Oilfield PULSE May/June 2014 by Leadstone Group Inc.

SUE NT & ERGY S IS THI ROME IN EN I N ENV OME THE Y W G AR C AL

$5.99 MAY/JUNE 2014

DELIA DIXON OF

SAVANNA ENERGY BREAKING THROUGH THE IRON CEILING SOCIAL MEDIA & THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE CONTINUED LEARNING THE GOVERNMENT & EAST COAST SEISMIC HUB CONNECT EVENT THE CAPLA AWARDS SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT LOCAL EATS

ES CHOIC AT E FOR M S T SWEA

STABILIZE

PROBLEM SHALES

AND REDUCE

COSTS

PRODUCT DELIVERY AVAILABLE FROM 13 WAREHOUSES AROUND CANADA An independent Canadian drilling & completion fluid Company providing quality of service and experience.

1 403 233 2500 | pinnaclefluids.com

SERVICE IS OUR CONCERN

Baron Oilfield Supply

www.baronoilfield.ca

Baron Pumpjack Services

Largest privately owned Oilfield Supply, Distribution, and Service company in Canada

MAY/JUNE 2014

contents FEATURES

Why I Joined the HUB Chadd Radke of Stormhold Energy Ltd.

22 44

Packing Sausage

Some interesting choices to get the meat sweats

14 22

Truth in Social Media Separating fact from fiction in the battle over the Keystone XL Pipeline

40 54

GSI Dangerous waters for east coast seismic

Calgary Women in Energy Meet the Executive Board

Alternative Health Aging and hormone replacement therapy

64 50 4

Holding your Liquor Fathers of the hard stuff

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

About the Cover Women and oil usually donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mix, but Savanna Energy is looking to change that. Photography By Patrick Brooks

YOUR

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

ADVOCATE

SERVICES EXPERT

Serving Western Canada and North Dakota Personal service, professional performance Highly skilled, experienced personnel State-of-the-art technology and equipment Positive Pulse & Electro-Magnetic (EM) MWD High performance drilling motors Committed to your success

P A TO

0 0 1 N HEWAW C A K SAS Y NO PAN COM LBERTA IN A

Calgary, AB 403.264.8206 202c, 221 10th Ave S.E. T2G 0V9

Leduc, AB 780.986.3309 102-6527 Sparrow Dr. T9E7C7

Carlyle, SK 306.453.2533 11 4th St. E S0C 0R0

Denver, CO 600 17th St Suite 2800 S 80202

OVER 1800 HORIZONTAL WELLS DRILLED MILLENNIUMDIRECTIONAL.COM

MAY/JUNE 2014

contents

DEPARTMENTS

10 12

CEO Message

Oilfield Rentals...what a challenge

Press Release CAPLA Awards - Recognizing Corporate Support

and Volunteer Excellence

24 34 38 48 60 62

Plainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Perspective The need to continue learning

Supply Chain Management Thousands of jobs - are you the missing link?

Enviro-Oil Balancing industry and its environmental impacts

Local Eats

Local on 8th Ave.

Person in Profile Valerie Longpre of Schlumberger

24 62

HUB Connect Event Stormhold & Leadstone bring you together

58 6

38 Events Going green - keeping your event eco-friendly

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

THE VEHICLE RECOVERY SYSTEM

"We now carry the Ditch Hitch in all our Peace Country Business unit vehicles, and with the addition of a specific procedure on where, when and how the Ditch Hitch is to be used we have all but eliminated "Towing Related" incidents."

"The Ditch Hitch is safe, light weight, user friendly and in my opinion, the best towing solution available today. Thanks for a great product."

-Husky Energy

-Encana

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. sales@ditchhitch.com | tel: 1-866-477-2756

“We have been providing the Ditch Hitch to our field operations and have received excellent feedback from those who have used them. The ditch hitch provides a safe, simple and effective way for connecting a tow strap to the vehicle.”

-British Petroleum

Subscriptions@OilfieldPULSE.com TELEPHONE 1-403-537-6560 TOLL FREE 1-866-883-8848 For advertising inquiries or editorial submissions please contact: Production@LeadstoneGroup.com

CEO KEVIN TURKO | Kevin.Turko@LeadstoneGroup.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KYLE K. FUJITA | Kyle.Fujita@LeadstoneGroup.com

MANAGING EDITOR ANDREA TURKO | Andrea.Turko@LeadstoneGroup.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR AMANDA LEE | Amanda.Lee@LeadstoneGroup.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR BARB LEE | Barb.Lee@LeadstoneGroup.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER CHARLENE WOODMAN | CharleneWoodman@yahoo.ca VICE PRESIDENT SALES DAVE O’CONNOR | Dave.OConnor@LeadstoneGroup.com

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER CINDY WAGNER | Cindy.Wagner@LeadstoneGroup.com MEMBER RELATIONS KAREN KEITH | Karen.Keith@LeadstoneGroup.com

FINANCE & ADMIN JEANNIE YIP | Finance_Admin@LeadstoneGroup.com

OILFIELD PULSE

ADVERTISING INDEX 2 PINNACLE DRILLING FLUIDS LTD.

29 ALSTAR OILFIELD CONTRACTORS LTD.

61 TOURCAN VACATIONS

3 BARON OILFIELD SUPPLY

35 LOGAN COMPLETION SYSTEMS

67 BAMSOLUT!ONS

5 MILLENNIUM DIRECTIONAL SERVICE LTD. 37 PRARIE MUD SERVICE 7 DITCH HITCH

41 HUB VENDOR OF THE MONTH

9 ADVANTAGE VALVE

41 HUB CONNECTION

15 WESTCOAST RESORTS

45 PLAINS FABRICATION

16 HUSKY TRANSPORT LTD.

45 DATA SHAPPERS

19 EVOLUTION OIL TOOLS

49 DRILFORMANCE

35 ARIZONA VACATION RENTALS

59 HUB ADVOCATE

69 OILFIELD HUB

For advertising inquiries or editorial submissions please contact: Production@LeadstoneGroup.com

SPONSORED BY

PUBLISHED BY

OILFIELDHUB.COM

LEADSTONEGROUP.COM

The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this publication is prohibited. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Disclaimer: The messages expressed in this publication do not represent the views of Oilfield PULSE, Leadstone Group or affiliated companies. Publication Number: 42420518

Premium Quality Workmanship Safety Conscious Timely & Cost-Effective

S E R V I C E • R E PA I R • S A L E S • R E N TA L S

Grande Prairie Location 12120-106 Avenue Grande Prairie Alberta T8V 8B4

Sylvan Lake Location Bay 2 #18 Thevenaz Industrial Trail Sylvan Lake, Alberta T4S 2J5

Tel: 780-513-0020 Fax: 780-513-9790

Tel: 403-887-1462 Fax: 403-887-1463

A DVA N TAG E VA LV E .C O M

CEO MESSAGE

OILFIELD

RENTALS... WHAT A CHALLENGE! Oilfield HUB provides Operators with online tools to search for, locate, order and manage a rental. Our new Oilfield Report Manager (ORM) plug-in takes over once the rental is delivered to the lease, from both an operations and money perspective. All of this HUB and ORM information is being tracked by and is available to Operators; and there it sits awaiting the receipt of the service companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s invoice. And then the reconciliation and approval fun begins!

