September 2010
Canada’s Oil and Gas Service and Supply Companies
Keys to the
Turnaround PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40069240
PROFILER 3
Profiler September 2010
president & ceo Bill Whitelaw
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publisher
Agnes Zalewski azalewski@junewarren-nickles.com
a ssociate publisher & editor Chaz Osburn
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editorial director Stephen Marsters
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editorial Editorial Assistance Janis Carlson de Boer, Marisa Kurlovich
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Keys to the turnaround
Yes, the recession hit hard, but service and supply industry finds ways to keep on working
proofing@junewarren-nickles.com
Contributors Jim Bentein, Jacqueline Louie Contributing Photographer Aaron Parker
creative Production, Prepress and Print Manager Michael Gaffney mgaffney@junewarren-nickles.com
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Wilcox High Velocity
Applying the latest technologies to refurbish oilfield tools
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Bakos (NDT) Inspection (1989) Ltd.
Western Canada’s leader in non-destructive testing
12 Desran Holdings
Trucking company is here for the long haul
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Calibre Drilling
Focus is on safety, diversification
14 Infratech
World class in every way
16 Movac Valve Systems
Helping you get the job done right
17 Stuber’s Cat Service
Offering experienced operators, 24-hour service
18 Profire Combustion
Improving equipment efficiency and reducing customers’ costs
20 Alberta Welltest Incinerators
Guaranteeing you superior results
22 Remote Waste offices Calgary:
2nd Floor, 816-55 Avenue NE Calgary, Alberta T2E 6Y4 Tel: (403) 209-3500 Fax: (403) 245-8666 Toll-free: 1-800-387-2446
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6111-91 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6V6 Tel: (780) 944-9333 Fax: (780) 944-9500 Toll-free: 1-800-563-2946
Profiler is owned by JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group. GST Registration Number 826256554RT. Printed in Canada by PrintWest ISSN 1912-5305 ©2010 1072124 Glacier Media Inc. All rights reserved. Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240. Postage paid in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. If undeliverable, return to: Circulation Department, 800 - 12 Concorde Place, Toronto ON, M3C 4J2. Made in Canada. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Magazine Fund towards our editorial costs.
Your waste treatment industry leader
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Willy D Boilers and Fabricating
Fabricating and servicing boilers for the patch
24 Sicotte Diamond Drill: Drilling Solutions
Rediscover performance, maximize your profit
26
Lea-Der Coatings
Leading the way in innovation through environmentally friendly safety products
PROFILER 5
Keys to the
turnaround Yes, the recession hit hard, but service and supply industry finds ways to keep on working By Jim Bentein As western Canada’s economy crawls out of its worst downturn since the 1980s, it won’t be able to rely on a key economic engine of the past — the shallow natural gas sector and the entrepreneurial companies that developed that gas and the drillers and other oilfields service firms that produced it. Not at today’s natural gas prices and not at what most experts think prices will stay at for many years. “In the past, 70 per cent of the drilling in Alberta was gas-based,” said Roger Soucy, president of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC), which represents the oilfield service industry. “This year it will be 60 per cent oil-based and 40 per cent gas-based.” To the casual observer, that might not sound like a significant shift. But it means the whole face of Alberta’s energy-driven economy has been transformed, said Soucy, with only larger companies able to operate in the costly areas of shale gas development in northern British Columbia, in the newer shale oil plays like the Bakken in southern Saskatchewan and in the oilsands. “The small oil and gas producers are the life of the smaller services companies and of a lot of the economies of rural Alberta,” he said. “Until that turns around [and shallow gas development recovers], we won’t have the superheated economy of the past.”
That is reflected in statistics kept by the Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (SEPAC). Three years ago SEPAC — which, as its name suggests, represents mostly junior oil and gas companies that average seven employees each — had 450 members. It now has 350. Gary Leach, executive director of SEPAC, said the combination of the credit crisis and its impact on the ability of junior, riskier companies to access capital, the collapse of oil and gas prices in 2008–09, and the continued low level of gas prices (oil prices have since recovered and have remained at above $70 a barrel this year) devastated the sector. In addition, the Alberta government’s move to raise royalties just before the recession (it has since lowered them and provided incentives to the industry) brought the sector to its knees. Finally, the federal government’s decision to end tax breaks for income trusts removed an outlet for juniors, which had developed a “symbiotic relationship” with trusts, with junior start-ups building their reserves and selling out to trusts. Although the economic viability of shallow gas development will continue to be an issue for juniors, Leach said they will still have a role in the energy industry.
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“In the past, 70 per cent of the drilling in Alberta was gas-based. This year it will be 60 per cent oil-based and 40 per cent gas-based.” — Roger Soucy, President, Petroleum Services Association of Canada
Expanding a definition “The definition of what is a junior has to expand,” he said. “There’s a slice of the junior sector that is still viable. Low gas prices have accelerated a shift of the sector to other opportunities, such as shale gas, legacy oilfields and the oilsands.” Since it is costlier to operate in those areas, he said companies will have to get bigger so they can gain access to enough capital. “We represent Canada’s oil and gas entrepreneurs,” he said. “We feel we represent the most exciting sector of the industry and what makes Canada’s oil and gas sector unique.” As an illustration of how important the sector is, he said about 40 per cent of the publicly listed oil and gas companies in the world are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange or the TSX Venture Exchange. Some SEPAC members, such as Connacher Oil and Gas, are involved in in situ development in the oilsands. Connacher will produce 17,000 barrels per day from its steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) projects in the Fort McMurray area by later this year and has more ambitious plans. Leach said better financed juniors like Connacher have proven they can develop
SAGD projects in phases, which potentially opens up the high-cost oilsands to other juniors. Leach also said SEPAC members are anything but “ma-and-pa” operators, pointing to Crescent Point Energy as an example of a larger producer. Crescent Point is a big player in the Bakken and Lower Shaunavon resource plays in Saskatchewan, as are other members. Leach said that despite the difficulties in the shallow gas sector, there are still juniors that can remain profitable operating in the sector by maintaining a low cost base. The collapse in gas prices — they hovered near the $3 per thousand cubic feet level for much of the last year — also walloped the oilfield service sector. Canada’s 44 largest service and supply companies reported combined revenues of $4.89 billion for the first three months of the year, down from $4.91 billion in 2009 and $5.66 billion recorded in 2008, before the Great Recession struck. In 2009, as the impact of the recession hit, revenues declined about 25 per cent for the sector, forcing a round of staff layoffs and cost cutting. Only three companies, Calfrac Well Services, Xtreme Coil Drilling and Precision Drilling, reported higher revenues in 2009 than in 2008.
PSAC’s Soucy said the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin remains largely gas development–driven, and with natural gas prices expected to stay below $5 per thousand cubic feet for a long period, activity may never return to pre-recession levels. “We’ve got a service industry here that… still has the equipment capacities and desires for a marketplace that’s in the 25,000 to 30,000 well count range, and we’re not going to see that anytime soon,” he said. PSAC recently raised its forecast for drilling activity for 2010 to 11,250 wells it says will be punched this year, up from just 8,350 in 2009. It believes much of that oil drilling will drive activity, predicting oil prices will average US$82 per barrel (West Texas Intermediate) this year, with natural gas averaging $4.25 per thousand cubic feet.
