also has a location in the industrial park, on the south side of town. Food: There are several restaurants in Maidstone. Lou’s & Sue’s Pizza, Pasta & Steakhouse is located on Main Street. The Maidstone Hotel offers a typical bar fare menu. A & S Corner store offers subs, fried chicken and pizza. Sunny’s Family Restaurant, located beside
E-Line • Production Testing • Slickline • Swabbing • Technical Reporting • Well Optimization Wireline (306) 634-1070
Well Testing (306) 634-6503
Optimization (306) 634-6502
www.cansub.com
Estevan, SK
See us for all of your General Oilfield Supplies & Service
ArtiÀcial Lift Systems BMWTM Products & Services
the Sandpiper Motel on old Highway 16 is well known for its bacon and eggs. Pipeline News tried it out, and there’s a good reason for that menu choice’s renown. The bacon is sliced incredibly thick, making for a hearty breakfast the waitress says is popular with the oilpatch workers in the morning. Sunny Mah is the chief cook and bottle washer, and he runs the restaurant with his daughter. Mother Ducks recently reopened under new management. It too is on old Highway 16. The lunch smorg makes for a filling and quick lunch that will require a wheelbarrow for your gut when you’re done. Groceries: For the times you don’t feel like eating out, there’s a Co-op food store on Main Street and an AG Foods in the 1st Ave. strip mall. Accommodations: The Sandpiper Motel is located on the old Highway 16. It was 24 rooms available. The vast majority of its business is oilpatch related, and they get priority, according to the manager. Maidstone Hotel is also located on old Highway 16. It has eight rooms available, and they also see regular oilpatch usage. If you live out of your RV, there’s a campground at Delfrari-Victoria Park. There are signs all over town leading to the RV park, so you can’t miss it. The major RV magnet is Silver Lake Regional Park, 18 km north of Maidstone. It’s common to see guys set up there for the season. It’s a nice, treed area with a small lake and golf course. Pharmacy: Maidstone Pharmacy is on Main Street. Watering hole: Maidstone Hotel is the main bar in town, while the Royal Canadian Legion also has a bar. Recreation: In Maidstone, there’s the obligatory hockey and curling rinks. A sign is posted, recording fundraising efforts for an aquatic centre. The library is in the 1st Avenue strip mall. Maidstone Pins & Cues is right next door, offering four lanes of bowling, two pool tables, foosball and an arcade. Maidstone’s recreational hotspot is Silver Lake Regional Park, 18 km north and just east of Highway 21. There are ball diamonds, golf, and a nice little lake nestled in the gully. The golf course features a beautiful tee-off on the third hole, where you start off on what passes for a cliff, and hopefully don’t lose your ball in the water hazard or bushes below. Real golfers need not worry, however.
400 Kensington Avenue • Estevan, SK S4A 2K9 • Fax: (306) 636-2606 1120 East Avenue Weyburn, Sask. S4H 3E4 Ph. 842-7290 Fax 842-7277
Welcome to Industrial Electric Industrial Electric (Weyburn) Ltd is a major maintenance and installations contractor for manufacturing and processing industries in the oil and gas sector. For over 35 years, IEW has provided high quality maintenance and installation services for some of Canada's largest companies. From general electrical contracting to complex installations, IEW's committed group of electrical professionals is prepared for any project. Our growing team of electricians and instrument mechanics maintains exceptional standards of quality and customer service. Check us out on the web www.industrialelectric.ca
Hei-Bro-Tech Petroleum Services A Division of 24-7 Enterprises Ltd.
Exceeding expectations IEW is committed to the highest standards of quality.
Join the IEW team Exciting opportunities with a superior employer. E-mail resumes to: employment@industrialelectric.ca
• Fluid levels • Dynamometers • Pressure surveys (automated & manual) • Foam depressions • Equipment sales (new & used), rentals & repairs • Repairs done on all models including: Sonolog, Echometer, DX, etc. • Major parts and supplies in stock at all times
Box 4, Midale, SK S0C 1S0 Phone: (306) 458-2367 or (306) 861-1001 Fax: (306) 458-2373
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
B15
Baytex expands SW Sask base southwest Saskatchewan. The North Dakota acquisition significantly advances Baytex’s U.S. growth strategy, and both acquisitions provide the opportunity for long-term light oil production and reserves growth to complement the company’s heavy oil growth projects. Baytex reached agreement to acquire a significant land position in a Bakken/Three Forks light oil resource play in the Williston Basin in northwest North Dakota from a private company. Upon making all deferred payments associated with the transaction, Baytex will have acquired a 37.5% interest in 263,000 gross acres (approximately 98,600 net acres). At present, 94% of the lands are undeveloped. This light oil resource play targets the Viking formation in southwest Saskatchewan. Through a combination of Crown and private mineral leasing, Baytex has acquired a 100% interest in approximately 20,800 net acres. At present, 99% of the lands are undeveloped. Land acquisition expenditures were $8 million, incurred primarily in the third quarter of 2008. The Viking forma-
Girard Bulk Service Ltd.
tion is a high quality reservoir rock by resource play standards and is oil-saturated throughout the acquired area. Productivity using horizontal wells with multiple fracture stimulations has been demonstrated by several wells in the area, including one drilled by Baytex. At current spacing of four wells per section, up to 125 wells may be drilled over the life of this project. Production averaged a record 42,538 BOE a day during the third quarter of 2008, as compared to 38,179 BOE per day for the previous quarter. Production was strong in every segment, with all three of our business units (Canadian light oil and gas, heavy oil, and United States)
achieving record production levels. Heavy oil volumes were buoyed by development activities in both
the Lloydminster area and at Seal. Canadian light oil and gas volumes benefited from the inclusion of a full quarter
of production from the acquisition of Burmis Energy Inc. completed in June 2008.
ɸ Page B16
Diamonds not appliances
Classic Jewelers
©2008
Baytex Energy Trust is expanding its base in southwestern Saskatchewan and northwest North Dakota, acquiring significant land positions in two light oil resource plays in North Dakota and Saskatchewan. It also confirmed the commercial viability of heavy oil thermal development at Seal, Alta. Exploration and development expenditures, excluding the land acquisitions, totalled $48.6 million for the third quarter of 2008. During the quarter, Baytex participated in the drilling of 33 (28.5 net) wells, resulting in 28 (24.2 net) oil wells and five (4.3 net) gas wells for a 100% (100% net) success rate. Driven by particularly strong heavy oil prices, drilling in the third quarter was predominantly conducted in the Lloydminster area and at Seal, where Baytex successfully drilled 13 and seven oil wells, respectively. Drilling activities will continue to be focused in the Lloydminster area and at Seal in the fourth quarter. During the third quarter, Baytex established substantial acreage positions in these two light oil resource plays, located in northwest North Dakota and
Fine Jewelry & Gifts for all Occasions Ph: 634-5338 • Estevan Shoppers Mall • Open Sundays 12 - 4
NEW - DRILL GENERATORS
24 hours a day • 8 kw - 350 kw • Pumpjacks • Well Site Shacks • Service Rigs • Construction Sites • Drilling Rigs
PROPANE
Proud to Serve the Oil Industry * Bulk Petroleum & Propane * Cardlock * Propane Accessories * Lubricants
Phone Toby: 577-1907
JJ TRUCKING
“MORE THAN JUST GRAVEL” Crushed & Washed Aggregates Top Soil, Gravel, Sand & Crushed Rock Municipal & Oil Lease Road Gravelling Aggregate Screening • Trackhoe Service/Excavating Loaders, Backhoes, Graders & Lowbeds ESTEVAN OXBOW ALIDA CARLYLE REDVERS 134 4th Street 637-4370 483-2826 443-2466 453-2262 452-3216
Cell: 577-7553 Fax: 455-2433 • ARCOLA
OfÀce:
455-2429
B16
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Baytex grows in SW Éş Page B15 Production from the Burmis properties was in excess of 3,600 BOE a day in the quarter, in line with pre-acquisition expectation. U.S. production averaged 367 BOE per day in the third quarter as a result of production acquired with the purchase of undeveloped
Bakken/Three Forks land in North Dakota. Baytex Energy Trust generated record cash ďŹ&#x201A;ow of $146.6 million in the third quarter, 17% higher than the previous record set one quarter earlier, with the help of higher commodity prices and record quarterly production of 42,538 bbls of
oil equivalent per day. The trustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s net income of $137.2 million was also a record and 299% higher than in the second quarter of 2008 as well as and 274% higher than in the third quarter of last year. ProďŹ ts were helped by an $89 million unrealized gains on WTI hedging.
Match colors The color from this Ă are matches the color from the setting sun.
5,>
2PSV^H[[ .LULYH[VY
Now available at your local SE SK Dealer:
7VUNV /VSKPUNZ 3[K
Call #5 KRJ Industrial Park: Park:
or
(VWHYDQ
483-2848
(/(&75,& 02725 ',9,6,21 1HZ 8VHG (OHFWULF 0RWRU 6DOHV &RPSOHWH 5HZLQGLQJ 5HSDLU )DFLOLW\ 2LOĂ&#x20AC; HOG ,QGXVWULDO &RPPHUFLDO 5XUDO DSSOLFDWLRQV
Quality Controlled Safety Co-ordinated
5(3$,5 6+23
5LJ )L[WXUHV 7UDVK 3XPSV 3KDVH &RQYHUWHUV 3RZHU 7RROV )DQV &RPSUHVVRUV HWF Serving Southeast Saskatchewan and Southwest Manitoba since 1956.
TRUCKS BASED OUT OF OXBOW, ESTEVAN, LAMPMAN, CARLYLE, KIPLING, TYVAN & PIPESTONE, MB.
(/(&75,&$/ 3$576 1HZ 8VHG &DEOH )LWWLQJV 'HYLFHV 3K 7ROO )UHH
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
B17
Lots of work, but nowhere to stay Â&#x201E; By Brian Zinchuk Midale - â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I ďŹ rst got here, I started out in a camp in Stoughton.â&#x20AC;? That was the ďŹ rst of a long line of accommodations for Jack Boyce, a truck driver who came to southeast Saskatchewan this past summer. He and his business partner pulled up stakes in Calgary to take part in the Saskatchewan boom. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of hard to do that, however, when your suitcase has to stay packed. The camp in Stoughton ďŹ lled, and Boyce stayed in his truck. He moved his family into their ďŹ fth-wheel camper, then a motel, a cabin, a motel, and another motel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I kept trying to upgade a little bigger.â&#x20AC;? His wife fell in love with Weyburn, so the ďŹ nally purchased a house trailer. It was being moved into Weyburn in early November, the day Pipeline News ran into Boyce in Midale. It was also the end of their constant changing of residences. They have one kid, 18 months old. His wife is a stay-at-home parent. A carpenter by trade, he had built a house in Calgary, but sold it a little late,
he notes. Now working with his lowboy truck and trailer, he says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I bounce around, from company to company.â&#x20AC;? He had been hauling gravel while in Calgary, but he notes that within three months, 150 trucks moved in, and crowded him out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I heard the oilpatch was starting to go in Saskatchewan, so my partner and I started to investigate.â&#x20AC;?
Jack Boyce handles a tag line while a large steel structure is loaded onto his lowboy.
Photo by Brian Zinchuk
V $5( +(5( BU]U]RUb dXU "
(c I_e G_^Âľd 6_bWUd dXU CQfY^Wc
" ( B1>75B CD1BD9>7 1D
,58* 8'4-+8 9 )'( 9658: > ]NOZK 9: 2 < ! SGT[GR )*! GRRU_ ]NKKRY! QK_RKYY KTZX_! ROSOZKJ YROV G^RK! LUM RGSVY! YKGZ
!' )
)25' 0867$1*6
,58* 8'4-+8 9 )'( 9658: > 8KJ 9: 2 < '[ZU ZXGTY GOX IX[OYK ZORZ )* YOXO[Y YGZ GRRU_ ]NKKRY XKM G^RK XGORKX NOZIN LUM ROMNZY
,58* 8'4-+8 9 )'( >2: > (RGIQ 9: 2 < ! G[ZUSGZOI! GOX! ZORZ! IX[OYK! HKTIN YKGZ! VXO\GI_ MRGYY! XKM[RGX G^RK! )* VRG_KX
,58* 8'4-+8 9 )'( >2: > 9OR\KX 9: 2 < G[ZU QK_RKYY KTZX_ )* YOXO[Y YGZ YKGZ INXUSK MXORRK VXO\GI_ MRGYY ZXGORKX NOZIN
)25' 683(5 '87< 683(5&$% ; $6 /2: $6
,58* 3;9:'4- )5;6+ IGTJ_ GVVRK XKJ 9: 2 < ! G[ZU! VUT_ VGIQGMK! VQ )*! H[IQKZ YKGZY! YNGQKX G[JOU Y_YZKS! YOXO[Y YGZ! ]NKKRY! XKGX YVUORKX! 3986
21/< )25' 683(5 '87< &5(:&$% ;
,58* , )8+= )'( 2'8/': > HRGIQ 9: 2 < JOKYKR! G[ZU! ,58* , )8+= )'( 2'8/': RKGZNKX YKGZY! YQOJ VRGZKY! XK\KXYK IGSGXG! > =NOZK 9: 2 < JOKYKR
)$&725< ',6&28176
,58* , 9 )'( >2: > ]NOZK ,58* , 9 )'( >2: YNGJU] 9: 2 < JOKYKR! G[ZU! )*! MXK_ 9: 2 < ! JOKYKR! G[ZU! ZXGORKX ZU]! VXO\GI_ MRGYY! ROSOZKJ YROV )* VRG_KX! YQOJ VRGZKY! ZU] VGIQGMK! G^RK! -<=8 ROSOZKJ YROV G^RK! -<=8
)25' (6&$3( ;/7
)25' ('*(
,58* , 9 )'( >2: > HRGIQ 9: 2 < JOKYKR! G[ZU! KRKI YNOLZ UT ZNK LR_! ZXGORKX ZU]! ROSOZKJ YROV G^RK! -<=8
)25' )86,21
,6&&22881177 ,58* ,;9/54 9+ HRGIQ '',6 ,58* +9)'6+ >2: > MXK_ ,58* +*-+ 2:* '=* XKJ ,58* +9)'6+ >2: =* XKJLOXK 9: 2 < ! G[ZU! )* VRG_KX! 9: 2 < G[ZU! RKGZNKX OTZKXOUX! 9: 2 < ! G[ZU! )*! LUM RGSVY YGZKRROZK XGJOU! H[IQKZ YKGZY! QK_RKYY KTZX_ )* VQ G[JOUVNORK! 9?4) Y_YZKS! YOXO[Y YGZKRROZK! XK\KXYK YKTYOTM
$6 /2: $6
7@C5 D2=6D =E5
#
',6&28176
42C=J=6 $!' %&$ %%%%
27E6C 9@FCD 42==+ =@42 E:@?D =@42E:@?D 42== 2?J =@42E:@? E@== 7C66 7Rc`_ 3ZVdV_eYR] E@ D6CG6 &(( #%#$ J@F 36EE6C FYcYd ec _^ _eb gURcYdU ZZZ PHULWIRUG FRP 6DE6C92KJ
" ))) ))) (!""