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

perators need to close the loop at the end of the rental by providing better data and more details to the vendor covering the rental, before the actual invoice is issued. Reconciliation and approval headaches and woes would vanish on both sides of the fence, along with substantial needless costs. My best analogy... imagine if the car rental business ran like rentals in the oil and gas industry! First, the rental car company has to deliver the car to my hotel. We agree on a daily rate, but with no firm commitment from me as to when I’m going to start using it, when I intend to return it, or how much I’m willing to pay overall. I sign for the car when it arrives at the hotel. Along the way I may or may not have told them when I started using the car, because I don’t intend to pay for the period between drop off and first use. Also, I likely don’t intend to pay for the car on those days or weekends when I didn’t use it because I decided to lounge by the pool. When I am finally done with the car, I don’t drop it off, I tell the car rental company to come and get it, all at a moment’s notice when I decide I no longer need the vehicle. I realize I might also get charged to clean and gas up the car but am not totally sure what those costs will be. I tell the car rental company to invoice my office for the amount owing as I am headed back to the airport. Most of the communication between me and the car rental company is done by phone or email with one or more of their people, and I may or may not have given my office all of these details. When the car gets returned to the lot, they pull my original delivery receipt and prepare an invoice for the entire rental period. Seeing as I had the car longer than anticipated, they had already invoiced me for some of the rental costs, so a spilt bill is created. The car rental company inadvertently bills me again for three days that appeared in the original invoice (double billing) and for the days where I advised I was not using the vehicle (over billing). They don’t have the cleaning costs yet, so they decide to bill those costs at a later date. The invoice is also incorrect as they don’t have accurate records as to when I started using the vehicle, and they might have over charged me as I said to pick up the vehicle on Thursday but it actually wasn’t picked up until Saturday.

The invoice arrives at my office. My admin person doesn’t look at the original invoice, so the three day double billing is approved in error. Worst yet, seeing as the invoice doesn’t coincide with our records, we simply put it aside and don’t bother to tell the car rental company it is incorrect. When they finally contact us about the outstanding payment, we tell them the invoice is wrong and must be reissued. We go back and forth several times with the car rental company to settle the discrepancies, and agree on the final invoice. This takes a few weeks as I am away on another business trip and am not available to approve each of the changes. When we finally receive the new invoice, it still includes the 3 day overcharge everyone missed, and then it is paid. Six weeks later we get another invoice for the extra

Closing the loop on oilfield rentals is essential, as is the need to change the direction of the information flow charges and reluctantly pay it, as we really don’t have material backup to reconcile and pay the extra fees, so it is approved based on memory, not on fact. While perhaps a very extreme analogy, this is exactly what is happening with rentals in the oil and gas industry each and every day. Closing the loop on oilfield rentals is essential, as is the need to change the direction of the information flow. Doing so will go a long way to eliminating these needless and time consuming reconciliation and approval issues. Cost efficiencies will result! Easily done? Not so much! Watch for our upcoming white paper on oilfield rentals. We are also looking to partner with true industry believers who want to get this solved. Give me a call to get involved! Kevin Turko CEO LEADSTONE GROUP 403.537.6561

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

PRESS RELEASES

CAPLA

AWARDS RECOGNIZING CORPORATE SUPPORT

AND VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE

he Canadian Association of Petroleum Land Administration (CAPLA) recognized outstanding corporate and volunteer support at an awards luncheon in Calgary on May 1, 2014. Speaking to a full house of 200 at the Calgary Petroleum Club, the CEO, Cathy Miller, said the annual awards have become a highlight of the year for CAPLA since they were established in 2010. “These awards provide us with a wonderful opportunity to recognize some of our outstanding volunteers and the corporations who have made a significant impact on CAPLA,” Miller said. Before introducing the award winners, Miller thanked Cenovus Energy, a premier sponsor of the CAPLA Awards, as well Encana Corporation, Devon Canada Corporation, Talisman Energy, and Velvet Energy for supporting the ceremony. “CAPLA has been very fortunate since our incor poration to have received great support from many companies in the oil and gas sector,” Miller said. Three companies were recognized for their ongoing support of CAPLA with Champion Awards this year. The first 2014 Champion Award went to Nexen Energy ULC. Miller said Nexen stepped up its strong support of CAPLA by providing a venue for the 30 ethics training courses CAPLA is offering to members this year. While accepting the award, James Armstrong, Manager, Land, and Joint Venture, said Nexen is a proud supporter of CAPLA with about 20 members in its land department. Armstrong said he encourages his employees to volunteer with CAPLA, “Because volunteering,

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

making networks, and learning industry best practices are skills that are immediately transferable back to Nexen.” The next Champion Award recipient was ARC Resources Ltd. “ARC’s employees hold key leadership roles within CAPLA, and the company and its employees are known for their energy and enthusiasm,” Miller said. “CAPLA brings all of us up a level in this organization and in the oil and gas industry as a whole,” said Sara Olineck, Mineral Land Manager of ARC Resources. The final Champion Award recipient was Divestco Inc., which, “Supports and encourages employees to get involved and volunteer with CAPLA,” Miller said. “They have recently stepped up their support by sponsoring all of our new Lunch, Learn, LEAD! sessions for leaders.” Esmeralda Mondor, Contracts Land Administrator for Forge Petroleum, received the 2014 Rising Star Award. A relative newcomer to CAPLA, Mondor has helped recruit new members by making presentations to land asset management students in the Calgary area since 2011. She is also captain of CAPLA’s team at the CIBC Run for the Cure, which has raised $10,000 for cancer research. Mondor said it has been a privilege for her to be part of an organization, “That is helping to make the dream of a professional and successful career possible for everyone.” Joy Lamb, Contracts Analyst at Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., was selected as Outstanding

CFR CHEMICALS

HONOURED

CN SAFE HANDLING AWARD

Volunteer of the Year for 2014. A 20-year member of CAPLA, Lamb was honoured for her commitment to CAPLA’s Certification Committee. Since 2000, she has helped write certification exams, liaise with post-secondary institutions, and administer the certification program. “Joy was responsible for all of the paper work and connections, and I can tell you, it is a ton of work,” Miller said. CAPLA President’s Awards are presented to long time CAPLA members who have helped build the association in significant ways. The first 2014 recipient was Yvette Miller, Manager of Mineral Land Asset Management with Cenovus Energy Inc. A member of the CAPLA Board of Directors since 2012, Miller assumed the role of Vice-President this year. She has contributed to various leadership development initiatives at CAPLA and is currently co-chair of the Leadership Forum. The second recipient is Candace Bakay, Team Lead of Mineral Land Asset Management, Acqui sitions, and Divestments with Talisman Energy Inc. Bakay has been a member of CAPLA since its inception 20 years ago, and she has served as President, Past President, Conference Chair, and many other roles over the past two decades. “These award recipients exemplify the thousands of volunteers who have contributed to the success of CAPLA since it was established,” Cathy Miller said. “In our 20th anniversary year, the awards ceremony is a fitting tribute to CAPLA’s founders and everyone who has carried on their spirit of volunteerism and enterprise.”

FR Chemicals is being honoured as a recipient of the Canadian National Railways (CN) Safe Handling Award. “Your team’s safe rail loadings throughout 2013 have led to this significant accomplishment and CN thanks you for all your efforts,” advises CN spokesman. Steve Nerland, Vice-President in charge of Operations at CFR is very proud of his team at the Kuusamo, AB Plant. “This is a very significant achievement and we are very grateful to have such a conscientious staff at our facility. Safety is of utmost importance.” CFR Chemicals Inc. has a rail spur at the Kuusamo Plant that has a capacity for 37 rail cars which is equipped for trans-loading as well as rail car storage. CFR is also equipped to store over 6 Million Litres of Non-Flammable and Flammable products. Recently, CFR acquired the use of a rail spur in the Village of Heisler which will allow for an additional spotting of 20 rail cars. The CN Awards Gala will take place on Monday May 12, 2014 in Calgary, Alberta. In conjunction with the gala will be a Customer Safety Summit.