Big drop The oilfield service sector had about 70,000 employees in 2007, when almost 24,000 wells were drilled in western Canada. It’s now down to an estimated 56,000. “There are 800 drilling rigs in Canada and 200 to 300 are idle [because they’re designed to drill for shallow gas] and they may stay idle,” Soucy said. Mike Mazar, a Calgary-based oilfield service sector analyst for BMO Capital
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Markets, said it’s an error for analysts, economists and the news media to focus on outdated statistics, such as well counts to gauge the health of the Canadian energy industry. “We may see half as many wells drilled this year as in 2008, but the mistake is to use the same statistics as in the past [to measure the health of the industry],” he said. “We may be drilling half as many wells, but those wells take 40 per cent longer to drill [because of the shift to multi-stage fracturing and horizontal drilling], so we may only be down 20 per cent [in total activity].” The measure of total wells drilled is outmoded because of the shift to unconventional oil and gas, which require different equipment and skill sets than the conventional oil and gas industry, he said. BMO isn’t as bullish as PSAC in its forecast for 2010, expecting 10,500 wells to be drilled in western Canada. But he’s said he’s anything but a “bear” about the Canadian energy industry, saying it’s just shifting away from the days when shallow gas and conventional oil development were the main drivers. “The companies that are involved in directional drilling and operate high-spec, high-horsepower rigs are all very busy, as are the companies involved in the oilsands.” Another analyst who covers the sector, Andrew Bradford of Raymond James Equity Research Canada, said it’s not likely service sector firms that remained reliant on the shallow gas sector will be able to shift anytime soon to unconventional plays. “The barriers to entry are significant,” he said. “To get started in the sub-sector you need to invest at least $50 million.” Even if the shallow gas area does recover — Mazar forecasts low gas prices for many years, rendering the sector uncompetitive — he said it will be difficult to attract workers to it. “Many of those guys are very versatile,” he said. “They can find jobs in construction in Calgary or in the oilsands, rather than working on a drilling rig [when it is] minus 40.” A recent report by the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada (PHRCC) warned that the Canadian oil and gas industry will face severe labour shortages by the latter part of this decade, as the oilsands expands and older workers retire.
PHRCC concluded that more than 100,000 additional workers could be needed in the next decade. But first the industry will have to recover from a rough 2008–09 and the decline of the traditionally important shallow gas sector. Larger drilling firms saw the writing on the wall early and have already abandoned the area. Joe Bruce, president and chief executive officer of Calgary-based Nabors Canada, said the company is shifting its emphasis to the oilsands and shale oil and gas areas. He said the firm is ramping up development of its “Fit-For-Purpose” rigs, designed to drill horizontal wells for SAGD and at other in situ projects in the oilsands. “We have two of the rigs now, and in the next couple of years we’ll have two or three more,” he said. “We’re quoting on a few more projects now.”
Rig shift The rigs, which cost $20 million each, can be shifted to equally hot shale gas and shale oil plays in western Canada. Nabors, which has 85 rigs in Canada, believes the future of the industry is unconventional oil and gas, said Bruce. Although the shallow gas sector will remain depressed, he is optimistic about prospects for the oilfield service sector. “We’re seeing a fairly significant increase in our business prospects,” he said. Precision, which has 200 contract drilling rigs in Canada, sees a strong future in drilling in situ wells in the oilsands, according to president and chief executive officer Kevin Neveu. “It’s a good business for us,” he said. “It’s a consistent, repeatable business and isn’t as seasonal as other sectors [because drilling can take place most of the year].”
During the winter drilling season 20 out of 120 Precision rigs that were working were active in the heavy oil and in situ bitumen areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Meanwhile, 30 older rigs suited for shallow gas drilling sat idle and it’s anticipated they will remain so. But because drillers use “factory-style rigs” that can drill dozens of horizontal wells a year at one site, Neveu said even a dramatic ramp-up in in situ activity is unlikely to add significantly to overall rig counts. Bob Dunbar, a former senior regulator with the Energy Resources Conservation Board who runs a consulting practice (Strategy West) that specializes in the oilsands, said the sector, which saw projects worth about $200 billion shelved or cancelled after the recession hit, has bounced back stronger than he would have anticipated. “If you look at all of the proposed projects, mining and SAGD projects included, we would get up to seven million barrels of bitumen production a day [by 2020], from about two million barrels a day [once existing projects, such as Imperial Oil’s Kearl project and others are completed],” he said. “That’s four million barrels more than forecast by CAPP [the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers].” In early June CAPP said overall crude oil production could rise to 4.34 million barrels per day by 2025, with oilsands production rising from about 1.6 million barrels per day now to 3.5 million barrels daily. Dunbar doubts all the proposed projects will be developed but said significant expansion will occur, likely more in line with CAPP’s view. He said of the major roadblocks in the way of all the projects going ahead will be finding enough skilled labour — a fear that arose with a vengeance a few years ago as project after project was announced.
RESPONSE FACTOR Some things that Canada’s service and supply industry did to weather the recession: • Shifted away from drilling gas wells to oil wells • Found work in oilsands • Found work outside traditional geographic markets • Employed new technologies
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More jobs coming The oilsands sector now employs 12,000 full-time people operating plants (not counting the several thousands workers that can be employed at any one time constructing the plants or in the service sector) and the PHRCC forecasts that that will rise to 24,000 by 2020, with thousands of spinoff jobs related to that expansion. The oilsands isn’t the only growth area. While shallow gas production wanes, shale and tight gas plays and shale oil plays are also moving ahead. And the companies that specialize in fracturing and coiled tubing services, the keys to developing those plays, aren’t able to keep up with the growth. Doug Ramsey, president and chief executive officer of Calgary-based Calfrac Well Services, which specializes in the area, worries about finding enough skilled workers to operate his company’s sophisticated equipment. “We have 2,273 people working for us now,” said Ramsay, an oilpatch veteran of 35 years who launched Calfrac 11 years ago. “It costs us $10,000 a year to train a new guy. In a good year they can make $100,000 to $150,000, but not everyone wants to work in [northern Alberta or British Columbia] for 15 days, with six days off. We get a lot of competition [for workers] from the oilsands.” For Ramsay, who has built the company from annual revenue of $4 million to a projected $900 million this year, it’s a cruel irony when he sees doom-and-gloom economic forecasters predicting a return to a recession while his company is having difficulty finding enough personnel and equipment. In June, Calfrac announced a $60-million increase to its 2010 capital program for a revised total of $176 million. Calfrac, which has contracts in Canadian tight gas plays such as the Montney and Horn River, as well as in the Marcellus play in the United States, is also increasingly active in unconventional oil plays in Canada, such as the Cardium, Lower Shaunavon and
Bakken. In addition, it is active in Russia, Mexico and Argentina. It’s not alone. Other companies involved in pressure pumping, directional drilling and drilling contractors with deep-rig capacity are also reporting increased activity, following difficult times for the entire service sector in 2008–09. Calfrac competitors such as Calgary-based Trican Well Service and Canyon Services Group are also having problems finding enough skilled workers to keep up with a growing workload. Despite that growing optimism returning to the energy sector and to the Alberta and western Canadian economy (it represents about half of Alberta’s economic activity), one of Alberta’s better known economists warned that there are still some storm clouds on the horizon. Todd Hirsch, chief economist with ATB Financial, said there is still a possibility the U.S. economy will experience a double-dip recession sometime later this year or next year. “I’d put it at a 25 per cent chance now,” he said. “Six months ago I would have put it at 10 per cent.” But even if there is no return to recessionary conditions, Hirsch sees moderate growth persisting in the United States for two to three years because most Americans carry debt levels that won’t allow them to return to their past spending patterns. Since about 70 per cent of the U.S. economy is reliant on consumer spending, the likelihood is that growth will remain tepid. The housing market, a key source of fuel for consumer expenditures in the past, likely won’t return to health for many years, he said. This means there won’t be a return to boom times anytime soon for Alberta, Saskatchewan and other provinces reliant on a healthy oil and gas market. “But if the U.S. doesn’t go into a new, severe recession, oil prices should be able to stay above $70 a barrel, which is important for our economy,” he said. “Right now it’s looking good.” Hirsch shares the view that natural gas prices will remain low, which will limit the economic rebound in the energy business.