9: 2 YVJ SGT[GR 3986
21/<
6DE6C92KJ $!' (%& '$&& 42C=J=6 9R] >`WWRe &(( %*'' GVc_ 5Rf_TVj '%& #*#&
>Rc\ 7Rf] (%& #*%$
B18
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
And the chorus said “AMEN!” The Highway 39 overpass on the east side of Estevan reopened in mid-November, much to the relief of every trucker who has cursed at the delays as a result of the detour. Photo by Dustin Ng
REDLINE WELL SERVICE Chris Scholpp 421-0557
She’s dreaming of a white Christmas
Phone: 487-7790 OfÀce: 487-2201
2008
redlinewell@sasktel.net (780) 875-0203 LloydMall Lloydminster
• Completions • Consulting & Supervision • Contract Battery Operating • Production Management • Canada & USA 24 Hour Hot Shot Service
SVEIN BRYEIDE CONSTRUCTION Ltd. 6 • Earthmoving and Oilfield Construction • Lease Preparations and Restorations • Pipeline Construction and Maintenance • Road Building, Dugouts • Dozer Ripper and Winch Cats • Motor Scrapers, Graders • Trackhoe and Backhoe • Lowbeds and More • Snow Removal
HWY. 47 N. AT BENSON Fax: 634-9798 • Cell: 421-0203
Over 40 Years Experience
3 4 6 0 8 1
The place to go to buy or sell a business.
Darryl Fox, B.Admin.,CMA Sales Consultant
201-2750 Faithfull Ave. Saskatoon Sk. S7K 6M6 Tel: 306-382-5075 Fax: 306-382-5073 Cell: 306-292-9388 d.fox@sunbeltnetwork.com
www.sunbeltnetwork.com
WEYBURN SASKATCHEWAN - 306-842-8901 ESTEVAN SASKATCHEWAN - 306-634-8912
Essential Coil Tubing currently has a fleet of 25 coil units. These units are tandem tandem and tandem tridems. We have coil capabilities of up to 3400 meters of 1.75”, 4500 meters of 1.5”, and 6700 meters of 1.24”. 6 sets of Class II blowout preventers, including two remote accumulators and Class III capabilities. We are actively working in Southern Saskatchewan. Please call us for a list of all the services we provide. If you are looking for a dynamic new career and live in the area, fax your resume with a driver’s abstract to 403-580-8906
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
B19
B20
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
B21
B22
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Back in The mark of a true pipeliner is he backs in his truck, no matter where he parks. This is the yard of Willbros Midwest, working on the Alberta Clipper project for Enbridge. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
Canyon services now facturing in SE Sask Canyon Services Group Inc. opened a new operating base in Medicine Hat allowing Canyon to better service cus-
tomers with operations in southeast Alberta and southeast Saskatchewan where the company has commenced fracturing
operations in the Estevan area. During the third quarter, Canyon said it completed its first trial
well using light weight proppant and produced water to frac the Bakken formation. Further trials will continue in the cur-
rent quarter. The company had had a record quarter during the three months ended Sept. 30, 2008
ESTEVAN PLASTIC PRODUCTS LTD. Your One Stop Shop For Fibreglass Tanks 500 Barrel 1 piece fibreglass Tank 15’ diameter x 16’ high
650 Barrel 1 piece fibreglass Tank 15’ diameter x 20’ high
780 Barrel 1 piece fibreglass Tank 15’ diameter x 25’ high
We manufacture these engineered Fibreglass Tanks
400 Barrel - 12’ diameter x 20’ high 500 Barrel - 12’ diameter x 25’ high Also Manufacturers of: • Fibreglass Belt Guards • Internal Fibreglass of Steel Tanks • Tank Skimmers • Insulated Wellhead Shelters
Toll Free: 1-888-638-6433 or 1-306-634-6400 Plant: 1-306-388-2344 Fax: 1-306-634-7828 email: eppl@sasktel.net
website: www.estevanplastics.com
with 481 jobs completed generating $20.7 million of revenues. The oilfield services company booked a $1.24 million profit for the quarter, up from a loss of $2.85 million a year earlier. Revenues reached an all-time quarterly record increasing by 87% to $20.7 million from $11.1 million in the prior year comparable quarter. For the first nine months of 2008, Canyon’s revenues reached $43.4 million, an increase of 53% from $28.4 million in the first nine months of 2007. The company had a loss before income taxes of $6.7 million for the period, an improvement over the loss before income taxes of $12.1 million in the comparable period of 2007. Canyon completed 481 jobs in the third quarter, more than double the 215 jobs completed in for the same three months in 2007. For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2008, Canyon’s job count was 1,113, more than double the 527 jobs achieved in the comparable period of 2007. Canyon said its Conventional Fracturing Division enjoyed significant growth in the third quarter contributing 41% of the job count with 195 jobs completed, up significantly from the 25%, or 54 jobs, contributed in the third quarter last year. For the year to date, this division represented 460 jobs, or 41% of total jobs completed versus 128 jobs, or 24% of total jobs in the 2007 comparable period.
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Swift Current MP says, ‘U.S. trade important’
Swift Current – With a recent election win under their belts, Stephen Harper and his Tories are gearing up to meet the challenges they might face with the election of Barack Obama as U.S. President. Those challenges could include a revised NAFTA as well as a revised environmental policy. One of Saskatchewan’s Conservative members of parliament, David Anderson, the MP Cypress Hills-Grasslands says there’s a lot of issues to deal with adding, “trading with the U.S. is important to us.” The MP for Swift Current and area won by a plurality that was similar to the last election. “Our percentage of vote was pretty much the same as the last time, in the mid 60s. Our goal was
to hold our vote and we were able to do that,” said Anderson. Anderson said the key issue in the campaign was the economy. “I think the key election issue was the economy which has strengthened in grains and oil and gas during the last few years. The riding has maintained the economic growth and felt threatened by the Liberals carbon tax and that’s why we had the support that we did,” he said.
- Nylon Slings - Ridgid Tools - Pipe Fittings
- Hydraulic Hoses & Fittings - Safety Equipment
306-778-6294 #3 - 1071 Central Avenue N Hillside Plaza, Swift Current, SK skswf@stores.fastenal.com www.fastenal.com
40229200•08/08/08
David Anderson
This is Anderson’s fourth term, “we’ve been elected in four elections in less than eight years,” he said. In the last Parliament Anderson acted as parliamentary secretary in both the agriculture and natural resources portfolios. “Both those roles are extremely important to Saskatchewan,” he said. With regard to the recent global financial meltdown and the plummeting price for oil, Anderson added that Canada’s economy should weather the storm. “Canada is protected more than the U.S. because some of the regulations we had in place. We’re looking forward to our economy continuing to function,” he said. While the price of oil is looming near $60, a year and a half low, the lower value of the Canadian dollar should help to mitigate Canada’s trade with the U.S. “For those of us who are exporters, the lower
dollar encourages exports,” said Anderson. The ongoing talks with the European Union should also help to encourage more trade, he said.
B23
Transportation and Logistics Rig Transportation Services Pipe Storage Facility 3297 North Service Road W. Swift Current, SK. S9H 4G5
Direct: 306.773.1660 Toll Free: 888.221.1022 Fax: 306.773.1660 rheitt@flintenergy.com
40229221•09/05/08
CONTRACTING INC. • Concrete Work • Carpentry • Pre-Engineered Buildings • Custom Design & Manufacturing • Site Trailers • Wellhead Shelters • Self-Framing Metal Buildings • Utilidor • Office Trailers • Tex Fencing • Containment Buildings
1-888-313-3302 Website: www.jamalcontracting.com Email: jamalcontracting@shaw.ca
B24
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
NOW OPEN: NISSAN LLOYDMINSTER
Nissan Titan
PURPOSE BUILT FOR ANY PURPOSE!
• 317 HP 5.6 L V8 Engine • Spray-On Bedliner • Blue Tooth Hands-Free Communication • Over 9,000 LB Towing Capacity • Leather Interior
GET up to $2000 PREPAID VISA with purchase of a 2009 Nissan JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!! Harold Argue
December Specials on Tires, Batteries, Oil changes & Remote Starters. Call me FOR ALL your WINTERIZATION NEEDS!
Toll Free 1-866-995-3335
780-875-3335
Lawrence Kuzek
LOOKING FOR USED? HUNDREDS OF USED CARS AT WWW.NISSANLLOYDMINSTER.COM 2008 NISSAN SENTRA
2004 TOYOTA CAMRY
2005 GMC EXT. CAB SLE
2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM
4 DR, 31,000 kms, auto, air, CD, PW, PL
Air, Cruise, CD
4x4 certified, 89,000 kms
V6, 4 Dr, air, tilt, cruise, PW, PL, CD
$16,398 #113A
$14,995 #1062A
$18,995 #1123A
LEASE $254.27
FINANCING $268.65
FINANCING $340
LEASE $475.99
FINANCING $348.16
$11,500 #1065B LEASE $270.92
FINANCING $258.18
2006 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN
2006 GMC CANYON
1997 BUICK LESABRE
2005 VOLKSWAGON JETTA
4 DR, 31,000 kms, auto, air, CD, PW, PL
Auto, air, tilt, cruise only 49,000 kms
Loaded, luxury car, only one previous owner
4 Dr, diesel, 117 km, Sk. tax paid
$23,995 #1075B
$13,500 #1016B
$4,995 #1106A
$19,995 #1151A
LEASE $488
FINANCING $525
LEASE $258.72
FINANCING $243.76
BARGAIN PRICE
LEASE $475.99
FINANCING $367.16
2003 CHEVY SILVERADO
2004 NISSAN TITAN
2005 FORD F150
2006 NISSAN TITAN SE
C1500 Ext 15004x4 Extended $18995 dual climate control, heated seats, CD Changer
Se 4x4 King cab, leather, loaded, only 79426kms
Supercab 4x4 Air, tilt
4x4 King Cab, Leather & loaded
$18,995 #1038A
$12,995 #1095A
$17,995 #1004B
$22,995 #1141
CALL FOR LEASE OR FINANCING RATES!
CALL FOR LEASE OR FINANCING RATES!
CALL FOR LEASE OR FINANCING RATES!
CALL FOR LEASE OR FINANCING RATES!
*Warranty Available • *Requires $1000 down • *Lease payment not including tax
NISSAN LLOYDMINSTER 5115 - 25th Street, Lloydminster | 780-875-3335 | www.nissanlloydminster.com
PIPELINE NEWS Saskatchewan’s Petroleum Monthly
C-Section December 2008
Truck wash ¿rst of its kind Owners promise speed and convenience By Stephan Burnett Lloydminster – Imagine being able to wash your semi with the ease you wash your car. Drive it into the wash bay, let the machines do the work, and never touch a wand. Simply drive out when its done. That’s the promise of a new automated truck wash being developed on
the west side of Lloydminster. Trevor Nysetvold is one of seven partners in total who are bringing the TransCanada Automatic Truck Wash to Lloydminster. The operation will be the first of its kind in Canada and across North America, says Nysetvold. The partners came up with the idea 2.5
Before picture: A dirty truck enters.
After picture: Voila! A clean tanker.
years ago and completed research in the United States. “We sourced out some emerging technology being used down in the U.S. at several sites which was in its infancy from a stand point of a commercial truck wash. The whole concept is selling a quality wash and what we’re able to do in seven to 10 min-
utes takes people two to three hours,” he says. The concept itself is used in other sites but on a much smaller scale. The premium product is a “megawash” utilizing 6,000 gallons per minute that will clean the undersides and undercarriage. “Basically it cleans the unit from top to bottom and the driver never has the leave the seat of
his truck. With these guys time is money and to take time to wash your vehicle, which is your ad-
vertising, there’s efficiencies to be gained there,” said Nysetvold. ɸ Page C4
The tunnel at the wash has sprayers from all angles.
C2
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Trading a chair for field work By Danica Lorer Freelance Writer Lashburn - Ordinary pumpers don’t wear ponytails, nail art and pink breast cancer ribbon pins on the pocket of their fire retardant coveralls but Angela Higgins is no ordinary pumper. A couple of years ago she moved from the accounting department of a car dealership in Lloydminster to an oilfield control room. In August of 2007 she began as a an employee with Husky working the day shift in their control room at the Gully Lake battery. She was looking for something different and when a pumper job at the nearby Lashburn
battery came up, she decided to give it a try. Higgins has kept the same work schedule and loves her new job. “It’s the best thing I ever decided to do in my life” she said. She described her time in the control room as boring “it was the same thing all day and not much of a challenge.” These days she sees different things everyday and is up off of her chair and outside. She feels better and stronger and, although it was a bit hard at first, it didn’t take her long to get used to the physical work. She has only been in the field for a month and has already had to get used to the nighttime call outs. She said it was a little bit of a change to have to wake up and make decisions right away but
she is comfortable with it now. Higgins loves the driving on her route and although she deals with constant phone calls she appreciates having the time on her own. She describes Husky as a good and fair company to work for and is excited to see where the future will take her. She’s grateful to Reg, Cory, Pat, Roger, Walter and Jim who have been there to patiently help her out and answer all of her questions as she made the transition from the desk to the field. Higgins doesn’t consider it a man’s world although she admits it takes a certain type of woman to work in a job that requires a bit of physical strength as well as common sense and mechanical skills.