ABOUT CFR CHEMICALS FOUNDED IN 1996, CFR CHEMICALS IS A PRIVATELY OWNED WESTERN CANADIAN BASED COMPANY. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS THE DISTRIBUTION OF CHEMICALS TO THE ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. WE ARE ALSO A NICHE MARKET PROVIDER OF SPECIALTY OIL PRODUCTION CHEMICALS AND TRANSLOADING SERVICES.

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

OPERATOR NEWS

WHY I JOINED THE HUB “We have chosen to manage our drilling programs using Oilfield HUB’s supply chain management tools. It saves us a lot of money, time and energy. Oilfield HUB is an avenue to build strong, long, and healthy relationships, helping operators like us to run more efficient and streamlined projects, based on trust and community. Partnering with Oifield HUB and Oifield PULSE has allowed Stormhold Energy to attract attention from all parts of the world and we would not have been able to accomplish that on our own. Marketing our company with these powerful tools has significantly raised the profile and value of Stormhold Energy Ltd.” 14

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

Chadd Radke

PRESIDENT / CEO AT STORMHOLD ENERGY LTD.

NEW FOR 2014

AN EXCLUSIVE FISHING ADVENTURE DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM EDMONTON TO HAIDA GWAII COME FLY WITH US TO SKIP THE VANCOUVER AIRPORT TRANSFERS AND GET ON THE WATER FASTER THAN EVER! Englefield Bay Lodge is located in the most secluded inlet on the west side of Morseby Island. This pristine untapped area is teeming with abundant runs of migrating salmon and halibut… all close to the lodge. Relax and enjoy the 1 hour 30 minute flight on our chartered Boeing 737 jet from Edmonton to Sandspit where you will then board helicopters for the scenic flight into Englefield Bay Lodge. The fishing grounds are only minutes from the lodge, offering the protected waters of the inside channel to the open waters for the experienced angler.

PACKAGE HIGHLIGHTS • Includes round trip airfare from Edmonton to Sandspit on our chartered Boeing 737 jet

• Helicopter flights from Sandspit to the lodge • All meals, snacks and soft beverages

(including on-the-water lunch service)

• Comfortable guest rooms with ensuite (based on double occupancy)

• Fully equipped custom 18’ center console boats (GPS, VHF radios, electric down riggers, depth sounder and Islander reels)

• Rain gear and boots • Cleaning, vacuum packing, flash freezing and boxing of your catch

• Additional services available include massage therapy, photography and gift shopping

• Fish dawn to dusk including up to 5 hours of guided fishing instruction

1-800-810-8933 | info@westcoastresorts.com

Please note that a deposit is required upon time of booking. Upgrading to fully guided fishing is available at an additional fee of $500.00/person. Package does not include fishing license, applicable taxes, airport fees, gratuities and alcoholic beverages. Westcoast Resorts is not responsible for flight delays due to weather.

RICH PAST

GREAT PRESENT

FABULOUS FUTURE

usky Transport Limited and Husky Tank Rentals Limited is a 51-year-old family owned and operated business in Fort St. John, British Columbia. Brothers David, Craig, and Steve Okrainec continue to operate the company based on the values that were instilled upon them by their late father John. These include a high standard of safety, excellent service, quality equipment, and experienced employees. Husky Transport Limited and Husky Tank Rentals Limited are two operating companies providing fluid transportation solutions and equipment rentals to the drilling, completion, and production segments

of the oil and gas industry in BC, Alberta, and the Territories. These services include the hauling of crude oil, condensate, produced water, frac fluids, and chemicals, as well as the rental of 400 barrel tanks, rig matting, shale sloops, containment systems, and buffer tanks. Father and Grandfather John Okrainec always said you have to run your business in good times like it is in bad times in order to survive the cyclical nature of the energy industry. As the company embarks on its 51st year and third generation leadership in Conor Okrainec and a dedicated team of great people, they continue to be committed to their customers, employees, and the community they serve and look forward to the next 50 years.

Head Office Fort St John, British Columbia P.O. Box 6070 Phone: 250.785.8335 Toll-free (866.678.8335 Fax (250) 785.8433 E-mail office@huskytransport.com

EBRATIN L E

YEARS

Calgary Office Phone (403) 287-8004 Fax (403) 287-8004

W W W. H U S K Y T R A N S P O R T.C O M

THE HUB & THE GLOBAL PETROLEUM SHOW OUR PREFERRED VENDORS AT THE

GLOBAL PETROLEUM

SHOW BOOTH

9610 HALL H BOOTH

1716 HALLS ABC

BOOTH

5349 LOWER BIG FOUR

BOOTH

4162 UPPER BIG FOUR

BOOTH

1812 HALLS ABC

BOOTH

4305 UPPER BIG FOUR

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

PULSE PICKS

BACON INFUSION BEEF AND BACON BURGER $17.61/KG Pure ground beef using only whole muscle trim, no additives at all, from our own naturally raised Diamond Galloway beef and blended with with bacon bits from our in-house natural hickory smoked bacon. No additional spices. Gluten, dairy, soy and nut free.

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

GARLIC RING (PORK) $25.23/KG HAM RING $27.43/KG All these products are ethically and naturally raised meats, including Alberta Beef, pasture raised pork, free range, free run, and organic poultry products. These rings work best with cheese and crackers, or as an excellent pizza topping.

ALL BEEF PEPPERONI STICKS $24.99/KG A 50 year old recipe handed down to us, made purely from our own Diamond Galloway beef whole muscle trim, not a pork or other meat blend and again no additives, cured and smoked with natural hickory wood chips. Gluten, dairy, soy and nut free.

BEEF JERKY $24.99/KG An true authentic jerky. Hand cut whole strips of dried Diamond Galloway beef spiced and cured, then smoked and dried in small batches. Dairy and nut free, does contain Gluten and soy (from soy sauce brewed with wheat).

BACON BRATWURST $19.99/KG Perfect on the campfire, this all pork sausage is our own invention using only a basic spice blend and our own hickory bacon mixed in. No other additives. Gluten, dairy, soy and nut free.

ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM SECOND TO NONE MEATS - WWW.SECONDTONONEMEATS.COM

Mission Store (4th Street) #3, 2100 4 Street SW

Willow Park Village Store #114, 10816 Macleod Trail SE

Stadium Shopping Centre #16, 1941 Uxbridge Dr. NW OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

PLAINS PERSPECTIVE

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

ADVOCATE

THE NEED TO CONTINUE

LEARNING R

ecently, I have been busy with both work and school. I decided a few months ago to take some courses at the University of Calgary. I was unhappy with the way things were going in my career, because I felt I wasn’t being effective as a leader. I had the same initial reaction most would: I was blaming those around me for what was going wrong. I have been a successful manager for almost 20 years, so I couldn’t possibly be the problem. I think I spent about a week with this thought in my head, and I was even getting to the point of thinking through some personnel changes I thought were required. I finally sat down and started thinking about the possible root causes of these issues. I added myself

to the list. It was a little startling that some problem performers all had one common denominator, and that was yours truly. At this point, I have to be honest again, I didn’t put a lot of stock into me being the problem. As I combed through the facts, I came to the following issues I brought to the table.