The recent recession was a painful one for Alberta, with the economy contracting in the first quarter of 2009 by 5.1 per cent. Oil prices virtually collapsed, dipping to the low $30s. Saskatchewan’s economy contracted by 6.3 per cent during that period. That province’s economy is about one-fourth the size of Alberta’s. Hirsch, who remembers the days of the National Energy Program in the early 1980s, when the Alberta economy collapsed (he was in university when it happened), said last year’s contraction wasn’t as serious as that unhappy period. “The recession of 1981 was much worse [with the economy dipping by double digits] because unemployment was at 12.8 per cent and interest rates were very high [also in the double digits]. Last year the unemployment rate was at about 7.5 per cent and interest rates were very low.” The economic decline Alberta experienced last year illustrated that, despite all of the attempts at diversification, “it remains a boom-bust economy.” This year, ATB predicts the Alberta economy will grow about 2.5 to 3 per cent, which he called “respectable.” The good news is that, despite last year’s economic freefall, Alberta remains “the best place to be in North America,” said Hirsch. That’s because the Alberta government has no debt and its resource-driven piggybank, the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, has $14.4 billion in it. Over the 32-year history of the fund, it has generated $32 billion in investment income. “I think this is the No. 1 reason Alberta will weather anything that comes its way,” he said. “Even if the government had to run two to four years of deficits, it could do it without raising taxes.” Alberta remains the only province in Canada without a sales tax and the only government in North America with an overall surplus. He’s also optimistic about Alberta’s economy because of its “entrepreneurial spirit,” he said. Said Hirsch: “There’s a mystique about Alberta that it’s a land of opportunity and, in many ways, that has become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
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Wilcox High Velocity
Applying the latest technologies to refurbish oilfield tools Formed four years ago by an ownership team that also includes Lynn Orich, Wilcox High Velocity has outgrown its original 3,000-square-foot shop. In February, it moved to spacious 15,000-square-foot quarters on 114 Avenue in Edmonton. From there, the company serves Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, as it continues to build its clientele, which includes the Canadian operations of major multinational oil-service corporations. With a combined 60-plus years thermalspraying and grinding experience, the ownership team is supported by a 17-member
Wilcox High Velocity specialized services — notably precision milling, machining, fusing and grinding (using some of the largest grinders available in Edmonton). Owner/operator Chris Everard says Wilcox High Velocity stands ready to repair “just about anything that wears out.” That could entail triplex pumps, plunger parts, blowout preventer components, turbines and compressors, to name just a few. Wilcox High Velocity also will fashion entirely new equipment to meet customers’ specs. While highly focused on oil and gas — including overhauling equipment for use in harsh conditions, such as H 2S environments — Everard notes that Wilcox High Velocity also supports other areas, including refining and upgrading, pipelines, pulp and paper, and even agriculture.
staff who also have extensive know-how in these areas. In fact, in some ways the recent oilpatch downturn actually proved beneficial. As other operations trimmed staff, Orich and Everard drew upon their industry connections and insight to recruit experienced workers. “Our people are our technology — they’re making the difference,” says Orich, who emphasizes that at least three sets of eyes inspect all products leaving the shop. With that kind of vigilance over a four-year period, 2,500 Wilcox High Velocity deliveries generated just seven non-conformance reports and no failed-product reports. Wilcox High Velocity’s dedicated and competent staff, and state-of-the-art equipment produce turnarounds typically in the order of three to seven days or less. People are important, but nuts and bolts, and bits and bytes technologies also count.
Specifically, the TAFA System JP 8000, only the second such unit installed in Canada, provides several quality accountability features. For each item or lot handled, it can generate a customerspecific quality-control record specifying what type of coating was used and also provides a real-time illustration of the parameter settings while the coatings were applied. This is important for engineering follow-up as well as instilling confidence with anyone still skeptical about the products they are receiving as well as the thermal spray process in general. Never before has there been a system that can offer such quality and accountability. “Thermal spraying does work if done properly,” Orich insists, adding that using correct procedures and high-quality coating products, while paying proper attention to finishing, can yield up to a fivefold extension of product life. “It has to look like and function like a brand new tool or better when it leaves here,” he stresses. “We would rather build our reputation and business on providing customers with something that will last than produce repeat business by having a piece we worked on break down and then be brought back to our shop for another repair.”
COMPANY NAME: Wilcox High Velocity Ltd. OWNERS: Chris Everard and Lynn Orich YEAR INCEPTED: 2006 BUSINESS CATEGORY: Protective coatings ADDRESS: 16715 114 Avenue Edmonton, AB PHONE: (780) 483-8861 WEBSITE: www.wilcoxhighvelocity.com
FAST FACTS
In serving the oil, gas and other industries, Edmonton-based Wilcox High Velocity Ltd. is bringing thermal spray systems to new levels in Canada. Helping make that happen is the company’s newly acquired TAFA System JP 8000, which delivers product-control and advanced coatings technologies — such as tungsten-carbide coatings — along with up-to-date dataacquisition systems. It leaves clients convinced that thermal spraying is the way to go when refurbishing drilling and other components. The advanced tungsten-carbide and other coating options complement additional
10 PROFILER
Shain Bakos, Bakos NDT’s president
Bakos (NDT) Inspection (1989) Ltd. Western Canada’s leader in non-destructive testing
S
afety and quality are top priorities at Bakos (NDT) Inspection (1989) Ltd., which provides non-destructive testing services in western Canada. Based in Whitecourt, Alberta, Bakos NDT does new construction and integrity inspections for all types of industries, ranging from the oilfield, to pulp mills, power plants and other industrial operators. Bakos NDT was established in 1982 by Frank Bakos, who grew the company over the years before handing over the reins to his nephew, Brian Bakos, who became a partner in 1989 and took over the company’s operations in 1993. Frank’s son, Shain, became a shareholder in 2004. In 2008, Shain bought out his partners in order to follow his visions of the future. The quality of the people are what set Bakos NDT apart, says Shain Bakos,
company president, who is proud of the name that Bakos NDT has built for itself over the years. Bakos NDT is unique among its peers in that it has always been familyowned and operated. Bakos NDT continually refines itself and explores new technologies in order to improve the service it provides to customers. Bakos NDT’s 30 employees work primarily in Alberta and British Columbia but have recently began exploring the international marketplace, doing everything from major oilfield construction projects to electrical generating power plant turbines, jet turbine-powered natural gas pumps, and the pulp and paper industry. The services provided include radiography testing, magnetic particle testing, ultrasonic testing, liquid dye penetrant testing, hardness testing, corrosion surveys and life assessment.
“We are protecting the environment,” Shain says. “Anything used for storage or transportation — such as oil and gas pipelines, virtually anything that is welded together or subjected to the elements that can pose a hazard to health or environment — we inspect. For example, we come in at the construction phase of a gas plant to make sure everything that gets put into place is safe. We come in during operation to make sure things continue to be safe, and we come in at the end when they take it out of service, to make sure things don’t cause problems in the future.” Shain began working in the industry in 1991 at the age of 18, “which is as early as you can get into this business,” he says. By age 25, Shain ranked in the top four per cent of qualified workers across Canada in the non-destructive examination industry.
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COMPANY NAME: Bakos (NDT) Inspection (1989) Ltd.