Angela Higgins traded a control room job for a truck and a cell phone, now working as a pumper. Photo by Danica Lorer
Angela Higgins, happy to out in the Àeld. Photo by Danica Lorer
*URXQG 'LVWXUEDQFH 2QOLQH 7UDLQLQJ 7KLV FRXUVH LV GHVLJQHG IRU DQ\ SDUW\ 6XSHUYLVLQJ D JURXQG GLVWXUEDQFH ,QGHSHQGHQWO\ SHUIRUPLQJ D JURXQG GLVWXUEDQFH ,VVXLQJ DQG UHFHLYLQJ JURXQG GLVWXUEDQFH SHUPLWV
SHU SHUVRQ
*Also available, Confined Space Pre-Entry Online
Jim Barbondy – Saskatchewan 306.960.2261
Bill Smith – Northern Alberta 1.877.537.3505
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C3
Environment a top priority for Husky Lloydminster - The environment is a top priority when it comes the Husky Lloydminster Refinery. An open house in Lloydminster on Oct. 29 detailed the company’s efforts in recent years. Monthly monitoring of air quality is performed through an ambient air trailer, which continuously monitors H2S, SO2 and windspeed. As well, passive samplers provide monthly samples of H2S and SO2. Improvements have also been made in excess air control at crude heaters reducing fuel gas, consumption and emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs). There were also improvements made at the Boiler House and improvements made to vapour capture at the refinery. Now all asphalt loading vapours are collected through the vapour recovery units. There has been an installation of new loading at the truck loading spouts to improve vapour capture. Thermal oxidizers have also been installed to destroy vapours collected from new loading arms at the truck loading racks. Furthermore, there is a plan to install a regenerative thermal oxidizer in 2009 to increase vapour recovery at asphalt inventory tanks and truck loading racks. Husky efforts to assist the environment at the Lloydminster refinery also
deals with water. A reverse osmosis water treatment plant is ongoing. The plant is expected to reduce water consumption and waste water production. The company has also reduced source water use from 146,000 m3 in 2001 to 97,000 m3 in 2007. When it comes to soils and groundwater, spills are immediately cleaned up, the soil monitoring in the region is continuous and there is a semi-annual analysis of groundwater and surface water quality. Husky has also been active through the conservation of casing gas and through the reduction of spills. Husky hauls close to 40,400 loads of produced fluid monthly and the corporation has been working with fluid haulers in order to decrease spills. The company is also active in monitoring and remediation activities. The spill sites are monitored until vegetation is back to normal productivity. Husky is also working with the Alberta Research Council and assessing the competitiveness of different grass species to determine the optimal variety for spill remediation sites. Other environmental initiatives include a leak/spill prevention program. A pipeline integrity program is underway within which smart tools are used to check the integrity of pipelines. A right of way (ROW) surveil-
lance program is also underway where ROWs are inspected twice per month from the air. Leak detection software is employed which continuously monitors volumes within the system. Storage tanks are supplied with monthly visual inspections and a complete internal cleaning and engineering assessment every 10 years. At river crossings the banks are inspected every year and an underwater inspection occurs every five years and twice a year the motorized valves at each major river crossing are verified. Other environmental initiatives
include the monitoring and sampling of vapours within storage tanks. The process takes place twice a year and any emissions are reported to regulators. Furthermore, vapours being emitted from condensate truck loading stations are collected and incinerated. With storage tank cleaning special chemicals are misted into the tank to absorb any remaining vapours prior to cleaning. Remediation of older sites is an ongoing effort and at the Hardisty, Wainwright and Lloydminster terminals ground water testing is conducted annually.
EVERY ENGINE Natural Gas Exchange Longblocks 5.9L & 8.3L 1 Year Unlimited Hour Warranty
• New & reconditioned tubing and casing • • Pump jacks, engines, separators, treaters, Dehye’s, Fwko’s, etc. • • 100 bbl, 210 bbl, 400 bbl, 500 bbl, 750 bbl, 1000 bbl, Reconditioned or field ran •
1-800-661-7858 Wainwright 780-842-5705 Okotoks 403-938-7114 Lloydminster 780-806-6114
• Picker truck, tank moving cradles, pilot trucks •
Recon ISX & N14 Engines
• Sandblasting & Painting
Is an important piece of your next project missing? At Stuart Wright, we specialize in servicing the Oil Industry with those “Missing Pieces”. BUS: (780) 875-9111 RES: (780) 875-9583 FAX: (780) 875-3406 Box 1409, 5112 - 46 Street Lloydminster, AB S9V 1K4
14 Locations in Western Canada
• Janitorial • Chemicals • • Belts • Hoses • Air Compressors • • Safety Supplies • Power Tools • Hand Tools •
stuart wright ltd. “THE SUPPLY HOUSE FOR THE INDUSTRY”
Saskatchewan Branches Lloydminster Branch Regina Branch Saskatoon Branch 3709 - 44th St. 116 Kress St. 3001 Faithful Ave. Lloydminster Sask. Regina Sask. Saskatoon, Sask. 306-825-2062 306-721-9710 306-933-4022 westerncanada.cummins.com
Lloydminsters Only Locally Owned & Operated Coiled Tubing Specialists
• Supplying the Midwest with new coiled tubing • Parts and accessories for coiled tubing • Quotes on all sizes of coiled tubing
Phone Joe Reck: 780-808-1952 Phone Collin Morris: 780-808-4132 Fax: 780-875-9700 Lloydminster, AB
C4
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
TransCanada Automatic truck wash ɺ Page C1 The partners, most of whom come from an agricultural background, started from scratch on the operation. While Nysetvold would not say how much the partnership had invested in the operations,
he did concede that it was in the millions. “The cost will vary depending on what you’re putting through. We expect to be able to turn a tractor trailer unit through for between $125 to $150” he says. Nysetvold says there
is a market for the automatic wash. “Absolutely. They’re paying between $200 to $400 to wash their vehicle now including their time. A wand wash is 90 cents a minute and to do it will take a couple hours at least,” he explained.
A truck passes through the automated truck wash in the same manner a car would.
“We’re focused on ensuring the customer is well taken care of. We’re selling convenience so we’re focused on ensuring the customer has a good experience at a reasonable price. We’re quite comfortable we can provide an adequate return with the business,” he says. Another aspect of the business that Nysetvold and his partners are proud of is that the sys-
tem uses recycled water. “The only water we lose is what leaves on the vehicles. We have a 250,000 gallon pit, that’s our source for water and we capture the runoff and rain water in a pond used to fill that pit. The system is completely recycled, the water is cleaned and put through a system and reused,” he says. The TransCanada Automatic Truck Wash uses a settling-based sys-
tem combined with a cyclonic cleaner. “It uses a cyclone that separates the impurities from the water and the last stage of the wash is reverse osmosis and the water is totally clean -that level does use some filters but it’s very low maintenance overall,” he says. Clients will be able to access the service through debit cards and account cards will also be set up.
All sides are washed.
Torque Rings • Minimizes damage to tapered threads • Blocks sand and fluid from entering threads • Increases torque capacity of API connections • Improves & maintains flow performance of pipe connections • Extends the life & durability of pipe and API connections • Stays in place; run pipe with confidence • Eliminates pump anchors
Dual Action Production Pump Rod Pumping System The patented Continuous Production SystemTM or CPSTM is the only production pump that draws fluid from the top of the pump and from the bottom of the tail joint in one stroke.
Advantages: Compatible with CO2 and steam applications One stroke with Double Flow Slower Stroke equals Less Wear Continuous Movement of Fluid & Solids Use less Energy
www.2HotTools.ca (780) 875-2468 SUPPLIER OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS TO THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD!
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C5
Preparing for the unexpected By Jim Humphrey Freelance Writer Saskatoon - We’ve heard it all before, try to be prepared for the unexpected. But, what exactly is the unexpected? It can be a fall on a job site or a mistake. Without the proper safety training, it could be make the difference between life and death. David Chalmers, President and CEO of Trinity Safety and Training, a company based out of Saskatoon, has been helping employers and employees of the oil and gas industry get prepared for the unexpected. “What we do is safety training for companies in the oil and gas industry to ensure their employees comply with various safety requirements for their jobs,” he said. “We mainly focus on the oil and gas industry, but we do some construction safety classes as well. When it comes
down to it, safety is safety.” Recently Trinity Safety and Training conducted the Enform H2S Alive course. It is an eight-hour course that is recognized by every company involved in the Oilfield Industry. The Alive course is
is validated by practical evaluations where competency with all the equipment must be shown and also by a short answer written exam. Standard Safety instructors take great care to ensure that everyone achieves the 70 per cent that is required to pass the written exam. Oral exams or help with writing can be arranged without embarrassment. “Today (Nov.18) - David Chalmers we had 25 students in here taking their H 2S certificate,” usually regarded as ad- said Chalmers. “Anyone equate training by Oil wanting to set foot on an Companies that require oil or gas jobsite is mancontractors to have hy- dated to take this prodrogen sulphide training. gram by Enform.” Students who successHe continued, “Our fully complete the re- instructors are considquirements of the course ered to be experts in will receive a temporary their particular course. It wallet size certificate and is standard that Enform about four weeks later requires any instructor a plasticized card from have at least three years Enform that expires in of experience in the oil 3 years. and gas industry to teach Effective learning a course like H2S.”
“
When it comes Wh down to it, safety is safety fety
A typical certification day begins at 7:45 a.m. for registration and then after registration our classes begin. Usually to start off the classes there will be a theory session that gives the students some background on the course and what generally what is expected of them in order to get the certificate. Instructors
will also go into detail on how to prevent accidents from happening and give them certain scenarios to watch out for. After the theory part is completed, the course moves into the practical session, where the students get a chance to put what they have learned into some practical use. “We find this is a
good way to do our classes because it gives everyone a chance to learn and remember what is being taught. Most of the students who come here are practical learners and it makes sense to let them do it, instead of standing in front of a classroom and lecturing to them,” Chalmers explains. ɸ Page C6
”
OILFIELD EQUIPMENT RENTAL • • • •
Power Swivels • Drill Bits Power Tongs • B.O.P.’s Drill Collars • Annulars Rod & Tubing Handling Equipment
• Flow Back Tanks • Accumulators • Cat Walks & Pipe Racks
5206 - 60 Street, Lloydminster, AB. T9V 2S9
Phone: (780) 875-6604
Fax: (780) 875-6634
Providing cost and time efficient solutions to a rapidly expanding and diverse industry with safety and continuous improvement as our #1 focus
3 man crews COR Accredited 75% road ban capable Class I, II, III Depths of up to 4500 meters Split tubing drums from 3/4” coil - 2” coil 5 1/2” certified wellhead equipment with Bowen Union www.titaniumtech.ca Dispatch: 780 - 871-1775 Office: 780-875-1395 All units are owner operated Serving Western Canada
Now in Southern Saskatchewan
C6
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Safety training for oil¿eld workers ɺ Page C5 What sets Trinity Safety and Training apart from the rest of the competition is their commitment to the employer and the employee coming to take a training course. “We are 100 per cent committed to be there for the oil and gas industry and that is the biggest
thing that sets us apart from the other businesses. When I started out doing this type of training, it was based out of my home,” he said. As a trainer for large companies, Chalmers believes they have a certain level of expectations when sending their employees to Trinity Safety and Training.
“What I have found is that companies want a certain level of commitment from these training courses that their employees will be able to take something away from the class. When a company phones us up and needs a certificate for one of their employees, it is nice to know we have the infrastructure here
LLOYDMINSTER’S NEWEST HOBBY SHOP!
NOW OPEN!
Present this ad and receive
5% OFF
to meet their needs,” he explained. As part of their commitment to both the employer and the employee, Trinity Safety and Training will never cancel a class due to poor registration numbers. Also, we are always improving ourselves as a safety and training institution,” said Chalmers. “It is part of our commitment to the industry that when they send one of their employees to take a course here, they will be taking the course that day.” The majority of the people who come to Trinity Safety and Training are in the pre-
employment stage and need certain certification in order to start their jobs. “There was a fellow in here today taking a course and not only did he come away with a certificate, but we gave him a few companies applications that we knew were hiring. As part of our commitment to the employee, we try to keep in close contact with employers who are hiring. So not only do they come away with a certificate, but they come away with some resources that can help them find jobs,” explained Chalmers. Besides H2S training, Trinity Safety and
24 Hour Service
Training has programs on WHIMS and TDG, First Aid, CPR and AED, GODI, Confined Space Entry, Worker Fall Protection, Ground Disturbance, Fire Extinguisher Safety and Forklift Safety. “What we won’t do is let any customer leave until they are 100 per cent satisfied, compromise our course quality for quantity, compromise safety at our courses, release private information of customers and we never stop improving.,” he said. Trinity Safety and Training is located on Millar Ave. in Saskatoon. Troy Illingworth Cell: (780) 808-3183 Tim Sharp Cell: (780) 871-1276 Office: (780) 847-4666 Fax: (780) 847-3334
A part of Darker Image, Hwy 17 South #3, 2920-50 Ave., Lloydminster, AB • Phone: 780-872-7727
Box 82 Marwayne, AB
Remote Control Model Aircraft
Welders, Service Crews, Lease Mowing & Bobcat Service
FORT GARRY INDUSTRIES THE TRUCKERS BEST FRIEND • • • • • • •
Intrax Suspension Full Flap packages Michel’s Tarp LED Lights Load/unload lights Dual cranks Powder coated silver wheels • Tow Hooks • Sidewall Vents
HGF Triple Axle • • • • • • • • •
2009 Midland SL3000
Tri Axle End Dump Air Ride ABS Auto Slacks 24.5 White Steel Wheels Sealed Gate Michels Tarp LED Lights Alum Checker Plate on Front & Rear Posts
HGF Super B
2009 Load King 42’ Tri Axle Flat Deck • • • • • •
Air Ride ABS Auto Slacks Sliding Suspension Tow Hook Rear Strobes
• • • • • •
24.5 White Steel Wheels LED Lights Swing Out Lights Full Pick Up Throat Live Roll Prepped Flap Packages
5701 63 Avenue, Lloydminster — Sales • Parts Toll Free 1-800-661-9709 or 1-780-875-9115
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C7
I’m for the company that has more 2009 hybrids than anyone in the industry. I’m for affordable hybrids. I’m for reinvention: the plug-in extended-range electric car – the Chevrolet Volt. I’m for the company that won North American Car of the Year* in 2007 and 2008. I’m for the company that won AJAC Award – Best New Small Car** in 2008 and 2009. I’m for the winner of the 2008 Green Car of the Year! I’m for the company that spends more on research & development in Canada than the rest of its competitors combined. I’m for a company that offers more vehicles with 7 L/100 km (40 mpg) or better highway fuel economy. I’m for the company that sold the most small cars of any automaker in Canada (more than Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Nissan in 2007). I’m for the company that has changed.
visit gmfactsand¿ction.com
Chevrolet Equinox The Þrst company to build hybrid and fuel cell vehicles in Canada
Saturn Vue 2008 AJAC Award Ð Best New SUV/CUV $35,000 Ð $60,000 (Hybrid shown)
Chevrolet Volt The plug-in extended-range electric car scheduled for introduction in 2010
Pontiac G3 Wave GM offers more vehicles with 7 L/100 km (40 mpg) or better highway fuel economy ratings than any other manufacturer
Pontiac Vibe 2009 AJAC Award Ð Best new small car over $18,000
Saturn Aura 2007 North American Car of the Year (Hybrid shown)
Chevrolet Malibu 2008 North American Car of the Year (Hybrid shown)
*Awarded by North American International Auto shows. 1. Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid named 2008 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal editors. **2008 Best New Small Car awarded to Saturn Astra. 2009 Best New Small Car over $18,000 awarded to Pontiac Vibe. †Based on GM Testing in accordance with approved Transport Canada Test methods. Your actual fuel consumption my vary.