PRO: 20 years of success CON: All in a different industry PRO: Good communication skills CON: All with a different set of trades PRO: Strong leadership skills CON: All learned on the job

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

There was more, but it seemed to me every one of my strengths had a possible weakness behind it. It was in that moment, I thought it still couldn’t possibly be me (I say that more than somewhat facetiously). It was also in that moment, I realized until I could rule myself out of the equation I wasn’t ready to make small or sweeping changes to the people around me. With this article already being full of painful admissions, I will say after being out of school for just over 20 years, it took more than a little while to shake the cobwebs out of my foggy grey haircovered head. To admit even more painful workings of my inner mind, I didn’t actually think I was going to learn nearly as much as I have. I thought I would get a small percent of ROI to a rather substantial

I can say the overall experience has made me a better manager. As with all training, you only get out of it what you put into it. investment. Boy, was I wrong! I am happy to report in many cases I have realized certain things I naturally do well, have a theory or can be found inside an actual textbook. Along with some things I reconfirmed I was good at I was also able to expand my knowledge in those areas. I learned many new concepts and can honestly say my initial want for a simple certificate has turned into a path which will eventually net me some letters behind my name, such as PMP, MBA, or CMC (assuming I can pass the exams and course work). More importantly, I am more effective, because I am using the textbooks to train my managers by directing people towards the training I feel they need, because I have been through it and can recognize the value. I am also making more confident decisions, and I am realizing because we did not have a performance management system, I wasn’t being fully engaged with my managers. Judging them was unfair without a platform for regular communication. I have begun

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

to learn of the power of coaching after I learned I was the “King of Close Ended Questions”. I gained huge insights into my people by learning about Emotional Intelligence, and I even learned I had a pretty high degree of EQ (in my own opinion, of course). I have to commend the U of C for having some great teachers who bring some potentially boring subjects to life. I can say the overall experience has made me a better manager. As with all training, you only get out of it what you put into it. I was there to learn eagerly, and I have brought back many new ideas. I have delved into things I already knew, but I wanted it. I do see the people who are really only there for the “piece of paper”, and I think it is a sad reason to attend a class. I have also met some great adult students who attend classes with open minds and the desire to learn. I guess my main message is if you are not getting the results you want from your employees, I recommend you start looking at your own faults first. You will only succeed by understanding your own strengths and weaknesses and trying to improve. Actually, you just have to want to improve. You can micromanage and try to solve your organizations problems one procedure at a time, or you can focus on the people and figure out how to utilize them to their full capabilities. The knowledge is there. There are companies that use it, and there are companies that can’t shake off the cobwebs. Here’s hoping you are not too old of a dog to learn some new tricks. Self-evaluation is not an easy thing to do, but go online and look at the theory surrounding “feedback loops”. Have a look at emotional intelligence, performance management, coaching, and organizational communication theory. I could go on and on. You come to realize sitting around having your hundredth conversation about “accountability” could be solved by seeking the knowledge you need to let “accountability” have a platform your employees can understand. By Tom McCaffery GENERAL MANAGER PLAINS FABRICATION

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HUMAN INTEREST

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

BREAKING

THROUGH THE IRON CEILING Women and oil usually don’t mix, but Savanna Energy is looking to change that

I knew very little about the oil and gas industry when I first contemplated employment in this field. I was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, and since graduating university, I worked for seven years in the legal industry in Ottawa. I was determined on making a career change - I wanted to be outdoors and I wanted to earn a better income. I only knew a handful of friends who’d previously worked in the oil patch, all of whom had extremely unsavoury opinions of it, and were espe cially perturbed with the idea of me, a female, working in this field.

Photography By Patrick Brooks

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

HUMAN INTEREST

I’VE GAINED A PHENOMENAL NEW FAMILY OF PESKY BROTHERS

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

Despite their concerns, I started looking into drilling companies - particularly Savanna Energy Services, as they were the only company that appeared to have marketing geared specifically towards women working in the field. I was blown away when I came to realize that in 2014, there is still such a small percentage of women who work in the field on the rigs in Canada. The fact that Savanna has a designated Diversity Coordinator, shows me that this company is headed in the right direction with promoting inclusivity in their hiring practices, and it made me feel as though I was joining an innovative and visionary company, promoting that women can in fact be successful in this otherwise male-dominated industry. After a couple months of communication with Savanna, I packed as much as I could into my little Mazda 3, and drove from Ottawa to the land of lifted trucks. I was hired as a Leasehand with Savanna Drilling posted to rig 638E. After all I had heard from my friends and things I’d read in online blogs about the oil patch, I had very little expectation of actually enjoying my job, and had even less of an expectation of liking any of my crew-mates. Clearly there is a stereotype of the kinds of guys who work on the rigs, thus I came out with the assumption that I’d be working with exactly that stereotypical “rig pig”. I couldn’t have been more short-sighted. I felt completely out of my element when I first started, but everyone seemed very accepting of me and made me feel welcome as part of the team. I immediately made friendships with many of the guys on all three crews, and would certainly consider each and every one of them as my rig family. These guys have become my brothers and I would do anything for them, and I know I equally could count on any of them to look out for me. They tease me and joke with me incessantly, but I have never felt that anyone has crossed any lines. Of course, like real family, brothers can sometimes be quite annoying! In any event, these are respectable guys, and I feel lucky to have been posted with such an incredible crew. I contribute a certain element to the overall morale of the rig; who else would put candy valentines in your locker or decorate the change shack in holiday themes? I’m sure they really continued

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE

WELL KNOWN

eing at the right place at the right time may reap benefits for some companies, but for others, it takes much more effort to see continuous growth in their company 45 years later. Setting the bar for what other companies can only hope to achieve, Alstar Oilfield Contractors set out to make a name for themselves back in 1969 and have been blazing western Canadian trails ever since.

Privately owned and operated, Alstar Oilfield Contractors specializes in fabrication, facility, and pipeline construction for many of the leading oil & gas companies across western Canada. “We knew that in order to succeed in a competitive market, you have to invest in your people first” says Dan Pagely, General Manager. Alstar, with a progressive management team who all work on the front lines, have a clear understanding of what their clients are looking for. “It can’t just be about price. You have to be the company that stays one step ahead at all times, predicting and reacting to the client’s needs” states Scott Fotonoff, Alstar’s President. Alstar’s innate

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ability to complete large scale projects in reduced time frames, gives them a competitive advantage. “Our shop capabilities allow us to fabricate/hydro test and paint 95% of our work in a controlled environment, thus keeping travel expenses to a minimum, and all overhead costs are factored into our rates, therefore; no additional costs are accrued by our clients” mentions Chris Genert, VP of Pipeline Construction. Alstar employs over 400 skilled and passionate individuals, and is committed to enriching the lives of their workforce on a daily basis, while providing quality energy construction solutions. As part of their core values, their commitment to having a strong, effective safety program that protects staff, property and their clients is a goal that is managed daily. Management, supervisors, and employees are responsible for carrying out the safety initiatives of the company. Alstar is quickly becoming a leader in the oil and gas industry for turn-key new construction, maintenance and pipeline construction services. Reliable, on-time and cost effective. Contact Alstar Oilfield Contractors today.