FOUNDER: Frank Bakos YEAR INCEPTED: 1982 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 30 BUSINESS CATEGORY: Service industry, industrial inspections ADDRESS: 3510 43 Avenue, Whitecourt, AB PHONE: Toll-free 1 (888) 763-5575 WEBSITE: www.bakosndt.com
“It gives Bakos NDT a unique experience in the industry, compared to other companies,” Shain says. “As an owner, I have experience with all aspects within the industry, what jobs to go after and how to serve the customer best. If the top guy knows what he is talking about under every situation, then the customer will be confident that they are being properly serviced.” Although Shain doesn’t work in the field anymore, he continues to add to his skill set, and acts as a mentor to his workers. “I go and check things out and bring my knowledge back to them,” he says. “I share with them, so they can be a lot more successful. Customer confidence is a huge thing to me.” These are just a few of the reasons that Bakos NDT continues to thrive. “We’ve been riding out the storm quite successfully,” Shain says. “More tenders for large projects are crossing my desk than I’ve ever seen before. What we are watching for is that all these large tenders actually turn into real work. It’s difficult — only time will tell whether the recovery is real.” For Bakos NDT, “2009 was a rebuilding year. Everything was looking pretty rough. You’ve got to take that negative, turn it around and say, ‘What will make our
company more attractive for the work that is continuing?’” For Bakos NDT, the answer was to increase the quality of its people, procedures and equipment. “That way, when you go and sell yourself, you have a better product to give than the person that didn’t,” Bakos says. “I’m not building the company for pure profit, I’m building it for longevity.” To this end, Bakos NDT is offering several new services, including remote visual inspections, ground penetrating radar, and API inspections for vessels, tanks and piping. The company has also been working to forge agreements and associations with other non-destructive testing firms, in order to offer a broader service offering and compete on a larger scale. “It’s making really good contacts, seeing where we can come together and letting us compete with some of the union outfits.”
FAST FACTS
PRESIDENT: Shain Bakos
In the past year, Bakos has made changes to the company’s administration structure and has been going after more jobs, including international contracts — a move that is promising to take Bakos NDT to an entirely new level. “At Bakos, we are striving to compete in the international market, and so far have had a good response from it.” And for the industry as a whole, Bakos sees things levelling out. “People are starting to go back to work. The future is bright if we can all hold on.”
12 PROFILER
Desran Holdings
Trucking company is here for the long haul Desran Holdings is an Alberta-based trucking company that hauls produced water and oil for the oil and gas industry. Owned by husband and wife David and Faye Desranleau, who founded the business in 1978, Desran Holdings provides services to assist companies that are maintaining gas and oil wells and doing workovers and completions. Desran Holdings provides dependable, quality service and over the years has acquired the equipment it needs to assist
companies doing exploration in the Athabasca area. It works primarily in a 160-kilometre radius of Perryvale, which is located just south of Athabasca. “We are very hands-on,” says Faye Desranleau, the company’s secretarytreasurer. “My husband works with the
employees — we have up to 12 employees at our busiest time of year. Because we are a mom-and-pop company, and with the small turnover of employees that we’ve had, we’ve been able to give really good service. That’s what has kept us going and growing over the years.” In addition to trucking, Desran Holdings supplies potassium chloride and inhibitor. Both of these chemicals are not readily available in the area, unless they are ordered and shipped in. Desran Holdings saw a need and stepped in to fill it. “We always keep these on hand — that makes their life a little easier,” Desranleau says. Desran Holdings also supplies heated water to oilfield companies. “The hot water makes everything a whole lot easier in the winter when we are working with the service companies. Rather than trying to work with ice-cold water at 40 below, they’ve got hot water, which warms up their equipment.” Desran Holdings is here for the long haul. Since the start of the recession the company
has seen a slowdown, especially since much of its work involves gas exploration and production. However, the North Athabasca area has seen a flurry of oil exploration activity at the same time, which has helped balance things. “We haven’t had as good a year as before, but we’ve done perfectly well,” Desranleau says. Looking forward, she expects that oil and gas companies will be working in the Athabasca area for years to come. With the development of new drilling and completions techniques, “areas passed over 20 years ago are suddenly becoming very interesting to exploration companies. I think there is always going to be a lot of oil work, and natural gas is always going to be needed. “We grew with the development in our area. It’s been good for us, and I think we’ve been good for them.”
COMPANY NAME: Desran Holdings PRESIDENT/FOUNDER: David and Faye Desranleau YEAR INCEPTED: 1978 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 8–12 depending on season BUSINESS CATEGORY: Trucking ADDRESS: Box 102, Perryvale, AB PHONE: (780) 698-2137 EMAIL: deseranh@telus.net
FAST FACTS
PROFILER 13
Calibre Drilling
Focus is on safety, diversification Calibre Drilling is dedicated to providing time-efficient, cost-effective drilling services for its customers and helping oil and gas companies reduce costs substantially. All rigs are truck-mounted and the support equipment is on trailers to reduce moving costs between locations. The Spruce Grove–based company has been doing pre-sets and drilling wells for more than a decade, and has established an excellent reputation for service. “The key to our success has been in diversification, and this has also helped us to retain conscientious and safety-minded employees,” says Calibre Drilling owner/president Randy Riedlinger, who runs the business together with partner and operations manager Clay Cunningham. Calibre Drilling is a privately owned firm that has grown from one drilling rig doing oilfield water well rentals, to three rigs with full support equipment for pre-sets, coring and deepwater wells for steam assisted
gravity drainage projects. Calibre has worked across Alberta, into northern British Columbia, and as far north as Yellowknife. In addition to oilfield work, the company provides drilling services for commercial and industrial projects, and water wells for acreage owners and farm use. Calibre Drilling prides itself on having jumped on the “safety train” early on, first by attaining its Certificate of Recognition — a certification the company has held for more than six years — and then by subscribing to a safety program used by most large oil firms as a screening tool for prospective contractors. Calibre Drilling became involved in this program because it wanted to promote a “Safety First” attitude. By showing its commitment to safety, the company wants to raise awareness among all employees of the value of working safely. Calibre Drilling’s dedication to safety is also related to maintaining its equipment in
good repair, which is a top priority. Since the company devotes a significant portion of its budget to equipment maintenance, the possibility of something malfunctioning and causing an accident is low to none. Its maintenance program also ensures maximum efficiency in the field. Providing training for workers to ensure they know how to operate the equipment properly is also key — once again reducing the risk of accidents. The future is hopeful for the Spruce Grove–based company, which is starting to see signs of economic recovery. “The work is becoming more steady,” says Riedlinger, who expects that business will start to pick up in the coming year. Looking forward, Calibre Drilling sees the Canadian North opening up with drilling opportunities. At the same time, the company hopes to build strong business ties and relationships with aboriginal communities in the North.
FAST FACTS COMPANY NAME: Calibre Drilling TOP EXECUTIVES: Randy Riedlinger, president; and Clay Cunningham, operations manager YEAR INCEPTED: 1999 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: Seasonal fluctuations between 10 and 35 employees BUSINESS CATEGORIES: Drilling/pre-sets/coring/water wells ADDRESS: Box 4083, 431 South Avenue, Spruce Grove, AB PHONE: (780) 960-2992 WEBSITE: www.calibredrilling.com EMAIL: randy.calibre@interbaun.com, clay.calibre@interbaun.com
Clay Cunningham, Calibre Drilling’s operations manager
14 PROFILER
Infratech
World class in every way Infratech, a customer-focused Whitecourt, Alberta, company founded in 1987, provides world-class combustion process and incineration-related products and specialized technical services to a global client base. Infratech manufactures its products to exacting specifications, creating applicationspecific incinerator designs and costefficient, environmentally sensitive combustion solutions for solid, liquid and gas waste applications. The company provides a variety of incinerator configurations, plus state-ofthe-art infrared imaging and thermographic consulting services, including industryleading infrared gas leak detection services. Infratech is an ISO 9001:2008-Certified company which provides products and services for customers across Canada and worldwide, with orders going to Russia, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Venezuela, the Caribbean and the United States. For the Canadian oil and gas industry, Infratech’s Whitecourt base is a central location to serve customers effectively. “Within a 4.5-hour radius of Whitecourt, we can be in places like Cold Lake, Fort McMurray, Fort St. John, Calgary and everywhere in between,” explains Infratech vice-president Dan Guenette.