CALL DONNA FOR YOUR FINANCE REQUIREMENTS
Sale Prices Cash Plus Fees & Taxes
1 888-773-4646
www.collegeparkgm.com
1 888-773-4646
C8
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
New life in old ¿eld near US border By Brian Zinchuk Roncott – Regal Energy Ltd. is seeking to draw new life out of an old field, announcing Oct. 28 it had commenced the exploitation of its Roncott, Saskatchewan, lands by performing a fracture treatment of the Bakken oil formation in a previously suspended vertical well. The well has now been placed on pump and is currently being evaluated. Roncott is near the U.S. border, south of Moose Jaw. The company plans to proceed with a multi stage frac on a previously unstimulated horizontal well on the property. “This is one of the oldest Bakken pools in Saskatchewan,” explains Regal President and CEO Curtis Hartzler. He notes it was discovered in the late 1950s, and the few low-volume wells drilled – “stripper wells” as he refers to them, ended up producing 800,000 bbl. of oil over the years. There’s 10 to 12 million barrels in place, he adds. There has been significant activity in the Roncott area with the drilling of new horizontal wells into the Bakken formation, and recent land sales for acreage immediately adjacent to Regal-held lands. Hartzler notes two recent land sales of nearby properties. One parcel, immediately north of their land, was 21 sections. “It went for $27 million bucks. That’s a lot of money for 21 sections.” The second parcel was 18 sections. “It went for $20 million.” Most of the land in the area has now been purchased, he says. “There’s a huge amount of additional wells
to the northeast. They come in and drill multiple horizontal wells per section, up to eight,” he points out. That’s a strategy they will be following, with horizontal, multi-fracced wells, probably 800 m in length for the horizontal section. They like to reduce frac lengths to 100 m from 200, he explains, saying the result is a better frac, and it is less expensive, combined with lower risk. “The total dollar cost is about the same, the results are better,” he says.
“
There’s a huge amount of additional wells to the northeast. They come in and drill multiple horizontal wells per section, up to eight - Curtis Hartzler
”
Horizontal wells cost around 2.5 times as much, but your yield is much higher than a vertical well, he notes, with a horizontal well being the equivalent of six to ten vertical wells. The ultimate recovery factor rises to 30 or 40 per cent, instead of 25 per cent. “Ryland is our partner on this land that we own,” Hartlzer adds. In the last edition of Pipeline
News, we reported on Ryland’s work in this area, but at that time did not have the partner’s information. The company holds a 50% working interest in 7 sections of land in this prospect, and plans to actively develop the Bakken oil potential on the acreage. In addition to the exploitation of Roncott, Regal intends to maximize development opportunities on its existing lands in order to maintain a low debt to cash flow ratio in today’s uncertain financial and commodity price environments. Amalgamation complete Regal Energy says the amalgamation between Regal and its’ wholly owned subsidiary, G2 Resources Inc., has now been completed effective October 1, 2008. The former management of G2 Resources has assumed the responsibility of managing the combined entity. “We combined these two companies and pooled our resources and cash flow,” Hartzler says. The company plans continued growth through mergers and acquisitions. As of late October, Regal’s current production is estimated at 425 Boe/d, comprised of 1,865 mcf/d and 118 Bbl/d of oil and NGLs for a gas/oil production ratio of 70/30. The company’s Kaybob 13-35 well has now been returned to production at approximately half of its’ productive capability (of 500 mcf/d) and production is expected to increase to 1,200 mcf/d when plant capacity is increased by the plant owner. Tie-in activities at the company’s Wapiti gas project are nearly complete where 2 wells are expected to be placed on production during November, providing an additional 50 Boe/d.
24 Hour Service
ATTENTION Are boggy leases or roads keeping you from your service work?
Oilwell Servicing Ltd.
MATTING for SALE or LEASE
30 years 1978 - 2008
Description: 4 section 2” x 6” rough spruce construction placed sideways on ends (6” deep) (8’ x 40’) FLAT (no hinges) (8’ x 50’) FLAT (no hinges) (4’ x 12’) Hinged Matting (hinge in centre)
• 3 Free Standing Rigs Available • 1 Mobile Double Double • 2 Mobile Fr ree Standing Single Doubles
Specializing in... • Workovers • Completions • Abandonments • Pump to Surface Lloydminster
(306) 825-7914 Call Darryl at 1 (780) 808-1829
Darryl Garrison Cell (306) 821-2815
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C9
Don’t let the sun set on a complaint By Danica Lorer Lloydminster Fieldtek Holdings is an oilfield service company running pressure trucks, semi-vacs, flushbys and coil tubing units in an area that spans about a 100 mile radius around Lloydminster. Kevin Meagher the owner and manager of the company is pleased to run a totally locally and independently owned business that offers employees the opportunity to work in their home community and stay in their own homes every night. Fieldtek employs 75 people, some in the small office on Lloydminster’s main business corridor and the rest on the road. The company has 3 shops to store equipment in rural communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan and Meagher says that they have better places to spend their money on shop space in the city. He says that because of the nature of
Kevin Meagher of Fieldtek speaks of customer satisfaction. Photo by Danica Lorer
the work they go to the customers and “if you don’t have a lot of people coming to you, you don’t need a big place in the city.” The majority of Meagher’s time is spent hiring and firing people and dealing with
labour. He described a huge problem over the past several years with retaining employees. “With the current slow down people are less likely to jump around as much.” He said that he hasn’t really interviewed anyone over the
Patent #2362105
past year, prospective employees have been the ones to ask all of the questions and set out what they had been looking for. He says that is now changing. “We’re still as busy as always, but people are being more careful ex-
&
pecting a slow down next year.” He says that companies are forecasting and setting their budgets right now for the next year. Fieldtek has grown rapidly since it opened 7 years ago multiplying
to 10 times its original size. Meagher credits the fact that they offer personal service with the owners in the field every day. “We use the Sam Walton of Walmart fame’s model ‘the sun will never set on a customer complaint,’” he says. Meagher has been involved in business for his entire working life and takes customer service seriously. He says that they answer customer concerns and call them back the same day they hear about complaints. He values a good work ethic and appreciates it in his employees crediting the quality of manpower as a key to the company’s growth. He says they are pretty selective in their hiring process and have a core of 10 employees who have been with them since the beginning, adding that staff retention is very important. ɸ Page C14
A Division of Dale’s Welding (2008) Ltd.
Manufacturer of Oil Storage Tank Parts: • Chimes and Doors • Firetube Throats and Blinds • Envirovault Doors • Stack Pups & Flanges • Cut to fit Floors & Roofs and more
VERY COMPETITIVE STEEL SALES
www.suretuf.com
B31.3 Pressure Piping Alberta and Saskatchewan Q.C. Journeymen B-Pressure Rig Welders
Mazak 2500KW Super Turbo X Mark II Laser Cutter Full AutoCAD services available. Accurate to < 0.002” Blanks for the machining industry. Custom Cut: flanges, gears, wellhead parts, packing glands, etc.
P. eng. Stamped, Patented Design Free standing, zero ground disturbance, quick & easy install, Slide in legs and pin together system. Cuts down on set up time. Accessories: sting doors, crossover stairs, Geo-textiles, etc. 40 millimeter liner is standard. Fire retardant liners & coatings available. WE WILL BUILD TO SUIT OUR CUSTOMER NEEDS. C.O.R. Certified set up crews are available.
6003 - 52 Avenue Lloydminster, AB. T9V 2S8
Phone: Fax: Email: Cam’s Cell:
(780) 875-0032 (780) 808-2689 daleweld@telus.net (780) 205-8316
C10
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Story and photos by Danica Lorer Freelance Writer Lloydminster - You want big? Universal Industries is big; really big. They make big tanks, have a big workforce and a big compound that covers 47 acres on the north end of Lloydminster. They are a manufacturer of oilfield products including shop tanks, second-
ary containment tanks, emulsion treaters, flash treaters and steam generators in their more than 130,000 square feet of shop space. There are 2 tank shops, a machining and fabrication shop, a paint shop, a mechanic’s bay, a warehouse as well as outdoor shops. The yard is expansive and it takes some logistical skill to keep moving equipment to where it is needed in the
If you’ve ever wondered just was inside that big brick building on the Universal Industries lot on the north end of Lloydminster, here’s your chance.
OILFIELD SERVICE LTD.
780-875-7939 Fax: 780-875-3699 Box 135 • Lloydmisnter, SK • S9V 0Y1
Dale: 780-205-2774 • Kevin: 780-205-1291
lot that is bigger than many of the area’s small towns. They manufacture products for Canadian and International businesses and last week had a massive vessel almost ready to be shipped all the way to South America. Universal has been a ASME certified pressure vessel manufacturer since 1975 and has been manufacturing tanks to API codes since they
opened in 1949. Douglas Politeski works in human resources and explained that the majority of the 147 people working in the shops are skilled trades people with the highest number being welders. They also employ machinists, mechanics, pipe fitters and crane operators. Universal Industries is very involved in the apprenticeship program. ɸ Page C11
If you’ve ever wondered just was inside that big brick building on the Universal Industries lot on the north end of Lloydminster, here’s your chance. Welder Justin Kowalchuk can be seen working inside a tank.
Over 40 years of service
• 18 /30 / 45 Ton Cranes • Winch Truck • Tank Movers • Hi Boy & Low Boys
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C11
Rinaldo Concha welds on a Áange at Lloydminster’s Universal Industries.
Custom Manufacturing from Oilfield Lease to Your Front Door!
Angus MacLellan prepares for a weld test for CWB while Ben Reed looks on.
You want big? Universal is big! ɺ Page C10 The company is involved with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and has employees at all levels of the program from pre-employment to journeyman. Universal attracts many people who are working on the hours required to complete a program hoping that employees will consider staying on long term, but they also want to maintain flexibility in the workforce. They have been affected by a competitive employment market and have had a high turnover rate in recent years but also have employees that have been part of the team for 35 years. Universal offers a comprehensive benefits package to their employees and employees are members of the International Boilermakers Union. Politeski said that during peak times they have hired as many as 20 people a month but it is starting to slow and in November only took on 4 or 5 new people. He explained that there are always
seasonal differences in the workforce but that the state of the industry also has something to do with it. “We could easily require more people as more bids are accepted” he said. Universal also has an engineering, drafting and design team. He says that Universal’s strength lies in its size and the scope of projects it can take on and the resources they have available to them. Universal offers years of experience and expertise to maximize profits for their share and stakeholders. Throughout the large buildings people work on their own projects, pieces of a puzzle that goes together to make a finished project that has been serving the oil industry for decades. Universal also employs 30 people in the office and is just part of the larger Foremost Universal LP group that also includes Corlac, Stettler Oil and Gas, Wilco Industries, Peaceland Fabrication and Supply, Force Compression Systems, De-In Industries and Maloney Industries.
ssor Compre Stands
ox d Tool B Deck an ting Fabrica Custom stands fo rq mufflers on lease uiet sites
Rig
s&
Ski
ds
in all Fencing rs. & s te a G lou les & co ty s , s e siz
Box 11793, Lloydminster, AB, T9V 3C1 (Country Energy Park) Phone (780) 872-5234 Toll Free 1(888) 870-5234 Fax (780) 872-5235 www.bendtec.ca e-mail: bendtec@telus.net
C12
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Reef increases acquisitions in WC Sask New purchase provides company an opportunity to expand Druid – Reef Resources Ltd. announced Nov. 5 that it has entered into a freehold lease agreement with a significant oil and gas producer in the Druid area of Saskatchewan, east of Dodsland and northeast of Kindersley. “This is a pure development play,” Arnie Hansen, founder, president and CEO of Reef told Pipeline News. The agreement provides the right to Reef to drill development wells within a 640 acre lease area, with a potential to down space to 40 acres per well.
Reef holds an interest of 82.5% with a 17.5% burden applicable to the lessor. This area provides Reef with the ability to expand into other significant freehold lands and into significant open Crown lands. Reef also announced it has revised and signed a new farmin agreement with Mar-
“
ianas Energy Ltd. for the two sections (1,280 acres) in the Senlac area of Saskatchewan, thereby providing Reef with the continuing ability to pursue this prospect. Under the original farm-in agreement, Reef was required to drill a well by June 30, 2008 to earn a 55.0% working interest.
Under the terms of the new farm-in agreement, Reef will increase its working interest to 70.0%, and will agree to pay the first $50,000 of Marianas’ working interest share of the capital expenditures for the first well and Reef will have the right to drill a well up to or prior to May 1, 2009 to earn its working in-
This is a pure development play
”
- Arnie Hansen, founder, president and CEO of Reef
Wishing you safe and f o ll a m o fr s y a d li o Happy H us at Providing the Providin
terest ownership. The two section farm-in includes both oil and gas potential, according to Reef, with the probable ability to down space for additional drill opportunity. Finally, Reef announced that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 95,000,000 units of the company, including flow-through shares, non-flowthrough shares and warrants. The offering is expected to close on or about December 19, 2008. Proceeds of the offering will be used to
following services:
r et, Lloydminste 5208 - 51 Stre -5597 Ph: (780) 875 -5434 Fx: (780) 875 efoam.com www.hurrican
• Stable Foam Cleanouts • Foaming Disposal Wells • Foam Hammer Drilling • N2 Foam Cleanouts • Gas Well Stable Foam Cleanout • Well Blow Downs • High Temperature Foam Cleanouts
fund the company’s exploration and drilling program and for general working capital purposes. Follow the money Reef has another project underway in southwestern Ontario. The first oilwells in Canada were drilled at Petrolia, Ont., about an hour south-southwest of where they have five wells. Their discovery, Pinnacle Reef, from which the company takes its name, was found in 1999. It has no geological connection to the Petrolia formation, according to Hansen, but is similar in size and shape. While they started work in Ontario, they were found their work overshadowed by work in Saskatchewan and Alberta. They could get money to work out west, but not in the east. Thus came the work in West Central Saskatchewan. Hansen is quite familiar with the area, having worked their extensively in the 1970s and 80s. His background is in production and operations management. “My background is shallow gas and shallow oil,” he says. Reef Resources is publicly traded on the Toronto Venture Exchange, under the symbol REE.