HUMAN INTEREST don’t mind the home baking this sister brings in for them either every hitch. Most, if not all of my family and friends back home thought I was crazy for wanting to work out here on a rig. Similarly, I’m consistently asked by service hands that come on lease why I would ever want to be out here. I really didn’t understand the fuss. I make a great wage, get to be outdoors, have a 12hour workout, and get to work with amazing people why WOULDN’T I want to be out here? Of course it’s physically and mentally demanding on a daily basis, however I’m certain there are other women like me out there who embrace challenge. I genuinely think women can excel in this field if they take their job seriously. Men and women work together in any other industry, so there should be no reason at this day in age for a gender gap working in the rigs. My perception of this work and the people whom I was posted with was drastically changed almost immediately upon employment with Savanna. I absolutely love my job, and I’m certain the main reason is because of the fantastic guys of 638 I have the opportunity to work with everyday. I came out here anticipating the worst, and instead I have a job that I love, and I’ve gained a phenomenal new family of pesky brothers. By Delia Dixon RIG 638

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

I GENUINELY THINK WOMEN CAN EXCEL IN THIS FIELD IF THEY TAKE THEIR JOB SERIOUSLY

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

STAFFING & RECRUITING

SUPPLY

CHAINS

THOUSANDS OF JOBS TO BE FOUND ARE YOU THE MISSING LINK?

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

t Step Staffing & Recruiting, we hear from many of our clients that staffing their current positions in supply chain operations is their number one concern. Did you know, as of 2012 there were 804,000 Canadians employed in some area of supply chain occupations? Current statistics show Canada has almost 27,000 vacant supply chain positions, and it is only going to grow. It is anticipated there will be an additional 66,000 new and vacant supply chain positions per year for the next five years. This equals a total of approximately 357,000 new supply chain positions across Canada alone! That’s going to take a lot of your time! Here at home in Alberta, we have, “91,944 Albertans specifically dedicated in the workforce attached to supply chain occupations with an anticipated increase over the next few years of 50,000 job openings.” So what do these people do, you may ask? There in itself is a question; do you know the answer? According to The Accelerator Project, “Current position titles can range from management positions, purchasing, customs, shipping and brokerage, logistics, information systems analysis, and long-haul truck drivers.” Many people who work with corporations don’t even know what their supply chain pro’s do, so is it really any wonder as to why we are falling short of this skill set in the labour market? One reason why these numbers are so high is because supply chain positions are part of a large gang. Do you need help? Yes, you do, because the battle is on for one of the country’s most sought after resources, including skilled labour in the supply chain profession. Did you know, your next pro-active step in finding a solution to this shortage is right here at home in Calgary? When making your vendor selection and purchasing decision around supplying staff to projects, you can count on the professionals at Step Staffing and Recruiting. With so much on the line, isn’t it worth it to utilize this resource and think outside the box? One of the supply chain professionals I converse with, Sharlene McMorland, who is the Corporate Expeditor for Tesla Exploration Ltd, often says, “It is a hard sell getting others to try something different. Many in the industry believe in doing the same things, the same way, because that is Source: The Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council HR Update Study

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STAFFING & RECRUITING how it has always been. Be it with people, resources, or products, the capability to detour around your obstacles makes the destination well worth the initial risk and will make you a top performer.” It is our business at Step to offer creative solutions and out of the box thinking to find the right individuals to meet the growing demands of your company. We have established a second to none work ethic along with the knowledge and experience to work with your team, such as Project Managers, Supervisors, and HR Personnel to bring on your contractor workforce or recruit for the position you need filled. You may find it odd or were unaware, but did you know our Contractor Management (CM) team is also part of “Supply Chain”? This area is considered to be a Supply Chain link to our client corporations who are in need of one of our economies largest demands: skilled people. So, let’s get to know how we work to support you. The CM team is comprised of HR professionals who help your corporation manage your contractor division. The team ensures all legal documents, such as employment contracts for each contractor or sign offs on corporate policies and procedures, have the required certifications and have met the safety standards required by law and the companies are completed and maintained. Keeping track of all the contractor costs on each project is cumbersome, and ensuring they are paid on time can be a chore and can drown you in additional tasks and stress on your time. Our Contractor Management Division alleviates all these stresses and is your life vest. In fact, like other supply chain roles in the link, our skill sets may look familiar to those job characteristics and skills sought after in supply chain roles. For example, Step is able to work with your team to forecast staffing needs. We have a vast knowledge of the laws and regulations, international business practices, and provide fair pricing to meet your financial plans and budgets surrounding your contractor workforce. We go the extra Step to provide our clients with workflow optimization by ensuring we actively listen then meet or exceed what you asked for using proper, secure, and reliable onboarding and off-boarding of your in-house and field operation contractors. We pride ourselves by taking the time to Step in and work with your field operations

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supervisors and contractors by offering onsite visits to provide opportunities for field contractors to communicate efficiently and effectively with the Step Contractor Management team. Our contractors have told us, because we have experienced and understand fieldwork, this in itself provides a link potential field contractors value. We can answer the questions your new contractors didn’t even know to ask, which saves your corporation time and money with less turnover and higher contractor satisfaction. Let’s not forget the elephant in the room: how do you provide your contractors with an environment where they still feel part of a team? In many cases, the contractor workforce in companies is not part of the various social functions and miss out on the corporate benefits plans. At Step, we can help. We have listened and heard from our contractors, and they feel like they have a sense of belonging and connecting to a work environment with our team. We are happy to work with your contractors and supervisory team also on the day to day inquires that occur, such as HR questions and payroll queries. Delivering answers, support, and solutions is what we do best and is the right Step for your business during this demanding time. We’ve “Stepped Up” and raised the bar in staffing by being dedicated to exceeding our clients staffing resource needs. We work with highly efficient HRIS systems and have an energetic staff whose experience and credentials provide a worry free experience. We provide a consistent and reliable support to contractors and clients. The Step team looks forward to providing you with the help you need in securing a viable workforce your business can rely on to keep operations functioning. To learn more about how you can partner with Step Staffing for your staffing and contractor management needs, phone 403-523-9933 or visit stepstaffing.com. By Connie Cook DIVISION LEAD CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT STEP STAFFING & RECRUITING A leader in the staffing industry offering businesses comprehensive assistance with permanent staffing and contractor management needs. Ask about their highly effective “Step Approach” that will save you time and money.

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ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRO-OIL BALANCING A BOOMING INDUSTRY AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

ontroversy surrounding the oilfield often re volves around the environmental impacts of the development of the industry. People are concerned the development takes precedence over the preservation of the environment. Although the public does understand how crucial the develop ment of the industry is for Canada’s economy, it is hard to overlook the environmental con cerns that can arise. Giving the public ac cess to information from inside the indus try regarding the preventative steps taken by oil and gas companies, as well as the government regulations they must follow, would allow them to form different opinions on controversial topics. It is hard to develop a fair opinion on any topic when the information is skewed nega tively through the media. If the public were made aware of what preventative environ mental practices are actually being taken, they might just be surprised with what really happens on a project envi ronmentally. Because of how intricately things operate and the preci sion needed to time the services to execute a project, the sighs and groans when it comes to the addi tional hassle of the safety and environmental components are understandable. However, as these environmental components become more prevalent in our day-to-day operations, a way to seamlessly implement them to obtain a cost effective way of

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preventing any environmental concerns becomes an important procedure. The environmental influence of a project needs to become part of the planning process from the start of a project. This planning will alleviate the chance of an environment related problem to arise and will allow companies to eas ily demonstrate compliance with industry regula tions. It is easy to say the immeasurable value of the tranquility and solitude offered by the vast Alberta landscape and rugged terrain is what companies should strive to preserve. But, when the success of a project is quantified by the dollars saved and how much profit will be generated, the concern of environmental preservation is often forgotten. There is no reason why environmental challenges cannot be prevented or dealt with properly should they occur. Whether it is counting trees to guarantee a site is returned to its natural state or disposing of drilling waste properly, companies must be mindful of environmental concerns throughout every step of a project. The roles of an environmental technician and the compliance of government regulations by oil and gas companies should be offered to the public so they can shape their opinions with knowledge from inside the industry. By Windy Pines Consulting Group