PRESIDENT/FOUNDER: Don Guenette, president; Dan Guenette, vice-president YEAR INCEPTED: 1987 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 40 BUSINESS CATEGORIES: Equipment design and fabrication, infrared inspections, fugitive emission management, fired equipment service, contract operators incineration ADDRESS: 3415 35 Avenue, PO Box 2099, Whitecourt, AB PHONE: (888) 377-5432 (toll-free); (780) 778-4226 WEBSITE: www.infratech.cc
FAST FACTS
COMPANY NAME: Infratech
Incineration equipment and design Whether for a gas waste stream in Alberta, camp waste on a drilling platform in Russia or pathological waste in Mexico, all Infratech incinerators are designed to the client’s specific application, minimizing auxiliary fuel-use requirements, reducing emissions and optimizing the combustion process. “We don’t provide a generic solution, and therefore our equipment is more efficient,” Guenette says. All of Infratech’s incinerators are manufactured to meet the most stringent codes and specifications, using leading-edge and best-available technologies. The standard incinerator package includes nano- programmable logic controller technology, allowing for fully automated operation. The control philosophy can be tailored to suit the required process and always includes all required safety systems and devices. Fugitive emission management services Infratech provides full turn-key fugitive emission management services for its clients, with documentation that meets or exceeds legislative requirements in both Alberta and British Columbia, and fully prepares the client for any regulatory audit that might occur. “We are the leaders in fugitive emission management services in western Canada,” Guenette says. The leading-edge GasFindIR camera that Infratech uses is an infrared imaging camera that acts as a portable inspection system to detect gas leaks quickly and easily. Infratech’s certified technicians can scan large areas of equipment throughout a facility, and identify gas leaks with pinpoint accuracy. The portable Hi Flow Sampler allows Infratech’s technicians to accurately measure gas-leak rates. With gas leak quantification, a complete, economical analysis will determine the payback period of each leak, and assist in planning maintenance and repairs. Infrared inspection services Infratech has been providing specialized infrared inspection services to industry in Canada since 1987. It was the company’s main focus when it was founded and something they still take a lot of pride in doing well. They specialize in electrical, heat loss/refractory condition, and refinery and
gas plant production furnace tube coil inspections. The production furnace tube coil inspection application is the most demanding and challenging for the equipment and the technician, as the technician scans and reports tube surface temperatures of the tube coil while the furnace is operating under normal loads. No shutdown is required for this inspection. “It provides the client with essential predictive maintenance information as to how the furnace is actually operating, and what upcoming maintenance or operational changes may be required to keep the furnace running in its optimal range. Over the years, we’ve perfected this service and are considered the leaders in Canada, completing services at gas plants and refineries across Canada. Other services Infratech also provides contact operators to the industry, with a focus on high-quality individuals with an emphasis on ongoing industry training. In addition, they have in-house engineering and drafting to supplement their designs and fabrication, and therefore also provide drafting and design services to clients in the Whitecourt area. A relentless focus on quality “We’ve got what we would consider to be absolutely top-notch staff,” Guenette says, as he describes the company’s approximately 40 workers. “They take ownership in what they do, and care about the client and about the outcome of the service or product. “The other thing is the direction the company has always taken — having the best-quality product or service in the industry. We are not really interested in being secondbest at anything. We put a lot of extra effort into making sure we can provide the client with the best service, the best results and the best product at the end of the day, period.” These are just a few of the reasons that Infratech has been growing through the recession, posting a 15 per cent growth rate last year and another 15 per cent growth to date this year. “We’ve been able to do that because of our focus on the client,” Guenette says. For service companies, Guenette thinks the keys to weathering the economic storm include a strong balance sheet, looking after clients and keeping the clients you have. “We think the recovery is just now beginning, and things are looking great.”
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16 PROFILER
COMPANY NAME: Movac Valve Systems PRESIDENT: Paul Robb BUSINESS CATEGORY: Valves — Actuators ADDRESS: 5638 88 Street, Edmonton, AB PHONE: (780) 468-6077 (866) 468-6077 (toll-free) EMAIL: movacedm@telus.net
FAST FACTS Movac Valve Systems
Helping you get the job done right Movac Valve Systems is an Edmonton-based automation and actuation company that specializes in valve actuation, emergency shutdown systems, gear ops, chain ops, spring return handles, valve repair, replacement and servicing. In business for more than 30 years, Movac serves a wide range of industries, from oilfield services, to pulp and paper, to water treatment. “Just about everything to do with automation and actuation, we fit together to accommodate what customers need,” says Movac Valve Systems manager Paul Robb. Movac Valve Systems serves customers across western Canada and the United States, as well as overseas. In the past two years, the company has expanded from
two to eight employees, and from a 2,000-square-foot shop to a 7,000-squarefoot warehouse and automation centre. The company also has a salesman based in Calgary. Movac Valve Systems carries several product lines: Automax — Valve and damper actuators Movac — Manual gear operators Uni-Lift — Machine screw and ball screw jacks ATI — Linear operators AUMA — Electric actuators “We try to have the products that customers require,” Robb says. “There are specialty items that some customers require, and we try to have them on the shelf, ready to go. We try to look ahead. If you might need these items down the road,
we put them on the shelf. We are definitely there to help them.” This way, Robb explains, Movac can save customers both time and expense, since it means the company won’t have to build systems from scratch. Movac Valve Systems has seen steady growth over the years, and the recent economic slowdown didn’t affect the company much, Robb says. “We didn’t really see much. It wasn’t anything I was really worried about.” As far as the future goes, Movac’s approach is to “just keep moving ahead.” “No matter what your need or application, talk to us,” Robb says. “We can help you get the job done right. We have years of experience in all kinds of industrial valves and valve systems.”
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Stuber’s Cat Service president Mike Stuber (left), Trevor Stuber (centre) and office manager/safety officer Delphi Stuber with dog Shaker.
Stuber’s Cat Service
Offering experienced operators, 24-hour service Stuber’s Cat Service specializes in wellsite preparation, wellsite cleanup and reclamation, along with general Cat and track hoe construction. Serving central and northern Alberta, we offer 24-hour service with experienced operators and specialized training, which is a company mandate. We are an industry leader in heavy equipment operation, and are committed to offering top-quality work for the construction of oilfield leases and access construction, as well as wellsite cleanup and reclamation. We have the skills and equipment necessary to complete every project. Located in the Barrhead area, Stuber’s Cat Service is active in many different locations, including Whitecourt, Drayton Valley, Athabasca, Westlock, Morinville, Spruce Grove and surrounding regions. Owned and operated by Mike and Delphi Stuber, the company was established in 1975 and incorporated in 1980. When he first started out in the business, Mike ran equipment for his father, Edward Stuber, who owned Cats. Mike bought his first Cat from his dad in 1975, then continued expanding, buying and upgrading equipment making Stuber’s Cat Service what it
is today. Mike is the company’s president and chief executive officer, while Delphi is office manager and company safety officer. Their son Trevor also owns and operates equipment, and works alongside his father. Stuber’s Cat Service is a third-generation company offering 24-hour service with highly experienced, trained personnel who perform their duties while maintaining safety and high-quality work as a top priority, and complete their work with the least amount of impact on the environment as possible. Stuber’s Cat Service prides itself on having the best safety and environmental standards in the industry and on doing a quality job on time, for each and every customer. Our company holds a Certificate of Recognition and are proud members of Comply Works (formerly HSE Safety Canada), ISNetworld and Partnerships in Health and Safety. Currently, our main challenges are to diversify and continue maintaining top-quality workmanship in these challenging economic times. Further expansion will depend on future economic growth.