780.875.HOOK 4
6
6
5
Highway 16 West, 10 miles West of Lloydminster
24 Hour Heavy Truck Towing
60 Ton Tandem Tri-Drive Tow Truck Safely tows all your Service rigs • Coil Tubing • Flushbys • Picker Trucks
Air Cushion Recovery We also have: 30 30 30 40
Ton Ton Ton Ton
Tow Track (C500 Tri Drive) Tow Unit Winch Tractor/Tow Truck Sliding boom Recovery Unit
TRI DRIVE 30 TON
30 TON WINCH TRACTOR
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C13
Exploration tax credit returns Regina - Saskatchewan is seeking to improve its attractiveness for mineral exploration activity with the reintroduction of the Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration Tax Credit program. Announced Nov. 15, the provincial program offers a non-refundable 10 per cent tax credit to Saskatchewan taxpayers who invest in eligible flow-through shares issued by mining or exploration companies after April 1, 2008. The provincial credit
follows the eligibility rules of the federal Investment Tax Credit for Exploration. The credit does not apply to oil and gas exploration, but it does cover coal, potash, uranium and the like, according to Saskatchewan Energy and Resources. “Reintroduction of this program was an election promise of our government,” Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd said. “This tax credit reflects our commitment to en-
couraging investment in exploration, and in long-term, sustainable development of our rich mineral resources. “We expect mineral exploration spending in Saskatchewan to top $360 million in 2008. We want to keep that momentum going well into the future.” The program is estimated to cost $2 million annually. The credit had been introduced as a temporary measure by the previous government in 2000 and was discontinued in 2006.
Maskal Planning Joint Venture Maskal Energy Ltd. says it has entered into an arm’s length joint venture agreement with two private companies, Duce Oil Ltd. and Martini Ventures Inc., on a one third each basis for the purpose of ac-
quiring, exploring and developing oil and gas concessions in the Kindersley/Dodsland area of Saskatchewan, approximately 200 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon. The joint venture has initially obtained
10 fee simple leases covering 4,400 acres from a major oil and gas producer operating in the area. The lands are subject to a freehold royalty on production in favour of the lessor ranging from 17.5% to 19%.
December land sales Energy and Resources is expecting to see good interest and activity in December, but noted to Pipeline News the December sale is traditionally a smaller one in terms of licences and parcels on offer. Bill Boyd
2009 Peterbilt Model 389 Tri-Drive e ns 600 Cummins
2009 Peterb Peterbilt Model 325 Class 5 19,500 GVW Service Body
• Hard Hat Decals • Fleet Vehicles • Custom Logos PH: 780-875-7574
• Oilfield Signs • Artwork & Installation • Basic Signage • Vehicle Stripes • Paint Protection • 24’x55’ Installation Bay
Ray Foy, New Truck Sales Travis Bottorff, New Truck Sales Jason Flanagan, New Truck Sales Rick McMahon, Used Truck and Trailer Sales
NEW LOCATION!
6207 44TH STREET • BAY 6 HIGHWAY #16 AND COLLEGE DRIVE LLOYDMINSTER, AB
5201-40th Avenue Lloydminster, SK
306-825-3553 www.frontierpeterbilt.com
Truck Rental and Leasing
Truck Cell: (306) 823-3512 Cell: (306) 823-7111 Res: (306) 823-4309 Fax: (306) 823-4663
44 Flushby FlushbyTrucks Trucks Steamer Trucks Steamer Trucks Slant Capable Slant Capable Vac Trucks
P.O. Box 331 Neilburg, SK S0M 2C0
C14
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Customer service at the heart of it all ɺ Page C9 Oil companies have been trending to dealing with fewer and larger companies, in the most part being driven by safety regulations. Fieldtek is on the smaller size. “We’re big enough to compete with the big boys but small enough to provide the service” said Meagher. “We started with 6-8 trucks and wouldn’t have stayed around if we hadn’t grown.” The company is looking at opportunities for future growth but Meagher is happy doing what they are doing and holding on to
the hands-on model. He says that they don’t do anything out of the ordinary but hope to provide better service. “The people that are important to the customers are the people they see every day, the quality of ground level people is important it is a simple business model that works” said Meagher. Fieldtek may be relatively small but it is also a company that gives back to the communities it serves, sponsoring projects like the Lashburn Sportsplex and youth sporting organizations from Vermilion to Edam.
Earl Stevenson Can your swamper sing? Earl can. Earl Stevenson of Canadian Idol fame performed at the high school in Maidstone in mid-November as part of a local tour. He went from working as a swamper for a backhoe operator in Lloydminster to being a star across the country on Canadian Idol. During his Idol run, Lloydminster was carpetted with vote Earl signage. Photo by Danica Lorer
We are Canada’s largest supplier of Industrial, Safety and Fastener products. With 155 branches coast-to-coast, 5 distribution centres and the largest inventory in Canada – we have what you need, when and where you need it! For over 100 years we’ve been supplying Canadian customers with the products required to keep their businesses running. Additionally, we help you save time and money through our broad range of value added services including industry leading inventory management and e-business solutions. Call us today to learn how your company can save time and money.
1.888.602.0000 www.acklandsgrainger.com
® ™ The Acklands-Grainger logo is a trademark of W.W. Grainger Inc., used under license by Acklands-Grainger Inc. © Acklands-Grainger Inc. 2008. All rights reserved.
WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPLYING THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY, WE WROTE THE BOOK.
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C15
Traxion’s heavy oil Bakken well producing Coleville - Traxion Energy Inc. announced Nov. 4 the Traxion Buffalo Coulee 3-27-32-24 W3 Bakken heavy oil well has been brought onstream at an average rate of 7 m3/d (44 bbl/d) over the initial 4 days of production. Over the most recent 32-hour period, the well has produced at a rate of 6.6 m3/d (42 bbl/d) of heavy oil with a
water cut of less than one per cent. Traxion holds 100 per cent ownership of 4,795 acres of potential Bakken heavy oil bearing lands in the Buffalo Coulee area of SW Saskatchewan. The initial well drilled by Traxion in the area is on a 192 hectare (480 acre) crown parcel also owned 100 per cent by Traxion. According to a release, Traxion has
Big Guns completes Traxion’s Buffalo Coulee well. Photo submitted
identified an additional potential five Bakken locations on this parcel using 2D seismic and plans to further delineate this property utilizing 3D seismic, pending available financing. “We want to shoot a 3D seismic over the area and further define the targets,” Jim Ehret, president of Traxion, told Pipeline News. That would likely be in the new year, he noted. Asked about the decline in oil prices (with oil trading at $57/bbl. at the time of the interview), Ehret laughs. “We’re not making as much money,” he says. More seriously, he notes there are impacts on raising capital. “It drags
down the stock price,” he adds. “It definitely has an impact and slows you down. I hope it rights itself before next year.” Noting his lack of a personal crystal ball, he says, “It should rebound into the $70 range by next summer. We want to be there when it has rebounded. We still have to keep on moving.” Traxion is a Calgary, Alberta based corporation engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas. The corporation’s common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol ‘TXE’.
CODY 780-645-0040 JEFF 780-645-0301
COILED ROD SERVICES
Tierra Alta can provide and operate specialized equipment that can install and remove coiled rod via a TMX (Truck Mounted X-celerator®). The TMX can be deployed to service coiled rod applications in conjunction with an existing conventional service rig or a Àush by unit.
Flush-by’s Coming Soon!
ATV / SLED DECKS Adjustable width decks also available • Easy to load & unload
Until now, coiled rod has been more logistically difficult to service than conventional coupled sucker rod.
• Reversible ramp for your snowmobile & quad
www.tierraalta.com
10 TMX Largest Fleet in Canada TRUCKS
• High quality brushed aluminum requires no maintenance • Rounded headache rack
THE MOBILE FIREBLADE WELDER Proven to produce exceptional welds to coiled rod. This unit is equipped to handle a variety of different coiled rod related welding tasks. • Custom pin to pin string fabrication • Replacement of top or bottom pin • Repairs to broken rod • Removal & replacement of worn sections of rod
• 4 side LED lamps Tierra Alta Production Systems is a world class manufacturer of Arti¿cial Lift Systems. We produce and distribute Progressive Cavity Pumping Systems including rotors, stators and drive heads.
24 hr Dispatch
780-875-0888
For more info about Tierra Alta’s Products & Services Call 780-875-6258 Fax 780-875-6278 NOW HIRING E-mail: jefftaylor@tierraalta.com www.tierraalta.com
Tierra Alta is proud to be partnered with
Turn to the right solution Distribution Inc.
• Super Clamps Included • Strongest (and longest) ramp system on the market
Re-usable and High Resale Value
Lloydminster Paint & Supplies Ltd. Daryl (780) 875-4454 or (780) 871-4109 5628 - 44 Street, Lloydminster, AB
• Our customers testify that we have the best looking deck on the market - and it is built to last • If a customer decides to purchase a different pickup the deck can accommodate either Short & Long Box trucks
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Husky to weather the storm All projects are moving ahead Lloydminster –Husky Oil is in a good position to weather the coming storm in the marketplace. Bob Baird, vice president of upgrading and refining with Husky Energy says his company has a strong finan-
Wow, Daddy! Santa Claus must really like Mommy! (780) 875-0203 LloydMall Lloydminster
2008
C16
cial balance sheet. His main concern is human resources and attracting qualified people to the Lloydminster marketplace. “We have jobs, we just don’t have the people,” says Baird. Baird was one of the
Husky Energy pipeline superintendent Rick Corrin has his hands full with multiple projects in the Lloydminster region.
LLOYDMINSTER, SK/AB
• Hot Shot Service • Pipe Hauling etc. Can haul up to 33’
• Vehicle Rescue • Transport Sheds, Vehicles & Equipment
• Self Loading Sliding Deck Also Tow Behind North East Recyclers Lloydminster, SK/AB
Call:
lead executives on hand at an open house Husky held in Lloydminster in late October. Several senior employees were on hand for the event answering questions from people in the Lloydminster area. ɸ Page C17
306-821-0260 (If no answer keep trying)
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C17
Human resources the main obstacle moving forward
Husky Energy operations superintendent Drew Pritchard, at left, and Dr. Bert Faber, at right. Both Pritchard and Faber are involved in plans to eliminate odors from the ethanol plant.
ɺ Page C16 Rick Corrin, superintendent for Lloydminster pipeline operations said there is a significant expansion underway with the development of a couple 300,000-barrel tanks at Hardisty and a significant amount of piping and tie-in work being done as well. “There’s the new Keystone Pipeline Terminal that we’re tying into and with the Enbridge expansion, because they’re expanding
flow rates, we’ll have to adjust our equipment too,” said Corrin. “We started our tanks earlier this spring and we hope to be done by the second quarter of 2009,” he said. The tie-ins are currently in the engineering phase and are expected to be complete sometime in 2010. As well, the company has recently completed a 24-inch pipe between Lloydminster and Wainwright. “We just filled the
line at the beginning of October at a flow rate of 1,300 m3 at maximum capacity we might hit 1,800 m3 per hour but we’ll need additional pumping facilities to hit the maximum,” said Corrin. Husky’s new ethanol plant was completed in Lloydminster two years ago. Currently, there are 23 workers at the plant. Drew Pritchard, operations superintendent at the plant and Dr. Bert Faber, senior staff envi-
ronmental advisor said the reaction to the plant and additional marketing opportunities for area farmers has been positive. One of the challenges the senior management team has at the plant includes a “baked bread” odor issue. “We’ve been very busy over the last year looking at the odor issue and in 2009 we’ll be installing equipment to eliminate the odor,” said Faber, adding the odor is not toxic but simply a nuisance.
“Some people don’t mind it but others don’t like it. We’re working very closely with Sask. Environment to address the concern,” said Faber. Pritchard explained the odor elimination plan is a two-step process. First, a portion of the exhaust will be recycled for combustion and second, a thermal oxidizer will incinerate the volatile organic compounds removing 99.4 per cent of the compounds from the surrounding environment. Neither Faber nor
Husky Energy vice president Bob Baird says his biggest challenge is Ànding people qualiÀed for work in the Lloydminster region.
Serving All of Western Canada
FIELD SERVICES • New Tank Construction • Various Tank Repairs • API 653 Inspectors
MANUFACTURING SERVICE SERVICES • Storage Tanks & Silos • Custom Plate Fabrication • Material Preparation • Paint & Insulation Facilities
HIGH EFFICIENCY SEPARATORS • Vortex Separator Technology • Separation Solutions • Two & Three Phase Configuration • New & Retrofit Applications
PRESSURE VESSELS • “U” Stamped Authorization • Mechanical Design • Carbon & Stainless Construction
GLM has emerged as the premier Canadian manufacturing and engineering design company, engaged in the mechanical design and custom fabrication of steel tanks and vessels for the oil and gas, mining, food processing, chemical and pulp and paper industries. In addition, GLM fabricates and designs silos for solids handling systems in the coal, sand and cement industries as well as providing coating, painting and insulation at any one of its manufacturing locations. Since inception, management has established strong customer/supplier relations and has developed a premier reputation with the steel fabrication industry.
Kurtis Wandler Customer Service Representative Kurtis is available for site visits, lunch and learn programs or to answer any questions on new or existing products from our facilities.
Give Kurtis a Call Today!
1 (780) 871-3378 or email at kurtis@glmindustries.com
Head Office Plant Grande Prairie Plant
Nisku, AB Grand Prairie, AB
Pritchard would speak on how much Husky is investing in the process. “It will vary… there are a lot of unknowns. We want to eliminate the odor and money is not the focus right now,” said Faber. Husky’s senior communications advisor Graham White said the company is moving forward with many of its plans and has not yet cancelled any facility improvements in the Lloydminster region as a result of the lower price of oil.
Battleford Plant Calgary Sales
www.glmindustries.com
Battleford, SK Calgary, AB
C18
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Company operates throughout three western provinces St. Walburg – If you're looking for safety on the job then Marshall Safety Services is the company to call. Gerald Borzel is the operations manager for Marshall Safety Services and the president and general manager is Gordon Marshall. “He's been in the safety and ambulance care business for approximately 40 years. Marshall Safety Ser-
vices and Marshall's Ambulance Care are both based out of St. Walburg,” says Borzel. Approximately nine years ago the company was called Marshall's Field Ambulance Ltd. “Back them they had a contract with Nexen and since that time our company has expanded to include work in Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C.,” says Borzel. The company's name changed to Marshall Safety
Serenity Yoga Studio
Hwy. 17 south around the Corner from Fabutan STRETCH, STRENGTHEN, BALANCE AND BREATHE • Reduce Stress • Gain a sense of peacefulness & well-being • Increase fitness and flexibility • Energize and feel good about yourself Dale Foss 780-808-9366 Beginner & Intermediate Tues. & Thurs. 5:15-6:30 pm & 7-8:30 pm Wed. morning 9:30-11:00 am
Daniela Tobler 780-872-2332 Beginner: Mon. 5:30-7:00 pm Tues morning 6:00-7:00 am Intermediate: Wed. 5:30-7:00 pm
Services Ltd. in 2006 and at that time they not only had an office in St. Walburg but also in Lloydminster, Alta. The company also has a field supervisor, Rod Schatz who says, “Wherever our clients ask us to provide a job is where we go. Our job is to stabilize the patient in whatever incident that takes place and our people do this until a helicopter arrives or we have an intercept with a road ambulance.” ɸ Page C22
WHY WAIT? We’ll have your vehicle back on the road within a few days!