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OPINION

DANGEROUS WATERS FOR EAST COAST SEISMIC

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

hat if the Canadian government was to tell Microsoft in order to do business in Canada it will now have to allow the government free copies of all of its software with no license restrictions? Doesn’t sound right, does it? But, this is what is happening in Atlantic Canada. My firm, Geophysical Service Incorporated (GSI), creates seismic data used to image the earth, in our case, thirty thousand feet under the oceans for oil and gas exploration. It’s much the same technology used in a sonogram or ultra sound, which most people are familiar with. Our work has contributed to some of the biggest discoveries of oil and gas fields off the coast of Canada, like Hibernia, Amauligak in the Beaufort Sea and Sable Island. Seismic data is extremely valuable to exploration companies in finding these potential oil and gas reserves. The data we collect was created by us and is registered, copyrighted intellectual property much the same as computer software. We are in the information business and have been for decades. We invest hundreds of millions of dollars to collect marine seismic data around the world. In Alberta and in other provinces and territories, if you invest in a seismic survey, you pay seismic permit application fees and so forth. The data is kept confidential, so you own it forever. For that reason, there is a healthy trade in this valuable commodity of seismic data in Alberta. But, a dangerous precedent has been set in Atlantic Canada by government and by offshore regulators known as the Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) and the Canada Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB). Both were created by legislation in the early 2000’s. My company was required to submit the results of our non-exclusive or speculative marine seismic surveys done off the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia to the CNSOPB and CNLOPB for regulatory purposes and resource management. It is also a requirement of the approval to obtain the permits needed for our seismic vessels to conduct

the surveys in those offshore jurisdictions. Much of the work was done from 1971 through to 2008. Providing the data for these strict regulatory internal purposes was something GSI did not necessarily object to. But, after a government created confidentiality period, I discovered both governments had arbitrarily and systematically expanded disclosure of the data into the public domain. It was free to anyone to use without having to pay license fees. GSI never agreed to relinquish ownership of this data. Most people would understand no one would agree to give something away they have invested time, money, expertise, and hard work in to create. The CNLOPB, for one, maintains GSI waived its copyright to the data under terms of the appli cation to conduct the work offshore Newfoundland and Labrador.

We are in the information business and have been for decades. We invest hundreds of millions of dollars to collect marine seismic data around the world. My response to this is: absolutely not! Unfortunately, bureaucrats in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Ottawa act as if the data is not available at all for license from the lawful owner, when in fact it has and continues to be. Without respect for the very framework of fair play and standards of accountability they feel they have a right to give away our intellectual property in the name of the “greater good” and as an unproven necessity to promote the offshore of Canada. But, for decades GSI, the largest owner of marine seismic data in Canada, promoted offshore drilling. We’ve attracted billions of dollars in investment from oil and gas companies, employed hundreds of people in Atlantic Canada, and owned two seismic vessels. We have been the most important company in the Canadian offshore, but now our Canadian revenues have been devastated, our ships have OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

OPINION been sold, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had to lay off a few of the hundreds of people GSI employed. That marine division of our company is now out of business due to the government actions and the failure of some oil companies to abide by the agreements with GSI. Such expropriation without compensation will only destroy any incentive for businesses to invest in future seismic data offshore, because the policy takes from small Canadian data owners and gives millions of dollars worth of data to very wealthy, mostly foreign-owned oil companies. I have also found in access to information responses the government paid our licensees tens of millions of dollars to hand over their licensed copies of GSI data and breach their agreements. It begs the question: if they want the data and are improperly paying GSI licensees for it, why not pay the owner of GSI to buy the rights? Those oil companies, and many other third parties, are now improperly in possession of this data and have used it illegally and without paying for it. I had no option but to launch lawsuits against many of these companies where this has happened. It has of course damaged my customer relationships. Most of these companies have stopped doing business and even stopped honouring license agreements with GSI. There is no logic in bringing in these regulations. They are not an incentive and are unnecessary. When wells cost hundreds of millions of dollars to drill, with only a five percent chance of success, and licensing the seismic data would cost a few hundred thousand

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dollars or perhaps a million, to license large amounts of data. When GSI challenged these government agencies about what was going on, my pleas fell on deaf ears. Worse yet, when GSI resisted these government agencies, they apparently broke the law to assist our foreign competitors, funded our foreign competitors with tens of millions in tax dollars, bought GSI data from piracy firms, and assisted piracy firms to disÂ tribute GSI data to GSI clients and potential clients. It is truly shocking! We expect government policies to protect our rights, protect Canadian private property, and treat everyone fairly. Not to attack individuals when they try to defend their rights. The most disturbing aspect is the way governments and government agencies can trample on the rights of Canadians. As I said, it has forced my company into a number of legal actions to protect and recover that intellectual property. Governments are spending taxpayersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; money, using their resources to fight these lawsuits, and ignoring the law. Instead, they could simply use all of this to do the right thing, compensate GSI for its property, and do away with these damaging policies. There is no evidence it has created the promised influx of investment, economic benefits, or confidence of industry players in doing businesses with these governments. In fact, how would a GSI victory affect the way

governments in Atlantic Canada do business with oil and gas industry players and, especially, seismic companies? Oil firms might be unwilling to explore the offshore in Atlantic Canada if they are forced to pay for damages. Seismic investors will think twice about investing in surveys when their own intellectual property could be confiscated in the same way. The chilling truth is this could happen to any individual or family owned business in Canada, and it could all be done in the name of the greater common good. It leaves me to believe the government has lost its way, especially in how it justifies these policies and actions. It is the wrong way to do things, because people and business owners are going to be afraid to create anything for fear the rules will be changed and the rug pulled out from under them. My view is being honest, not stealing, not using other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property for oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gain, and not attacking the victim of crime is the true greater good. I am from Alberta and proud of it. I will seek justice from those who seek to take Canada in the wrong direction. This is something I am doing for all Canadians, because it could happen to you! By Paul Einarsson COO & CHAIRMAN GSI CALGARY, ALBERTA GEOPHYSICALSERVICE.COM

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OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

SOCIAL MEDIA

TRUTH MEDIA SOCIAL

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

Separating fact from fiction in the battle over the Keystone XL Pipeline

n October 17, 2005, comedian Stephen Colbert introduced the word “truthiness” into our vocabulary on the satirical Daily Show. He used truthiness to describe that awkward moment when, “A person making an argument claims to know something intuitively ‘from the gut’ or because it ‘feels right’ without regard to evidence, logic, intellec tual examination, or facts.” The word has been widely adopted ever since, because it speaks to a fundamental challenge we face in today’s 24/7 social media world. In an age of declining credibility, how do we distinguish fact from fiction? When Alex Pourbaix of TransCanada pointed to “facts” last year to conclude that even if all the proposed projects in the oilsands are built, Canada will only contribute 1.5% of the global GHG emissions, he may have been correct, but he missed the point. TransCanada’s Keystone project has become a potent symbol for eco-activists of their power to shape public policy. The pipeline itself is secondary to larger political concerns. A growing legion of self-appointed bloggers and news aggregators feel they are doing the right thing by trumpeting the concerns of eco-activists. Independent bloggers and “citizen journalists” have created massive profiles in social media by claiming to act in the spirit of traditional journalism by rooting out the truth and uncovering injustice, but they often carry out this important task without the checks and balances normally associated with sound professional journalism.