FAST FACTS COMPANY NAME: Stuber’s Cat Service PRESIDENT/FOUNDER: Michael Stuber YEAR INCEPTED: 1980 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 20 full-time BUSINESS CATEGORY: Oilfield construction/reclamation ADDRESS: Site 7, Box 12, RR#2, Barrhead, AB PHONE: (780) 785-2173 (office), (780) 785-2646 (fax) EMAIL: mdstuber@telus.net
18 PROFILER
Profire Combustion
Improving equipment efficiency and reducing customers’ costs
Profire Combustion supplies reliable, quality products and services to the oil and gas industry, providing the latest in burner control. Profire is committed to doing all it can to improve equipment efficiency and reduce operating costs for its customers. This past June, Profire unveiled its new flagship product at the Global Petroleum Show in Calgary. The Profire 2100 Burner Management System (BMS) offers a head-up on the competition with its stackable expansion modules, which allow the user to add nearly any functionality, such as modbus and data tracking, to the system. This reduces the cost of the base model, while allowing for precise tracking and management of the burner when required. “The biggest thing is that it’s user-friendly. It is designed around user expansion, with optional add-on cards,” says Profire vice-president Justin Hatch. After the debut of the 2100 controller, requests for Profire’s new flagship controller and its additional functionality have been steadily increasing. “Our end users couldn’t be more pleased with the new functionality,” states Hatch. Harold Albert, Profire Combustion president, observes: “Our Profire 1100
blazed the trail for safety and efficiency. Coupled with the service rendered by our experienced team, the 2100 will take its place in meeting the needs of our customers by decreasing operating costs, increasing efficiencies and eliminating downtime.” Based in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Profire Combustion has been at the forefront of the burner industry almost since the inception of the electronic management system. Profire’s knowledgeable employees have served the burner industry for a combined total of 30 years. Over the years, the now publicly traded corporation has focused its efforts on building the most robust BMS on the market. Profire Combustion is the operating division of Profire Energy (PFIE: OTCBB). Unparalleled service Profire has expanded its service department to ensure it can continue taking good care of its customers, as well maintain its firm hold on the market.
Currently, Profire has four highly skilled service technicians, who specialize in everything from commissioning to efficiency testing. The commissioning process is one in which they take particular pride. According to service manager Brendan Frank, “Our processes have been carefully structured around checks and balances, to ensure that the fuel train and controller are synchronized to create the highest-efficiency of the burner. Meeting a high efficiency decreases the frequency of service visits, reduces fuel consumption and ensures a longer-functioning system.” Along with commissioning, Profire techs also do preventative maintenance on the various burner units. This includes Flame Arrestor Testing, which is the API 12N procedure for ensuring the flame arrestor is still able to effectively quench the flame. Ensuring that fuel trains are set up in accordance with the B149 Gas Code
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Specialized product lines In order to meet the needs of its valued customers, Profire carries many product lines specific to industry needs. Along with its proven line of BMSs, including the 1100, 1100i and now the 2100, Profire is proud to offer lines such as Kimray, Fisher, Neo, Maxon, Asco and Wohler. The Wohler combustion analyzers are among the finest in the combustion analysis market. After carefully aligning itself with some of the finest manufacturers, Profire has been able to boast an unfailing lineup for its fuel trains. Independently tested, the Maxon burners have repeatedly outperformed their competition and a close second is the Eclipse line, which Profire also distributes. Asco has introduced its low-power solenoids, which are proprietary to the 2100 BMS. Neo ball valves are among the only CSA-certified manual ball valves on the market and Profire represents Neo in western Canada. Ensuring that they work with the best allows the team at Profire Combustion to provide a reliable, manageable system.
Future growth Marking the recession as a starting gate to consider the market’s future, Profire devoted its energies during this slower time to prepare for growth. As the market for BMSs expands, Profire’s team of experts continues to traverse the rocky economic landscape, emerging stronger and more able to provide for customers’ needs. “The state of the economy has helped us be more cognizant of the value of a quality product founded on the principles of service,” Hatch says. “Our customers require the best product and efficient service at an affordable price. And that’s just how we roll!” The Profire team believes in a strong future, built on the value and reliability of its products, as well as on dependable service. After considering what the future could hold, Profire positioned itself for further development in the market. By increasing the number of qualified staff it employs, Profire management has prepared the company for growth, opened doors that had previously been closed, and paved the road to further developments serving the combustion industry.
FAST FACTS
guidelines is a top priority, and the Profire team has been carefully trained to meet this standard.
COMPANY NAME: Profire Combustion PRESIDENT/FOUNDER: Partnership — Harold Albert and Brenton Hatch YEAR INCEPTED: 2002 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 18 BUSINESS CATEGORY: Oil and gas burner industry ADDRESS: Box 3313, Bay 12, 55 Alberta Avenue, Spruce Grove, AB PHONE: (780) 960-5278 WEBSITE: www.profireenergy.com
Alberta Welltest Incinerators Guaranteeing you superior results Alberta Welltest Incinerators (AWI) provides industry-leading incineration technology that is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of oil and gas-related production test flaring. AWI’s low-emission burner technology provides a significant edge over conventional flares and enclosed flaring equipment, along with competitive rental rates, 24-hour service and an intense focus on client satisfaction. With more than 80 years of experience in incineration and production testing, AWI guarantees you superior results. AWI’s industry-leading incineration technology is highly effective and efficient, converting 99.99 per cent of methane to CO2 and H2O. The system disperses combustion products thanks to its high operating temperatures, increased stack velocities and a forced draft system. Designed specifically for well completion applications and patented in Canada and the United States, AWI’s equipment is “the most efficient and effective on the market for that purpose,” says AWI vice-president, Dan Guenette. “It is the only incineration equipment in the industry specifically
COMPANY NAME: Alberta Welltest Incinerators PRESIDENT/FOUNDER: Greg Tipper, president; Dan Guenette, vice-president; Don Guenette, Dan Guenette, Steve Tipper, Greg Tipper, founders YEAR INCEPTED: 2004 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 2 BUSINESS CATEGORY: Oil and gas industry equipment rentals ADDRESS: PO Box 447, Whitecourt, AB PHONE: (888) 778-0960 (toll-free); (780) 778-0960 (office) WEBSITE: www.awincinerators.com
FAST FACTS
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20 PROFILER
designed for well completions and well testing applications — that’s really the big thing. We designed it specifically for doing that job, and it does it very well.” Based in Whitecourt, Alberta, AWI works primarily in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The company was founded in 2004 by two sets of brothers: Dan and Don Guenette, and Greg and Steve Tipper. Greg Tipper is president of AWI, which employs two full-time workers: a manager and a sales representative, who handle AWI’s day-to-day operations of renting portable incineration equipment for well completion and well testing applications. AWI’s employees are “top-notch people,” says Dan Guenette, who believes it is AWI’s people who make the company the success that it is, as much as its equipment. AWI represents the best available technology to handle the effects of high-volume flaring associated with well testing, improving combustion and high internal temperature retention, and preventing noise pollution. The AWI burner system provides optimum fuel and air mixing energy, ensuring extremely high combustion efficiency. Alberta welltest incinerators run quietly and efficiently, emitting no odour, no smoke, no visible flame and no heat radiation. AWI’s control system includes a patented forced draft multi-point vortex burner, automated air delivery system, dual pilot continuous ignition system, and continuous temperature measurement and recording. Instantaneous online temperature monitoring and recording take place through the on-board communications module. Clients can access temperature data with a password, and monitor real-time temperatures and well test progression, from any computer with Internet access. The simple automated control system is user-friendly, with a rapid set-up. The equipment is skid-mounted for ease of loading, transportation and installation. Installation is completed in just 20 minutes, with no guy wires and zero ground disturbance.