Highest Quality... Best Prices... GUARANTEED! Largest inventory of parts and exchange units in the midwest
“We do things right automatically” See us for: Allison Transmission Light & Heavy Duty
Transfer Case Clutch Differentials Light & Heavy Duty
3912 - 44th Street, Hwy. 16 East, Lloydminster Phone (306) 825-4454 Fax (306) 825-3170
HWY 16 on constructi te! is comple
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C19
PIPELINE NEWS Saskatchewan’s Petroleum Monthly Saskatchewan’s Petroleum Monthly
Over 35,000 circulation
targeting the Oil and Gas Sector!
YOUR ADVERTISING TEAM
SE Saskatchewan and SW Manitoba
Jan Boyle
Cindy Beaulieu
Glenys Dorwart
Kristen O’Handley
Deanna Tarnes
Sales Manager 21 Years Experience
16 Years Experience
15 Years Experience
8 Years Experience
3 Years Experience
SE Sask and SW Manitoba - for all of your advertising needs contact: Ph: 306.634.2654 Fax: 306.634.3934 Email: adsales@estevanmercury.ca
SW Saskatchewan SW Sask - for all of your advertising needs contact: Ph: 306.773.8260 Fax: 306.773.0504
Doug Evjen
Andrea Bonogofski
Sales Manager
abonogofski@prairiepost.com
devjen@prairiepost.com
2 Years Experience
4 Years Experience
NW Saskatchewan and NE Alberta NW Sask - for all of your advertising needs contact: Ph: 780.875.6685 Fax: 780.875.6682 Email: daniela@pipelinenews.ca
Daniela Tobler Sales Manager
C20
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Road salt? Who needs it? We got brine! By Brian Zinchuk All these years, you’ve been disposing of your salty wastewater down a disposal well like a good oil company should. If you drive south, however, you might find some who don’t do the same. At least your drive shouldn’t be too slippery. That’s because North Dakota allows oilwell wastewater to be spread on roads to melt ice, according to a Nov. 18 Associated Press report. Headlined “North Dakota OKs the spraying of oil wastewater on roads for dust and ice,” the story notes that “North Dakota’s health department will allow salty oil field wastewater to be sprayed on
roads as a de-icer or for dust control even though oil companies and environmental groups have questioned the practice.” “The Health Department said Monday that its studies found the briny water left from oil production was no more toxic than commercial road salt when applied to state highways. “Oil companies so far are reluctant to give away the water and government road crews are hesitant to use it, fearing liability issues, said Dave Glatt, director of the state Health Department’s environmental health section.” Apparently it was common practice on North
Dakota roads, mostly in the western part of the state, since 1963, according to the report, but the kybosh had been put on the practice since an Associated Press story last year shed light on the practice.
CARA DAWN TRANSPORT LTD.
Box 1905, R Regina, egin na, SK S4P 3E1 Ph.: Ph : 306-721-8888 • Toll To oll Free Free 1-800-723-3324 1-800 0-723-3324 Fax: 306-721-5118 Email: caradawntransport@sasktel.net
DAVE WELLINGS Cell: 306-536-3861
To reduce your cost, noise and emissions, visit newcotank.ca or call Kevin at (780) 871-1986
RICK ALLEN Cell: 306-536-7656
Little rocks can build huge walls so let’s build a strong wall of protection around our environment together.
GORD BLOMMAERT Cell: 306-537-7565 CANADA/USA – BONDED CARRIER
ONE COMPLETE JOB • ONE INVOICE • Picker Equipped Service Crews • Oilfield Welding & Fabrication • AutoCAD Drawings & Design • Enviro & Project Consulting • In House Rentals • G-55/S01 Containments • Tank Alteration & Repair • Tank Moving Cradles • Pickers up to 60 Tons • Steel Sales • Bobcats/Backhoes/Trackhoes/Gravel Trucks c/w Pups or Wagons • Hot Taps & A.P.I. 653 Tank QC • New Wellsite Completions/Re-completes • Wellsite Abandonment & Reclamation • Water Injection Packages • Safety C.O.R. • Journeyman Pipefitter • Journeyman Carpenter • Alberta & Saskatchewan B31.3 QC Programs • Certified A.P.I. 653 Tank Inspector
C.O.R.
OILFIELD
CONSULTING & CONSTRUCTION
SERVICE LTD.
(780) 808-2272
Fax: Clayton, C.E.T. Cell: Ken, C.E.T. Cell: Johnny Cell:
(780) 808-2273 (780) 205-1599 (780) 205-1598 (780) 205-4090
P.O. Box 1155, Lloydminster, AB T9V 1G1 Email: csoil@mwwireless.ca Clayton “C” Gessner, C.E.T./A.Sc.T. /A.P.I.653 Manager/Owner
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C21
Ivory achieves production milestone Furness – They’ve reached a milestone in production, but Ivory Energy is postponing its planned drilling program in Saskatchewan due to recent declines in commodity prices. Ivory Energy Inc announced Oct. 28 it had achieved a milestone of producing at rates greater than 1,000 boepd. Recent increases in production are the result of drilling successes at Obed, Alta and Silverdale and Furness, Sask., as well as a positive response from the Silverdale waterflood and various recompletions and workovers of certain wells. Oil and gas sales for September 2008 were approximately 690 boepd with an estimated well-
head price of $79.75 per barrel for oil. Production from Ivory’s Saskatchewan oil properties is approaching 900 boepd. This production combined with the addition of the first Obed gas well, is approximately 1,050 boepd. Based on additional wells in Saskatchewan and the second successful Obed gas well coming on stream, Ivory is confident that it will achieve its previously announced guidance of 1,200 to 1,400 boepd sales by volume for the month of December 2008. However, as a result of the recent commodity price declines, Ivory has postponed its planned drilling program in Saskatchewan. In a release,
Ivory stated it believes this is a prudent approach given the uncertainty of today’s oil price. The company will continue to monitor the wellhead oil price and is ready to continue drilling should the commodity prices improve. Routine field operations, including minor workovers, will continue as Ivory maintains its production with good production practices. The new wells at Obed, Silverdale and Furness not only increased production but also added significant new reserves to the company, according to an Ivory Energy release. ɸ Page C26
Kim Leipert Ph. 306.825.5355 Cell: 306.821.2880 Fax: 306.825.5356
P.O. BOX 224 MARWAYNE, AB T0B 2X0
• • • • • • • • • • •
SUSPENDED WELL COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS GAS MIGRATION TESTING VENT FLOW MONITORING REMOTE WELLSITE INSPECTIONS STABILIZED SHUT-IN PRESSURE MONITORING GAS SAMPLE COLLECTION SURFACE CASING VENT FLOW TESTING CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS CUT/CAPPED WELL CASING LOCATING PRE-ACQUISITION WELL SITE INSPECTIONS IN SITU SOIL REMEDIATION OFFICE: 780.847.2567 | FAX: 780.847.3277 KERRY: 780.205.3495 | RYAN: 403.588.2597 DOULLSITE@TELUS.NET | WWW.DOULLSITE.COM
www.heavyoilfieldtrucks.com peddlerconsignment@sasktel.net 1995 Auto car tandem/tandem rod rig, new sask safety, ready to work!
1998 Peterbilt and 1998 westech triaxle vac trailer
1999 western star coil tubing rig, 1 1/4inch tubing, 600cfm hurricane
Cardwell single/ double telescoping service rig, 69ft telescoping derrick. Level 4 inspection.
NEW LOCATION! Corner of Hwy 16 & Upgrader Road, Lloydminster
IF IT IS BIG N’ UGLY WE CAN HAUL IT! Member of
ISN • LOI
Box 1602 Lloydminster, AB S9V 1K5
Cell: (780) 808-9123 Fax: (306) 825-3518 Email: diambtran@msn.com
• The coordinating and instrumentation of oversized/ overweight load moves. • Winch/highway tractors • 40 wheel combinations • Tri-axel hydraulic tank trailers
• Tandom-axel hydraulic tank trailers • Trombones, drop decks, scissor neck trailers • Spreader Bars • Pilot cars • Man baskets • 6 - 30 ton pickers
Diamond B offers our clients a diversity of services and equipment options, working together to deliver products safely. Specializing in Overdimension & Overweight
NEW 45 TON PICKER
C22
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Rare beauty Pumpjacks aren’t that common in the Lloydminster area these days, with the prevalence of progressing cavity pumps. A screw pump, however, just doesn’t look as majestic when set against a gorgeous setting sun. Photo by Danica Lorer
Looking for safety? ɺ Page C18 - Schatz adds, “We provide the best service we can with the most professional staff that we can find.” The company also does work for CNRL and Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management during forest fire season in the summer time, says Borzel. The company's team is comprised of the following: EMR's (emergency medical responders) EMT's (emergency medical technicians) paramedics, and, if the need arises, RNs (registered nurses). “Most of our people are from Alberta and Saskatchewan with the majority of paramedics coming through the City of Calgary EMS. As a result of that our people are very familiar with the drugs that are out on the street and are very up to date on all this stuff,” says Borzel. The majority of Marshall's work takes place during the winter when they are stationed throughout the various areas of the north. “Wherever they want us to work we will work and provide the exact same service that an ambulance would provide if it arrived at your door today,” he says. The company possesses a fleet of eight Food Expedition Max's, five MTC's (medical treatment centres) which are mounted on Dodge diesel 4X4 trucks, and two road ambulances. “We're able to provide very efficient medical and safety services to all our clients,” says Borzel adding, “Everything is done as per the request of the companies we work for.” Borzel concludes that the company owes a great deal of appreciation to its staff which can number from 40 to 50 in the winter and whittles down during the summer months.
E IN TO SEE US CALL OR COM TAILS. THESE FOR MORE DE BLE, ON PRICES AVAILA NTORY ONLY, CURRENT INVE ES LAST. WHILE SUPPLI
DS BEAT THE SAVE TEDHTOO UA NSEAWN2009 GE COMPAIRFLOAT OR SISSORNECK R A H C R U S L E E ST OILFIELD
OILFIELD FLOATS STARTING AT $59,759 SISSORNECKS STARTING AT $90,914
Financing available onsite O.A.C.
6203 - 56 Street, Lloydminster, AB 780-875-6211 or 1-800-661-3926 www.firsttruck.ca
HEAVY DUTY OILFEILD TRUCKS AVAILABLE ON THE GROUND
FULL FLUSHBY & PRESSURE SERVICES BODY VACS, STEAMER/PRESSURE WASHER SERVICES SALTWATER DISPOSAL PUMPING SERVICES
24 HOUR SERVICE Ken McConnell Owner/Operator 24 HR Dispatch: 780-205-9001 Mike #: 403*11*29001 Fax: 306-397-2697 Box 238 Edam, SK rackenent@hotmail.com
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C23
Finding the right person for the job HR goes into its sixth year of operation Lloydminster – Kennedy Personnel Solutions is a staffing agency that opened its doors in the Lloydminster market in October of 2002. “We’re six years old now,” says Heidi Burzinski, general manager for Kennedy Personnel Solutions. The company hires for both temporary and full-time workers in the oilfield while also offering the service to contract employees. “Most of our business is done out of the Lloydminster region and we do work in the Calgary area as well,” says Burzinski. Kathy Kennedy is the CEO of the company and Bev JosuttesHarland is the president. “Kathy started the company herself in 2002 and Bev started in August of this year,” says Burzinski. While Kennedy is a human resources professional who holds an H.R. Designation from Lakeland College, she also worked within the oilfield for many years prior to starting up her company. “Bev was in the educational field and was a teacher for many years and she has the training and education background,” says Burzinski. The company has definitely grown quite a bit since Kennedy started things up. “We’ve grown to have three recruiters and one administrator,”
says Burzinski. “The company started out more with contract and temporary placements and now we’re noticing a switch to permanent placements and that’s due to labour shortages. It’s simply another way to source quality candidates,” says Burzinski. Despite the falling prices for crude the demand for employees is still high. “We haven’t seen a huge change yet and we may see more positions on the contract side as people are riding out the changes in the market but I think we will continue to see a shortage and people looking to fill all types of placements,” says Burzinski. ɸ Page C24
Heidi Burginski, right,says Kennedy personnel solutions hires both temporary and full time workers
“Industry Leading Quality and Service Since 1987” 6150 - 76 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6B 0A6
Phone: 780-440-2855 Fax: 780-440-1050 Email: brotherscoating@shaw.ca www.brotherscoating.com
Specialists in Internal & External Coating Applications Epoxy Linings • Metalizing • Fiberglass • 100% Solids Epoxy Pipe, Bends, Tanks & Vessels
C24
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Pipelines, nukes and greenhouse gases Pipelines Ottawa – The re-elected Conservative federal government makes reference to cleaner energy, natural gas pipelines to the north, and nuclear energy in its Nov. 19 throne speech. It also gives Canada 11 years to reduce its greenhouse gas output by 20 per cent. Here is the energy and climate change/environment portions of the speech, as read by Governor-General Michaëlle Jean: Securing Our Energy Future “Energy is vitally important to our country. Our geography and climate mean that Canadians depend on affordable and reliable energy. The development of our rich energy resources is an important source of wealth and Canadian jobs. “Our government will support the development of cleaner energy sources. The natural gas that lies beneath Canada’s North represents both an untapped source of clean fuel and an unequalled avenue to creating economic opportunities for northern people. Our government will reduce regulatory and other barriers to extend the pipeline network into the North. “These measures will bring jobs to northern Canada and create employment across the country, just as they will bring new energy supplies to markets in southern Canada and throughout the world. Economic development in Canada’s North, led by a new standalone agency, is a key element of our northern strategy. “Nuclear energy is a proven technology, capable of reliable, large-scale output. In Canada and around the world, energy authorities are investing in nuclear power to meet both energy security and climate change goals. Our Government will ensure that Canada’s regulatory framework is ready to respond should the provinces choose to advance new nuclear projects.” Tackling Climate Change and Preserving Canada’s Environment “Our Government understands that Canada’s economic prosperity cannot be sustained without a healthy environment, just as environmental progress cannot be achieved without a healthy economy. Our Government will continue its realistic, responsible approach to addressing the challenge of climate change. ɸ Page C26 24 HOUR SERVICE
ERNIE HARVEY Owner / Operator
Box 234 Marshall, SK S0M 1R0 Cell: 306-821-2227 brenkartransfer@gmail.com
Competitive Rates Light Oilfield Hauling Picker Service
Governor General Michaëlle Jean delivers the speech from the throne, with several references to energy policy. Photo courtesy Government of Canada website.