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SOCIAL MEDIA Those checks and balances include checking sources, verifying facts, objectively printing both sides of a story, and avoiding libelous comments and innuendo. Imagine for a minute if the legal arena was suddenly inundated with self appointed judges and tribunals. Each with their own code of conduct and rules, seeking justice, and liberty for all, it would spell disaster for civil society. So why then are bloggers and other social media aggregators and commentators not held to a higher standard? Perhaps the social media arena is still too new to have evolved a system of checks and balances, or maybe it will always be a “Wild West” arena that places more emphasis on feelings than facts.

What happened next is the game changer. After publication, there were several surprisingly quick and powerful rebukes, as illustrated in Powerline columnist John Hinderaker’s letter to the editor of the Post and their strange response. Hinderaker summed up the twisted logic the Washington Post used to defend its original story: “In the Post’s view, it is acceptable to publish articles that are both literally false (Koch is the largest tar sands leaseholder) and massively misleading (the Keystone Pipeline is all about Koch Industries), if by doing so the paper can “stir and inflame public debate in this election year.” Another online commentator chimed in on the lunacy of the Post’s position. Jonah Goldberg’s comment also went viral:

Anti pipeline activists and their media allies will twist or even fabricate “facts” to suit their objectives However, in the quest for higher standards in social media reporting, the fight may have just begun. An important, but relatively underappreciated, development occurred in March 2014, which we believe signals a turning point in social media reporting. As a result, future writers, who are unquestioningly pro-environmental, may be more carefully scrutinized for conflicts of interest and “truthiness”. What was all the fuss about? On March 20, 2014, The Washington Post ran a blog written by Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin stating the Koch Brothers had the largest lease holdings in Alberta’s oil sands, which is not true. Then, it linked those trumped up numbers to an even more erroneous assertion that the Koch landholdings ensured the brothers’ support for the Keystone pipeline, which it does not. The story quickly went viral. It initially spread far and wide by many well-connected eco-activist groups, which view Keystone as the “line in the sand” in the battle to combat climate change.

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“By this logic any unfair attack posing as reporting is worthwhile when people try to correct the record. Why not just have at it and accuse the Kochs of killing JFK or hiding the Malaysian airplane? The resulting criticism would once again provide “strong evidence that issues surrounding the Koch brothers’ political and business interests will stir and inflame public debate in this election year.” This eruption of debate about the Washington Post coverage of the Koch brothers foreshadows a broader trend we see emerging: the growing realization that many anti-pipeline activists and their media allies will twist or even fabricate “facts” to suit their objectives. On the other side, the energy sector is rightfully accused of doing exactly the same thing in pursuit of their cause. Yet the pendulum is shifting back toward the center, where a skeptical public will want assurances about facts before deciding how they feel. Can we eventually find some sense of internal reliability or equilibrium? Let’s hope so. Otherwise, in our increasingly wired world, where more and more people get their news via nontraditional online sources, “truthiness” may overwhelm the truth itself. By Bruce Cameron PRESIDENT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ROI, A MARKET RESEARCH & SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTING FIRM

ADVOCATE

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

LOCAL EATS

LOCAL

ON 8TH AVE THE SPOT: Located in the spot vacated by Dakota’s a ways back, Local on 8th Ave is right in the down town core and is quickly becoming the dominant spot to be for the down town crowd. Located seconds away from Bankers Hall, and, well, all the other towers nearby, this massive space was made over with a woody, dark, funky motif. Understated decorations, large, half-moon booths and various high tables encircle two massive bars and provide eye lines to the long, semi-open kitchen. Creative lighting and art provide an edgy, yet comforting theme to the room. Right in the thick of things on Stephen Avenue make it easy to find and make it the centrepiece of the reinvigorated action of this block.

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WHAT’S SPECIAL: Typically, a few lines in The Menu talk about the drink selection. That would be short selling the efforts of Local on 8th. They have their ‘Always on Tap’ selection of domestic, international and craft brew, then the ‘Rotating taps’ where beers are brought in by the keg and posted on a big chalkboard letting you know the feature lager, ale, etc. Then you can get cans of Lucky or PBR! A true mission to please or tantalize every beer drinker is here with ever changing features and a great selection of stand-by’s. Put this with barrelled wine specials, a tequila library, whisky from the tap and cocktails served by the boot and you have a selection that would only disappoint a teetotaller – and who cares really. It adds to the atmosphere and makes a quick lunch or a corporate party a lot more interesting.

Baja Fish Tacos

El Caesar THE MENU: This is what happens when you have owners tell their kitchen, “We want pub food, but we want it great and if it is not unique, we are kicking you down to the nearest TGIF’s (or such) so fast, your chef coat buttons will melt”. The headings may look similar – burgers, appetizers, sandwiches, salads and such, but a closer read gives you huevos rancheros, a tuna club sandwich and the Brooklyn Burger. And all over the map – start with some incredible gyoza in a sesame soy sauce or have the best chicken tortilla soup ever made. There is chicken wings, but it is the first plate you had in a while, that you wanted to order more. The care and quality is noticeable in every bite of every dish. Which makes this the top gastro pub around town. They have heightened pub classics without ruining them, a balance many miss. And, honestly, tableside guacamole is the way forward – fresh and fabulous.

THE VIBE: This is the spot. Simply put. Lunch through happy hour, through happier hour, through “shit, my wife/ husband/boss texted me 11 times!” hour, Local on 8th is becoming the hub of down town professionals. Sport coats, golf shirts, suits and uniforms from the towers pour in here to connect, meet, do napkin synergies and whatever else. And it’s fun. The servers are proficient, hilarious and willing to join in to offer their business savvy or lighten the mood. It captures the unique crowd that is the collection of inner city working. It’s comfortable, convenient and if a quick lunch is required, service is prompt and attentive. Local on 8th Ave 310 8th Ave SW www.localon8thave.com By Chris Grabill OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

LIQUOR LANE

HOLDING YOUR LIQUOR With fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day right around the corner, it only seemed right we celebrate with an ode to some of the founding fathers of the liquor industry. These men are the ones legends are formed from, and in one way or another, they all helped to foster and develop the foundations for the techniques, styles, and rigorous protocols that have shaped the liquor industry into what we know today. The traits of any good father: discipline, tutorship, commitment, and, of course, open mindedness are viewed as transcendent when applied to each of their specialties. Without their vision and determination, we all might not be enjoying some of our favorite beverages today.

By Devin McKay WINE ROOM EXPERT AT WILLOW PARK WINES & SPIRITS

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continued

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LIQUOR LANE

WEIHENSTEPHANER | HEFEWEISSBIER DUNKEL $4.29

ur founding father of the beer world is not a person, but instead, the oldest licensed brewery in the world. Sitting atop of Weihenstephan hill in Bavaria, South East Germany, this brewery was certified in 1040 and today is still considered the benchmark for the hefeweissbier (wheat beer) style. Although the brewery has been modernized, the actual brewing process has changed very little through the

ages, and their commitment to being an industry leader and producing world class beer is as true today as it was over 950 years ago. This dark amber wheat beer brings forth aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, and mocha, while the palate is coated with a caramelized malt, banana, clove, and spice flavors. There is a reason Bavaria is known for its beer culture, and Weihenstephaner is an agent of that culture.