Compared to conventional and enclosed flaring, AWI technology offers: • Combustion efficiency of 99.99 per cent, resulting in improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions; • Stable, consistent combustion in an enclosed, lined chamber unaffected by wind; • A freestanding unit with zero ground disturbance, no smoke, no visible flame and no odour; • No heat radiation at ground level, resulting in improved protection of personnel, equipment, and Arctic/tundra and other sensitive environments; • Oversized load permits and pilot trucks are not required with AWI’s equipment, which measures 40 feet long by 11.5 feet wide and weighs 16,500 kilograms; • Uses significantly less fuel than a flare to efficiently incinerate low heat content gases (H2S) with 99.99 per cent combustion efficiency; • Compliant with Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) Directive 60. The equipment is approved to incinerate sour gas above five per cent, as per ERCB Directive 60 requirements. The system features a 40-foot exit elevation; dual continuous pilots; continuous temperature monitoring and recording; and the ability to maintain a temperature of 600 degrees Celsius for H2S incineration, reducing or eliminating additional fuel requirements. Oil and gas producers choose AWI over conventional and enclosed flaring primarily when: • Working within a close proximity to neighbours and stakeholders (farmers, ranchers, residential and urban areas, cottage country); • Completing wells while ensuring “tight hole” status when necessary; • Ground disturbance and ground temperature radiation advantages are necessary in environmentally sensitive areas; and • There’s a presence of H2S in the well gas stream. It’s no surprise that AWI has been gaining market share, right through the recession. “This year, we are up about 20 per cent over last year,” says Guenette, who sees a very bright future for AWI. “We’ve got strong market share in western Canada, and are looking to take the technology into the U.S. and other markets. We are very excited about that.” Alberta welltest incinerators are efficient, hassle-free and easy to operate. Just one button. Turn it on. Walk away.
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Well Tested. Nature Approved.
At AWI we are dedicated to reducing oil and gas related production test flaring. Our low emission burner technology provides advancement over existing conventional flares and with over 80 years experience in incineration and production testing, we guarantee you superior results. Competitive rental rates, 24 hour service and client satisfaction — that’s the AWI promise.
www.awincinerators.com
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Remote Waste
Your waste treatment industry leader
Remote Waste provides safe, reliable and efficient waste water treatment solutions for the Canadian oil and gas industry. Established in 2003 in Fairview, Alberta, Remote Waste specializes in designing, installing and operating on-site sewage treatment systems in Canadian sub-zero conditions. The company’s state-of-the-art, industryleading equipment and sewage treatment systems are in use throughout western Canada, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and beyond. Remote Waste’s mobile waste water treatment plants can accommodate most applications, with a modular design allowing waste water treatment units to be connected in parallel, providing efficient treatment for any volume of sewage. What is most important for Remote Waste and its clients is the fact the company excels at cold-climate operations in northern Canada. It has done so “through years of experience and knowledge, because it’s something you can’t just grab off the shelf,” says Remote Waste manager Darren Lubeck. “It has taken several years to develop our procedures and acquire equipment and supplies. We do a lot of our own manufacturing. We’ve spent a lot of
time perfecting the ability to pump water when it’s 45 below. We’ve had to come up with innovative techniques and procedures to keep their service going, which makes for happy clients.” Full regulatory compliance is another major concern for the Fairview-based environmental firm, which takes great care to remain at the forefront of new technologies and regulatory requirements. Something we are actively involved with is staying on top of the latest trends and regulations so that we keep ourselves in good standing, as well as our clients,” Lubeck explains. “It’s our responsibility to ensure the highest quality standards, while at the same time providing a safe, secure, economic solution for clients’ waste water treatment needs.” To this end, the company’s accredited technicians attend regular training sessions to keep on top of updated industry standards and operating procedures. “The number one focus for us is to have a product that works and is reliable,” Lubeck says. “Just as important are our service people. Our company is based on quick service and immediate repair, because when you can’t flush a toilet, it’s amazing how productivity is affected. At Remote Waste, we do keep things flowing.”
It’s no surprise the company remained “fairly busy” during the economic downturn and did not have to lay off staff or change the way it works. “We took advantage of the extra time to review our processes, improve procedures and our ability to enhance value for our clients,” Lubeck explains. And looking ahead, Lubeck is upbeat about what the future has in store. “I believe we are going to be busy into the time ahead, as far as I can see,” he says.
FAST FACTS COMPANY NAME: Remote Waste LP PRESIDENT/FOUNDER: Ron Milner YEAR INCEPTED: 2003 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: Varies between 18 and 25 BUSINESS CATEGORY: Environmental/oilfield rentals ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2476, Fairview, AB PHONE: (780) 772-0772
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Willy D Boilers and Fabricating Fabricating and servicing boilers for the patch Willy D Boilers and Fabricating is an Alberta Boiler Safety Association–certified company that fabricates and ships complete boiler units for the oilpatch, from skid to shack to the boiler. The Albertabased firm specializes in providing customers with new and refurbished boilers, boiler recertification and repairs, boiler rentals, parts, 24/7 field service and safety valve recertification. Established in 2008 by partners with well over 30 years of boiler industry experience, Willy D Boilers operates a 10,000-square-foot facility in Nisku where it designs and manufactures its own burners and control panels, and carries approximately half a
Ken Skoreiko. “The people that work with us are the ones that make the company. They are really dedicated. They go above and beyond to try and make this company stay afloat. And the people we do the work for have been really dedicated to helping us grow. We want to grow with all of the companies we are doing work for, and we want to be able to accommodate them in every form and fashion.” Willy D Boilers is a distributor for Williams & Davis Boilers, which for the past 88 years has been building reliable steam boilers of the highest quality, designed and built to exceed American Society of Mechanical Engineers code standards.
– Ken Skoreiko, Partner and General Manager, Willy D Boilers
million dollars’ worth of inventory in stock. The company also fabricates custom boiler skids and buildings, and does partial or complete installations. Willy D Boilers provides service out in the field as well as in shop, with service technicians who travel across western Canada, getting boilers ready for the winter drilling season. Owned by three partners, the company has nine employees and approximately 60 regular customers. “It is the people that make us stand out from others — the people employed with us and the people we do the work for,” says Willy D Boilers partner and general manager,
These are some of the reasons that Willy D Boilers has done well since it first opened its doors. When the company started up, the recession was in full swing, but they made it through the difficult times just fine. “Because we were such a small company, we were able to stay under the radar,” Skoreiko says. “We stayed busy all through it. Now, we can see that it is picking up. There are a lot of people that are calling for pricing and ordering units.” While things aren’t yet where they should be, “this winter is going to be good for everyone,” Skoreiko says. “If people just keep their belts tight, I think things should level out after this winter.”
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“It is the people that make us stand out from others — the people employed with us and the people we do the work for.”