Personnel solutions ɸ Page C23 The company keeps its doors open by charging placement fees for the human resources and recruitment services provided. “The charges always go to the employer. It’s against the law to charge an employee,” says Burzinski. As a part of the services provided Kennedy has its applicants work through some computer testing as well as a comprehensive interview, to
4006 - 50th Avenue Lloydminster, AB Ph: (780) 875-4800 Toll Free: 1-888-875-9288
find skills, abilities and desires. “Following that reference checking is also completed so we have a background from a previous employer,” says Burzinski. Kennedy Personnel Solutions is not totally focused on the oil and gas industry, they also do work with other trades. “In the past most of our placements have been on the professional side: engineers and administrators, and now
we’re getting more calls for field-type workers and the trades area,” she says. The company is located in Lloydminster in the Atrium Centre, located in downtown district at 5012 49th Street. “Our services are confidential and before we send resumes out we confirm it’s OK to send out the resumes. We make sure to keep the information of our clients and job applicants confidential,” says Burzinski.
#3 - 602 Circle Drive E. Saskatoon, SK Ph: (306) 653-4800 Toll Free: 1-877-653-4800
PIPELINE NEWS November 2008
C25
Commodity prices delay planned drilling ɺ Page C21 More specifically: • The Obed discovery gas well’s initial flow test of the main producing zone came in at 8.207 mmcfpd of sweet natural gas with peak rates at 10 mmcfpd and averaged approximately 10 bbl/mmcf of natural gas liquids The zone was tested for 24 hours. Total production including condensate was 1,450 boepd. The flowing pressure remained constant at 15,000 kPa during the flow test and at the end of the flow period the pressure increased to approximately 90% of the initial shut-in reservoir pressure (within 40 minutes) which is indicative of significant reserves. The final buildup pressures will be available once the pressure recording devices are retrieved from the
well. Ivory has a 20% working interest in this development gas well. This development gas well is expected to come on stream during November once the tie in of the well is completed. Ivory has a 14% working interest in the initial Obed discovery well which is currently producing at 7.8 mmcfpd plus condensate. • Ivory has cased the first five wells of its development program and placed three of these wells on production. Two oil wells are awaiting completion and equipping. • Ivory has identified a potential new oil pool beneath the waterflooded zone at Silverdale and Ivory is presently testing this zone for commercial production.
Their 3D seismic survey over this part of the pool indicates significant aerial extent to this new pool. Ivory drilled an oil well at Furness that had initial production in excess of 200 boepd. The oil well has a high fluid level and is presently producing at 175 bblpd with no water. Based on 3D seismic, Ivory has delineated 3 development well locations offsetting this initial well. Additional development wells are likely following additional seismic interpretation and field development. • The expanded Silverdale waterflood has demonstrated positive results and production declines have been significantly curtailed. Additional enhancement measures are being taken to increase daily production and recovery factors in this waterflood during the next several months.
MLS No. 325640
$229,900 Herb Cox - Realtor Westland Agencies Inc. 1541-100th Street North Battleford, SK 306-445-5555 westlandmall@sasktel.net www.westlandagencies.com
Excellent family home in North Battleford’s Kildeer Park offering 3 bedrooms, full bath + 3/4 + 1/2, many recent updates including new paint in & out, light ¿xtures, counter top stove, oven, dishwasher, shingles, large deck overlooking park, high ef¿ciency furnace, A/C, heated insulated garage, huge concrete driveway plus rear parking. Wood stove in family room, ¿replace upstairs in living room.
1-877-434-4832 NORTH AMERICA TOLL FREE www.itectrailers.ca Abbotsford, BC • Edmonton, AB • Calgary, AB • Winnipeg, MB • Cambridge, ON
USED TRAILERS IN STOCK!
23° Fishmouth booster or square tail IN STOCK
IN STOCK
53’ Step Deck • Beavertail • 2 or 3 ramp models available
Lowbed Ramps • Booster Kits • Call for more info
2001 TITAN POSSUM BELLY 53’ AIR RIDE ALCOA WHEELS REAR ROLL TARP
2001 TITAN 48 FT. WALKING FLOOR TRIDEM AIR RIDE, ALCO WHEELS, COMBO REAR DOOR, NEW CVI
B.C. or 3.5m w/flip IN STOCK ALL STEEL CONTAINERS
2006 DOEPKER TRIDEM FLAT ALUMINUM/STEEL COMBO, 53’ TRIDEM, 2 BOXES AND DUNNAGE RACK.
-42739
(6) NEW 55 TON 10 FT WIDE IN STOCK ALSO: NEW 51 & 55 TON UNITS w/ 8’ 6” DECK, WITH SWING-OUTS. -17537
2003 ALUTREC TANDEM ALUMINUM FLAT ALL ALUMINUM 48’ FRONT AXLE SLIDE, 2 BOXES. -42738
FREUHAUF TANDEM DOUBLE DROP 40 TON, LOWBED, NEW CVI
Parts & Service Hours EDMONTON - MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Phone: 780-451-9258 Kevin Maillet - Operations Manager 15811 118th Ave., Edmonton, AB Fax: 780-451-9263
Phone: 204-632-6040 Cell: 204-227-5259
Bryan Hardy - Sales Manager 1591 Brookside Blvd., Winnipeg, MB
C26
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Nymex Natural Gas Futures Close (Front Month)
Energy at the heart of throne speech ɺ Page C24 “Our government has committed to reducing Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 20
percent by 2020. We will meet this goal while also ensuring that Canada’s actions going forward remain comparable to
what our partners in the United States, Europe and other industrialized countries undertake. We will work with the pro-
AGI Storage Tanks ONE OF CANADA’S LEADING MANUFACTURERS OF STORAGE TANKS
Above Ground Storage Tanks: Meet All Environmental Regulations Easy to Install & Move Affordable Built to Custom or Standard Specifications • We build ULC, UL, Flameshield, API-650, 620, 12F • 7–2,500 bbl • 2,273–200,000 L Horizontal Contained
• 2,273–110,000 L Jacketed Underground • 2,273–120,000 L Vacuum Monitored • 1,250–5,000 L Rectangle • 5,000–200,000 L Single Wall Vertical
AGI’s innovative design, custom manufacturing process and comprehensive service combine to make ASTs one of the most cost-effective, efficient means of storage available today. CALL US TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS:
1-800-746-6646 401 Hwy #4, PO Box 879, Biggar, SK S0K 0M0 Tel: (306) 948-5262 Fax: (306) 948-5263 Email: info@envirotank.com Website: www.envirotank.com
vincial governments and our partners to develop and implement a North America-wide cap and trade system for green-
house gases and an effective international protocol for the post-2012 period. “To meet the challenge posed by climate change, we will also need to make greater use of technologies that do not emit greenhouse gases. Our government will set an objective that 90 percent of Canada’s electricity needs be provided by non-emitting sources such as hydro, nuclear, clean coal or wind power by 2020. In support of this ambitious national goal, our government will continue to provide sup-
port for biofuels, wind and other energy alternatives. “To ensure protection of our vital resources, our Government will bring in legislation to ban all bulk water transfers or exports from Canadian freshwater basins. “Our government will work with all parties in Parliament to introduce sensible policies that can help consumers and improve our environmental well-being, such as increasing incentives for energy-saving home retrofits.”
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C27
Nymex Crude Oil Futures Close (Front Month)
Nov. 1. 2007 - Nov. 21, 2008
For Single & Multi-Pass Fire Tubes Natural Draft Burner Applications from 100k to 20m btu in: •Tanks • Dehy’s • Saltbath Heaters •Line Heaters • Treaters • Refridge Units • FWKO’s • Reboilers 23 - CSA B149.3-07 Compliant Process Heater Module Assembly Variations Available • Proven Performance • NoX as low as 15PPM • CO’s ranging 0-5PPM • Combustion EFF up to 88% • Noise Emissions from 78 - 84 Decibles
A Truly CSA B149.3-07 Compliant Preassembled Process Heater Module
780-744-3974 Toll Free: 1-866-744-3974 Box 12118 Lloydminster, AB www.kenilworth.ca Kenilworth .indd 1
8/22/08 4:10:20 P
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
in BIGGAR, SK requires qualified people for the following positions:
EXPERIENCED WELDERS Tickets an asset. $18-$25/hour DOE.
INDUSTRIAL PAINTER Experience in foaming and internal lining an asset. Send resumé (REFERENCES REQUIRED) to: info@envirotank.com or fax 306-948-5263
MUST: • Have Valid Drivers License & Be A Team Player • Safety Tickets • Picker & Bobcat Experience An Asset C’s OFFERS: • Top Wages • Benefits Package • Performance Bonuses • Scheduled Days Off • Opportunity For Advancement • C.O.R. Safety Program • AB & SK B31.3 Q.C. • Premium Equipment DUTIES: • Daily Operation Of A Light Picker Truck • Pipe-fitting & Construction
OILFIELD SERVICE LTD.
CONSULTING & CONSTRUCTION
Apply in confidence to: Fax (780) 808-2273
Career
Crew Foreman
Experienced FOR LLOYDMINSTER AREA
Opportunities
C28
Dex’s Sandblast & Painting has Immediate Full Time Positions for: Sandblasters with internal experience
www.suretuf.com PLASMA TABLE OPERATORS EXPERIENCED LABOURER Will train qualified candidates. Applicants must have welding background. Driver’s license required. Reliable, team player. Wages depend on experience. Benefits available. Performance bonuses.
Trucking Ltd.
Industrial Painters must be familiar with Endura & Devoe products Prepers must be mechanically inclined all positions require a valid drivers license
PRESSURE AND SEMI VAC OPERATORS email resumes dexsandblasting@sasktel.net
We offer top wages O.T & Bonuses
or fax; 306-825-2862
Only those to be interviewed will be contacted.
Apply in confidence to: Fax (780) 808-2689
Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
Phone:(306) 825-0401
If you have oilÀeld experience and are an enthusiastic learner, join our growing team. We offer competitive wages, scheduled days, full beneÀt pkg. Class 3 or 1A, Safety tickets and experience preferred. Apply with current abstract to: 5204 - 63 Avenue (drop off) Lloydminster, AB or FAX: (780) 875-6799
requires Hydro Vac operators and Operators assistants for SouthEast Sask. • Willing to train • Class 1A license an asset • Safety tickets required
Call 421-5954
Parts Person
Required for expanding business Heavy truck and trailer experience/parts knowledge an asset, but will train. Some heavy lifting involved; computer experience an asset. Top industry wages and excellent benefits offered. Interested individuals can drop off, fax or email resume to:
• Heavy Duty Mechanics - Journeyman Preferred Red Deer - Wainwright
89 Escana Street, Estevan
• Oil¿eld Drivers - Class 1 or 3 Required
Fax: 637-2124
Oil¿eld Experience Required
Email: tyson.lindgren@customtruck.ca
SpeciÀc Targeting Contact your local Pipeline News Sales rep. to get you 35,000 Circulation on your career ad!
Training provided. Candidates must pass a pre-employment physical and drug test. Relocation to one of our ¿eld of¿ce locations is required.
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
C29
ACCOUNTING POSTIONS (2) – ONE YEAR TERM POSITION Estevan, SK
RJ HOFFMAN HOLDINGS
Enbridge Pipelines (Saskatchewan) Inc. and its’ affiliated companies provide southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba with crude oil and NGL transportation services.
IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR
CLASS 1A & 3A DRIVERS Based out of St. Walburg, SK or Lloydminster, AB
Job Description: We have job opportunities for Temporary Accounting positions in our Estevan Office. Responsibilities mainly include assisting the Accounting Department in the following areas: oil movements accounts receivable accounts payable financial accounting
Flush By and Steamer positions available. We train drivers. $23/ hr starting driving wage or higher wages for experienced operators. We pay overtime and provide benefits. 7-3-7-4 schedule. Maximum 14 hr days. For more information contact Eugene at 780-205-5680 or fax resumes with references and drivers abstract to Eugene at 780-871-0782 or email to employment@rjhoffman.com
Skills Required: The preferred candidate will have completed a third level or equivalent in a professional accounting designation (CGA, CMA, CA) and have an associated level of related accounting experience. Strong MS Excel skills are essential. Experience with Oracle financials would be an asset. The ideal candidate will also have strong oral and written communication skills and have the desire to grow in an accounting career.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your resume quoting Job #AC08-02, in complete confidence, NO LATER THAN December 2008, December 12, 1, 2008, to: P.O. Box 1400 Estevan, SK S4A 2A6 Attention: Human Resources We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted. Information about Enbridge is available at www.enbridge.com
Canadian Sub-Surface Energy Services Slickline Division
Slickline Assistants Estevan, Saskatchewan We offer a competitive salary plus an hourly wage, beneÀt plan and other incentive programs. As the successful candidate, you will have a clean driver’s abstract. A class 3 driver’s license would be an asset. You are comfortable working in various weather conditions. You will, preferably, possess your H2S, First Aid certiÀcates, ConÀned Space and Fall Arrest. A drug screen and physical will be conducted as a condition of employment. If you are interested in working for a company that values its people, our greatest resource, then please send in your resume to: Email: clemoine@cansub.com Cell: (306) 421-8362 We would like to thank all those candidates who apply, however only qualiÀed personnel will be contacted. For a list of all current job opportunities, please visit our website at www.cansub.com
D
o you want to work for a progressive, growing company that provides room for advancement??
Then join our Team! Superior Propane is Canada’s only national provider of portable fuels, equipment, and service delivered locally to residential, commercial and industrial customers in over 180 communities. Superior is committed to surpassing their customers’ expectations by delivering best in class customer service and turnkey solutions for all their energy and service needs. Our Superior values - respect, integrity, service and excellence - result in a team committed to delivering exceptional customer service. We actively support a culture where each employee has a role in providing customers ease of doing business, peace-of-mind and value for their dollar. To encourage this culture, Superior offers a great working environment and a competitive compensation and benefits package, including a pension and savings plan. We currently have career opportunities for the following positions in our communities throughout Western Canada: Bulk Drivers Service Technicians (Gasfitters) Apprentice Gasfitters For more information or to submit a resume please visit our website or contact us by email careers@superiorpropane.com or fax (403) 730-7519 www.superiorpropane.com
Savanna Well Servicing Inc. is actively seeking personnel for the following positions:
•Drillers •Derrick Hands •Floor Hands
Entry level positions available. Excellent wages, immediate benefits!
Please apply with resume, current driver’s abstract (Class 3 or higher), & copy of tickets to:
SAVANNA WELL SERVICING INC. Carlyle, SK Office: 306.453.2616 Cell: 403.510.6616 Fax: 306.453.2614 Trobitaille@savannaenergy.com
C30
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
a l t u s g e o m a t i c s . c o m
4?E7 3?<@9DDC ?g^Ub =Q^QWUb
Specializing in well site and pipeline surveys 1^g % ( 2Pa[h[T B: B 2 A
Yorkton 306.783.4100
Swift Current 306.773.7733
Edmonton 800.465.6233
Weyburn 306.842.6060
Lloydminster 780.875.6130
Calgary 866.234.7599
Regina 800.667.3546
Medicine Hat 403.528.4215
Grande Prairie 780.532.6793
1db) " % %"# ' '# 2T[[) " % $&& ''"" 5Pg) " % #$" %#&'
Resources Guide
E
COIL COIL TUBING TUBING SERVICES SERVICES FLUSHBY FLUSHBY SERVICES SERVICES * Cement * Fracturing * N2 * Polybore
([Y )KRR )KRR ,G^ SKR LOZ`VGZXOIQ&SOJLOKRJY[VVR_ IUS ]]] SOJLOKRJY[VVR_ IUS
3OJLOKRJ 9[VVR_ ;2)
Well Service
Serving Alberta, B.C. & Saskatchewan Toll Free
Highway 39 East, Estevan Phone: 637-2060 Fax: 637-2065
1-866-363-0011
6 5 (U^ 9KX\OIK 8UGJ 9U[ZN )GXR_RK 9GYQGZINK]GT 9 ) 8 E
* Acid * Coil Tubing *CO2 * Industrial
www.tazwellservicing.com 24 HOUR DISPATCH
780-205-7666 Lloydminster, AB
Proudly Serving Alberta & Saskatchewan
- OilĂ&#x20AC;eld Maintenance - Service Crews - Pressure Welding - Pipeline Construction - Battery Construction - Rent or Sell New & Used Equipment
Gordon Harty Box 95 Marwayne, AB T0B 2X0
Bus. Phone
Fax No.
â&#x20AC;˘ Full Hydrovac Services
Res. Phone
Randy: 634-5405 - Cellular 421-1293 Darcy: 634-5257 - Cellular 421-1425 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 634-4575
(780) 875-9802 (780) 847-3633 (780) 847-2178
LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED BOX 843, ESTEVAN, SK.
Fresh Water Hauling Custom Bailing & Hauling
24 Hour Service - 634-8737
2P[VPah # " !%# '! %
2Pa[h[T " % #$" !$""
fff \X[[T]]Xd\SXaTRcX^]P[ R^\
E
7^aXi^]cP[ Â&#x2019; 3XaTRcX^]P[ Â&#x2019; FT[[ <^]Xc^aX]V
â&#x20AC;˘ Capable of Steam www.silverbackhydrovac.com â&#x20AC;˘ geoff@silverbackhydrovac.com
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Work-Site Emergency Medical Servicesâ&#x20AC;? www.mss1.ca e-mail: mss@aski.ca
â&#x20AC;˘ Pressure Vessels â&#x20AC;˘ Well Testers â&#x20AC;˘ Frac Recovery â&#x20AC;˘ Wellbore Bleedoff â&#x20AC;˘ Ball Catchers â&#x20AC;˘ 400 bbl Tanks â&#x20AC;˘ Rig Matting â&#x20AC;˘ Complete Trucking Services
Dale (306) 861-3635 â&#x20AC;˘ Lee (306) 577-7042 Lampman, Sask.
1-866-248-3322 SONAR INSPECTION LTD.
Cory Bjorndal District Manager Downhole Tools
Head OfĂ&#x20AC;ce 1292 Veterans Crescent 93 Panteluk Street Marshalls SafetyEstevan, - Business Card.indd P: 306-634-5285 Sk. S4A1 2E1 Kensington Avenue N F: 306-634-5649 E: sonarinsp@sasktel.net Estevan, Saskatchewan S4A 2A6 PHONE: 306-634-8828 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Serving All Your Inspection Needsâ&#x20AC;? CELL: 306-421-2893 UT - LPI - MPI FAX: 306-634-7747 cory.bjorndal@nov.com Wayne Naka 306-421-3177 www.nov.com
Taylor Gardiner Cory Rougeau
&DQDGD V OHDGLQJ GLVWULEXWRU RI LQGXVWULDO Ă HHW DQG VDIHW\ SURGXFWV
3URXG WR SURYLGH VHOHFWLRQ TXDOLW\ DQG H[FHOOHQFH WR RXU FXVWRPHUV
WK 6WUHHW (VWHYDQ Â&#x2021;
8/20/08 6:40:11 PM
306-421-2883 306-421-1076
Tutthill Construction â&#x20AC;˘ Excavator backhoes â&#x20AC;˘ Pipeline Maintenance â&#x20AC;˘ Demolition concrete breaking â&#x20AC;˘ Ground preparation â&#x20AC;˘ Compaction equipment Phone: 204-845-2405 Fax: 204-845-2085 Cell: 204-748-7818 Lynn Cell: 204-748-7553 Ken 139 Richhill Avenue W., Box 338, Elkhorn, MB, R0M 0N0 E-mail: tuttcons@mts.net
Lloyd Lavigne â&#x20AC;˘ Kirk Clarkson Owners/Managers
6506 - 50th Avenue Lloydminster, AB
Phone: (780) 875-6880
5315 - 37th Street Provost, AB T0B 3S0
Phone: (780) 753-6449
Fax: (780) 875-7076
24 Hour Service Specializing in Industrial & Oilfield Motors
FULL THROTTLE HOT SHOT SERVICES 1-306-641-9005 1-306-641-9006 Yorkton, Sk
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
Quality
LAMICOIDS
TERRY DODDS (24 hrs.) (306) 634-7599 Cell. (306) 421-0316
metal cable tags EfĂ&#x20AC;cient Service
M.E.T. OILFIELD CONST. LTD.
& m&
Call Linda for more information
Estevan Trophy & Engraving Phone/Fax: 634-6005 Email: estevantrophy@sasktel.net
www.pennwest.com 311 Kensington Avenue, Estevan â&#x20AC;˘ 634-1400
S.E. OPTIONS CONSULTING
Life Insurance Disability Insurance Critical Illness Insurance Employee BeneĂ&#x20AC;t Plans Tel: (306) 761-7506 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: (306) 352-9474 E-mail: dwight.blomander@gwl.ca Toll Free: 1-888-495-7275 Cellular: (306) 421-1935 THE
Great-West Life
â&#x20AC;&#x153;All Your Construction and Maintenance Needsâ&#x20AC;? SPECIALIZING IN: ENGINES, PUMP UNITS, UNIT INSPECTIONS, PIPE FITTING, TREATERS AND PRESSURE TICKET WELDING Box 1605, Estevan, Sk. S4A 2L7 Cell. (306) 421-3174, (306) 421-6410, (306) 421-2059 Fax: (306) 634-1273
â&#x20AC;˘ Drug and alcohol testing and programs â&#x20AC;˘ Hearing testing and sound level survey â&#x20AC;˘ R.N. medicals â&#x20AC;˘ U.S. D.O.T. compliance services â&#x20AC;˘ Substance Abuse Professional
Dwight G. Blomander, CFP â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘
C31
â&#x20AC;˘ 634-9079 Email: options@sasktel.net www.optionsconsulting.ca
1318B - 3rd St. Estevan, SK
ASSURANCE COMPANY
Wheel diggers â&#x20AC;˘ Chain digger Wolfe 600 horse plow Interchangeable wheels & chains
600, 2010-11th Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 0J3
4â&#x20AC;? Hevi Wate Drill Pipe 50 & 80 HP BOILERS CERTIFIED IN ALTA, SASK, BC, NWT & YUKON P.O. Box 250 TILLEY, ALBERTA T0J 3K0 Email: astro@eidnet.org Web Page: astro.eidnet.org
Brad Lamontagne (306) 577-9818 or (306) 739-2263 smrltd@sasktel.net
BUS: (403) 377-2391 BUS: (306) 461-5525 CELL: (403) 793-4616 FAX: (403) 377-2263
0,':(67 6859(<6 ,1& ² 3URIHVVLRQDO /DQG 6XUYH\RUV ² Â&#x2021; 2LOĂ&#x20AC; HOG VXUYH\V Â&#x2021; 6XEGLYLVLRQ VXUYH\V Â&#x2021; /RW DQG SDUFHO VXUYH\V Â&#x2021; 5HDO SURSHUW\ UHSRUWV Â&#x2021; 7RSRJUDSKLF VXUYH\V Â&#x2021; &RQWURO VXUYH\V Â&#x2021; &RQVWUXFWLRQ OD\RXWV
Boiler Truck Services Ltd. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Providing Dry Steam when its extremeâ&#x20AC;?
1-306-370-7895 Rob Manley vaporforce@mobility.blackberry.net
Bully Blast & Paint Services Ltd.
WK 6W (VWHYDQ
3+ )$; +RPH SDJH ZZZ PLGZHVWVXUYH\V FRP
Merry Christmas from our family to you and yours. We wish you to have a safe, joyous holiday season and may all your dreams come true. It has been a pleasure working with all of you and we appreciate your business that you have given us in 2008 and look foward to serving you in 2009. We have you to thank for our success. KBY Hotshot Family
Your Sandblasting, Painting & Coating Specialists with over 20 yrs. experience in the industry
Spool Coating now available Cell: (306) 461-9679
Bus.: (306) 457-2264
Drop them off, or we will pick them up and we will dry clean and/or wash them for you or use our coin laundry with washers speciĂ&#x20AC;c for washing work clothes
GENESIS CLEANERS & LAUNDROMAT 1104 6th St., Estevan â&#x20AC;˘ Ph: 634-2077
Weekly drop off now available in Stoughton at Prairie Sky Water - Main Street, Stoughton.
JUSTIN WAPPEL - Division Manager 401 Hwy. #4 S. Biggar, Saskatchewan PO Box 879 S0K 0M0 Ph (306) 948-5262 Fax (306) 948-5263 Cell (306) 441-4402 Toll Free 1-800-746-6646 Email: jwappel@envirotank.com www.envirotank.com
P.O. Box 54 â&#x20AC;˘ Benson, SK â&#x20AC;˘ SOC 0L0 bullyblasting@sasktel.net
1-866-909-SHOT (7468) or (306) 848-0092 Yvette Delanoy-Garland Serving Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba
OILFIELD HAULING LTD. Specializing in Hauling Well Site Trailers Bruce Bayliss Owner/Operator OfĂ&#x20AC;ce: 482-3132 Dispatch: 485-7535 Fax: (306) 482-5271 Box 178 Carnduff, Sk. S0C 0S0
Drilling Motors 1772 - 1st Avenue NE Weyburn, Sask. Contact: Roger Breton Ph: 306-842-5113 or Ph: 780-463-3366
Resources Guide
K B Y
HOTSHOT SERVICES LTD.
â&#x20AC;˘ Shop & Field Service â&#x20AC;˘ Structural Steel â&#x20AC;˘ Tank Linings â&#x20AC;˘ and more
Do you have dirty, oily work clothes & overalls?
C32
PIPELINE NEWS December 2008
#5086A 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ
#5126B 2007 Kia Sportage AWD 2.7
#5176A 2005 Chevrolet Impala
$32,000*
$21,000*
$12,000*
#5080A 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer
#Consignment 2008 GMC SLT 3/4
$27,900*
#C 2008 Chevrolet LTZ Crew Dually 4X4 Diesel
#5143A 2006 GMC HD Crew 4x4
#4949B 2007 Durango Hemi
$49,900*
$21,500
$26,500*
#5085A 2006 GMC SLT Crew 4x4 Diesel
Consignment 2000 Suburban 4x4
#5110B 2000 Chevrolet 4x4 Ext
#5106A 2006 Buick Rendezvous CXL AWD
$39,900*
$29,500*
$6,500*
$6,500.*
$21,000*
#4919B 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer
#Consignment 2003 Pontiac Montana 7 pass
#5023A 2007 GMC SLE Ext 4X4
#5061A 2006 GMC SLE Diesel 4X4 Crew
#5197A 2006 Chevrolet Z71 4X4 Ext
#5181A 2004 Pontiac Aztek
$20,000*
$9,900*
$27,900*
$26,500*
$20,900*
$9,000*
#4727A 2007 GMC SLT Acadia AWD
#5091A 2003 Chevrolet Silverado
#5204A 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer
#4972 2008 GMC SLT Crew Diesel 4x4 w DVD
#5123A 2005 Chevrolet LS Crew 4x4
#4990A 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Sport
$38,500*
$11,500*
$20,000*
$51,000*
$23,500*
$21,900*
#5065A 1990 Chevrolet V 6 5 SPD
#5201B 2003 Windstar SEL
#5203B 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
#4962B 2001 Dodge 4x4
#5124A 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
#3002B 1990 Chevrolet 3/4
$1,750*
$9,500*
$8,500*
$7,500*
$16,500*
$1,550*
#5049 2008 GMC SLT GFX 3/4 4X4 Crew Diesel
#4958 2008 Chevrolet LT Crew 4x4 Diesel
#5047 2008 Chevrolet LTZ GFX 3/4 Crew 4X4 Diesel
#5052 2008 Chevrolet LT Crew 4x4 Diesel
#5111 2008 GMC W/T Ext Cab 4x4
#4578 2008 Chevrolet W/T Crew Diesel 4x4
$51,000*
$45,000*
$51,500*
$47,000*
#4966 2008 NEW Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD
#5079 2008 GMC SLT Acadia AWD
#5014 2008 GMC W/T Diesel 1 TON 4X4
#4633 2008 GMC SLT 3/4 Ext 4X4
#4679 2008 GMC SLT Crew 4X4 W DVD NAV
$36,000*
$43,500*
$41,000*
#4614A 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged
#4614A 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged
#5155A 2004 Chevrolet Impala
#4076 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix GT Demo
$19,900*
$19,900*
$9,900*
NEW $19,900*
#5149A 2007 Chevrolet Impala LS
#5012A 2008 Chevrolet Impala
#4104R 2007 Chevrolet HHR LS
#5013A 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
#4996B 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix GT
$15,500*
$19,900*
$17,500*
$19,900*
$14,500*
WAS 72,000 NEW
MSRP
$27,000* #4734B 2007 Chevrolet HHR LT
$42,500*
$34,000*
$38,000* #5040 2008 GMC SLT GFX Crew 4x4 Diesel
$51,000* #5078A 2007 Chevrolet HHR Special Edition LT
NEW 2006
*
$15,900*
CALL DONNA FOR YOUR FINANCE REQUIREMENTS
1 888-773-4646
$19,900 #5096A 2004 Chevrolet Malibu LS
$9,000*
SALES POSITION OPEN CONTACT LARRY ALWARD
www.collegeparkgm.com
1 888-773-4646