COMPANY NAME: Willy D Boilers and Fabricating PRESIDENT/FOUNDER: Mario Michel YEAR INCEPTED: 2008 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 9 BUSINESS CATEGORY: Fabricating/distributor ADDRESS: 3390 8 Street, Edmonton, AB PHONE: (780) 955-7182 WEBSITE: www.willydboilers.com
24 PROFILER
Sicotte Diamond Drill: Drilling Solutions
Rediscover performance, maximize your profit Controlling cost is the key to a successful drilling program. Alberta-based Sicotte Drilling Tools and Diamond Drill have met this challenge by combining products and services to bring you comprehensive drilling solutions, from surface to total depth. Their goal is to maximize rate of penetration and longevity. And their success rate ranks among the highest in industry. “Our bits are excellent in directional and horizontal drilling,” says Diamond Drill president Gordie Bath, a 30-year oilfield veteran. Diamond Drill and Sicotte Drilling Tools are privately owned companies that joined forces in 2005, with more than 20 employees, a business development office in Calgary and distribution centres all across western Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Both Diamond Drill and Sicotte Drilling Tools provide repair services, sales and rentals of drill bits and downhole tools in addition to offering a complementary suite of products and services to assist clients with all of their drilling requirements. Each company has a solid history of serving the oil and gas industry. Diamond Drill Diamond Drill, established in Acheson, Alberta, in 2005, is a growing company that operates a state-of-the-art repair facility in Acheson. Diamond Drill (Bit-Tech Canada) provides matrix and steel body PDC and bi-centre drill bits. It is the exclusive Canadian and northern U.S. distributor for Bit-Tech PDC drill bits. Bit-Tech is a
FAST FACTS COMPANY NAME: Sicotte Diamond Drill PRESIDENT/FOUNDER: Gordie Bath YEAR INCEPTED: 2005 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 22 BUSINESS CATEGORY: Oilfield rentals ADDRESS: 820, 510 5 Street SW, Calgary, AB PHONE: (403) 237-6777 WEBSITES: Diamond Drill: www.diamonddrill.ca Sicotte Drilling Tools: www.sicottedrillingtools.com
Texas-based PDC bit manufacturer that manufactures matrix and steel body PDC bits and bi-centre bits for specialty applications. In addition, for customers with special requirements, Diamond Drill is capable of designing and custom-manufacturing these bits within 30–60 days. Diamond Drill, which primarily serves the western Canadian oil and gas industry, is now expanding overseas and is doing work in Sudan and Egypt. The company has worked in the United States in the past, and intends to return to the U.S. market this year. Diamond Drill is ISNetworld-certified. Sicotte Drilling Tools Founded in 1976 by the Sicotte family, Sicotte Drilling Tools was acquired in 2003 by Steve Shim, who has more than 20 years of oilfield-related experience. Sicotte Drilling Tools, which provides new and rerun, reconditioned roller-cone bits and downhole tools, is the official North American distributor for TSK Roller-cone Bits of Japan. Sicotte is Secor (Enform) certified, ISNetworld-certified and ISO 9001-certified (Quality Management). It is the only ISO 9001–certified roller-cone bits reconditioning facility in North America. Together, Sicotte/Diamond Drill offer one of the widest ranges of downhole products and services in the market, including: • Matrix PDC bits by Bit-Tech • TSK roller-cone bits from Japan • Retip, rerun and brand name new surplus roller-cone bits • Hole openers from 7 7/8 inches to 45 inches • Customer bit repairs at their state-ofthe-art matrix PDC repair facility • 24/7 sales and service
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• Industry-leading repair technicians with over two decades of experience • Scrap bit charity program. TSK and Bit-Tech PDC bits have proven themselves capable of handling the toughest drilling challenges and the Sicotte/Diamond Drill Calgary-based business development team will recommend the best bits to optimize drilling performance. Their four-person business development team has more than 85 years of combined oilfield experience. These are some of the reasons that Sicotte/Diamond Drill made it through the recession “fairly well,” Bath says. “We’ve got some very good customers who were loyal to us through the slow times.” Bath is positive as he looks ahead the next few years. “We are hearing extremely good things about the future. The industry is strong here in Canada and in other parts of the world.”
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he move this July into a new customdesigned facility in Spruce Grove, Alberta, allows Lea-Der Coatings to continue a tradition of service to the oil and gas industry dating back to the company’s founding in 1994. The move coincided with the introduction of Swift Environmental Equipment to Lea-Der Coating’s range of environmentally friendly products, and the expansion of Lea-Der’s worldwide distribution network into Asia. While listening to and working with rig companies to develop polyurethane-based safety products, Lea-Der Coatings continues to research the latest technologies to create products that ensure customers have the best equipment for personnel safety and environmental protection. Research and development has allowed Lea-Der to expand its original product lines consisting of direct-apply coatings for residential and commercial use, and easily installed traction matting for rig floors. Along with research, the commitment of long-term staff — including president Darrell Demers, who acquired the company in 2007 after working for the firm as a sales rep for a dozen years — contribute greatly to Lea-Der success. The new Spruce Grove facility allows Lea-Der to continue delivering a high standard of service and trusted product lines — several of which are now standard items on drilling rigs and platforms.
FAST FACTS COMPANY NAME: Lea-Der Coatings TOP EXECUTIVES: Darrell Demers, president; Ron Hipfner, account executive; Steve Latcham, manufacturing team leader; Barbara Barrett, office manager YEAR INCEPTED: 1994
Specifically, Lea-Der TM Traction Matting — a tough, durable custom-made industrial polyurethane rotary table and rig floor matting — has provided traction surfaces on rig floors for many years. Several years ago, Lea-Der introduced the colour changes in matting that are now an industry standard. The high–visual impact of colour in Lea-Der’s matting clearly identifies danger zones in work areas. With the recent addition of heat to the options available, Lea-Der’s customdesigned matting continues to meet the challenges of today’s drilling industry. Lea-Der Traction Matting is an integral part of a range of products, each with individual function, that combine to contain, control,
Environmental Vacuum Systems ensure a rapid, contained cleanup. The Rig Floor Cleaning Wand, designed for industrial and mat cleanup, eases cleaning of work areas. The range of Vacuum Systems ensures there is a unit to fill cleanup requirements safely, while protecting personnel and the environment from fluid spills. Lea-Der Coatings’ custom moulding for drilling safely manufactures blowout preventer wear rings, Kelly Bushing savers, Pipe Arm Blocks, Bumper Blocks, the new cable trays and more. Custom moulding is another Lea-Der speciality. Safeguard Technology designs, develops, and manufactures quality safety products to
Lea-Der Coatings continues to research the latest technologies to create products that ensure customers have the best equipment for personnel safety and environmental protection.
direct, filter, collect, recycle and store fluids used in drilling. The grooved grid in the traction surface of the rig floor matting directs fluids to the Stealth fluid collection system. The Stealth System’s engineered design combines maximum strength with ultralight weight. Designed for use on service rigs, drilling rigs and offshore drilling platforms, this multi-functional, custommanufactured product collects drilling fluids/solids for separation and containment, while providing employees with a cleaner, dryer and ultimately safer workplace. The carbon-fibre mudcan completes this control system. Lightweight and with multiple seal sizes, this unit is easily operated by one person. Introduction of Swift Environmental Equipment complements Lea-Der’s fluid-control product line. Swift
maximize safe working conditions in working and walking areas, by preventing slips and falls. Safeguard Technology Hi-Traction Safety Covers are a custom-made, retro-fit product with a wide range of applications. Safeguard Technology Hi-Traction Safety Covers are made in various traction grits, and can be installed to several types of substrate. The easily installed covers include step and ladder rung covers, walkway covers, and pipe and cable covers. Safeguard products are used extensively by manufacturing and industrial facilities worldwide. A recent customer survey on safety products available established Lea-Der Coatings as leaders for quality, value, delivery time and overall high standard of service. Lea-Der continues to work closely with industries to bring the best products available to the marketplace.
BUSINESS CATEGORY: Safety — equipment ADDRESS: Box 4086 # 18, 321 Saskatchewan Avenue Spruce Grove, Alberta T7X 3B3 PHONE: (780) 962-5060 WEBSITE: www.lea-der.com
LEA-DER COATINGS
Leading the way in innovation through environmentally friendly safety products
“ I GREW UP ON A FARM. I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE THE LAND RESTORED.” Getting a forest started is the critical part of reclaiming the land. For years, at oil sands drilling locations, we started the process by planting grass, and it would take 10 to 20 years for the trees to emerge from the natural seed bank. Recently, drawing on research from the University of Alberta, we learned how to create conditions that allow us to plant aspen, spruce and pine seedlings right away. So now, the forest can re-establish itself in a few years, rather than a few decades. Finding innovative ways to limit environmental impacts is key to meeting our energy needs responsibly. Take a closer look at capp.ca/oilsands
Garrett Brown ConocoPhillips
A message from Canada’s Oil Sands Producers The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) represents member companies that produce approximately 90 per cent of Canada’s natural gas and crude oil, including Canada’s Oil Sands Producers.