SAUZA TRES GENERACIONES ANEJO | TEQUILA $80.99

hile the history of agave based spirits can be traced back to the times of the Aztecs and a fermented drink called “Pulque”, it was first commercially labelled tequila in 1873 by Don Cenobio Sauza. He was not only the first to call the spirit produced from the blue agave plant “tequila”, he was also the foremost producer to expand the scope of the spirit into the

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

North America market. The “Tres Generaciones” was made by Don Sauza in 1973 to honor the three successors in his family before him 100 years ago. This original tequila is made from 100% blue agave, aged 3 years in once-used bourbon barrels, and has notes of caramel sweetness and honey to give it a long smooth finish. A must try for any true tequila enthusiast.

DOM PERIGNON | CHAMPAGNE 2004 $213.99

his is a no brainer. Although shrouded in mystery and romanticized by now current owners Moet & Chandon, the Monk Dom Perignon is viewed as the forefather of sparkling wine and the champagne industry. While the merit of creation is debatable, Dom Pierre Perignonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambition was to invent, perfect, and pass on the enhanced techniques in the world of sparkling wine, and for that, we raise a bubbly glass to an enthusiastic innovator.

The 2004 vintage, like the 2002, is viewed as a promising vintage in that as it is quite young and relatively accessible. However, it will benefit immensely from time in the cellar but this requires patience. Dom Perignon 2004 has the makings of a classic committing to fill each glass with delectable toastiness, minerality, and a racy acidity, which makes me compare this lean chamÂpagne to that of a Chablis in the still wine world. Drink now through to 2030.

ROBERT MONDAVI OAKVILLE | CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 $55.99

hile Mondavi is not credited with opening the first commercial winery in Napa (That goes to Krug, which Mondavi now owns), he is acknowledged for revolutionizing how wine was represented in the New World. This was primarily done through inscribing the grape varietal on the labeling, which, up until that time, was usually done by the location the grapes had originated from. This new style of labeling, along with his

technical improvements and marketing strategies, were some of the defining factors behind the exponential expansion of both the Napa Valley wines and US wines in general. Enjoy this full-bodied classic Oakville Cabernet, as it is characterized by the deep black fruit spectrum of plums, hints of espresso, chocolate, and licorice along with vanilla and coconut structured through. A wonderful example of a California Cabernet. Drink now through to 2025.

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

MEET THE

EXECUTIVE BOARD Calgary Women in Energy (CWIE) is an independent, non-profit, membership society dedicated to promoting, supporting, and empowering women in the Alberta energy sector.

ore than a networking group, CWIE is a dynamic collection of professional women with integrity, shared aspirations, and a desire to make a positive impact on both the industry and community through charitable work, mentorship, and education. The Board of Directors is comprised of accomplished oil and gas professionals from

KRISTY HYSERT

PRESIDENT A born and raised Calgarian and a motivated self-starter. She is an entrepreneur with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Alberta and currently represents the Calgary Women in Energy as President. Kristy previously sat on the board as Corporate Treasurer, Membership Director, and Director of Community Involvement in her seven years with the group, and she helped to create dialogue and empower the next generation of leaders.

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corporate, technical, and leadership positions within Calgary, Alberta. CWIE directors provide strategic governance and champion the vision of being leaders in advancing a positive and lasting reputation within the oil and gas industry. Central to the society are the concepts of leadership, authority, accountability, transparency, and stewardship.

Kristy is the President of KLH Executive Holdings where she brings over 15 years of experience. She offers sales and marketing strategies for oil and gas service providers. Her database of contacts demonstrates her capacity to motivate, build, and achieve results, which generates lucrative sales and networking opportunities around the globe. Kristy is an industry advisor, and she sits on the executive board as Social Chairperson for the Canadian Association of Drilling Engineers. She credits an amazing group of individuals for continuing to support and challenge her in her career and personal endeavors. Her family, mentors, and likeminded peers inspire her every day.

ANNE-MARIE RUSH

PAST-PRESIDENT She’s the Canadian Business Development lead at Noise Solutions Inc., a position held since 2008. Wanting to build a professional network of like-minded individuals, Anne-Marie joined Calgary Women in Energy in the fall of 2010. A year later, she was appointed to the Board as Co-Director of Membership, and in April 2012, Anne-Marie became President of the organization. Through her roles and experience working with Calgary Women in Energy, Anne-Marie has had the opportunity to grow not only professionally but personally as well. Volunteering her time, influence, and expertise has been a tremendous experience for her, and the education she has received is invaluable to her career and the clients she works with. A mentor at heart and heavily involved within the community, Anne-Marie spent four years as a Big Sister, and she continues to donate her time at various local charities and fundraisers.

Colleen’s career has consisted of over seven years sales experience in oil and gas (facilities, production, completions, and HSE) and nine years account management experience in banking and software.

BRENDA BECKEDORF DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Brenda Beckedorf is the Manager of Business Development for the Graycon Group. She oversees business development and inside sales for Graycon nationally. Brenda brings to bear over 20 years’ experience building teams, developing business strategies, generating lucrative sales, and enhancing organ izational networking presence around the country. Her passion for injecting energy and innovation into campaigns and events, while nurturing objectives and maintaining focus, is her forte. Through the use of effective and measurable marketing initiatives, industry contacts, community initiatives, classical marketing and social media, Brenda has built a solid prospect development platform at Graycon. This has led to a strong, COLLEEN MCDONELL repeatable prospect generation process and a high VICE-PRESIDENT Colleen McDonell is an Account prospect to customer conversation funnel. Brenda has been Director of Communication with Executive for NOV Wilson/ DNOW, which is a position she Calgary Women in Energy since 2012. Her role is to ensure communication between the Board and its has held for three and a half members via newsletters, social media, and email. years. An expert in her field, Colleen represents a wide range of products includ MEGHAN WILLIAMS ing valves, valve actuation, pipe and fittings, surface DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY pumps, and artificial lift systems. Colleen holds a INVOLVEMENT Bachelor of Management Degree from the University Meghan Williams is employed of Lethbridge, and she has been instrumental in the by Predator Drilling Inc. within progression of Calgary Women in Energy. Colleen their Sales and Marketing has held many positions in her eight years as a mem department. Predator Drilling ber, ranging from Secretary, Treasurer, and President, Inc. is a drilling contractor within Western Canada all while serving on the Golf Committee. and a leading provider of oil sands delineation, preset “I had friends who were founding members of the drilling, and shallow oil and gas well drilling. After group, and once I decided to get into the industry, attending the University of Calgary and graduating they introduced me to CWIE. I immediately loved with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, the professionalism and camaraderie of the group. Meghan started into sales and has been expanding Quickly immersing myself, I was encouraged to run her business experience from there. for Treasurer. The rest is history,” she says. OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

CALGARY WOMEN IN ENERGY “My father originally found a publication for Calgary Women in Energy and recommended I look into the group to develop my knowledge within the industry. Monthly Technical Seminars are hosted by CWIE and provide in-depth information on various oil and gas based topics, which has expanded my awareness within the industry,” she says. Meghan has been a member of Calgary Women in Energy for two years, and she has recently been elected Director of Community Involvement. She coordinates volunteer events to give back to the local community through organizations including, but not limited to the Calgary Drop In and Rehabilitation Centre, Soup Sisters, the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank, and Discovery House.

NAOMI MIGAS

DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

many contributions our CWIE members have made to our community through volunteering and charitable events,” she says.

KELLY TROTTER

CO-DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP Kelly Trotter is a staffing con sultant at Klopp Richards & Associates, which is a boutique recruitment firm based in Cal gary. Recruiting for over three years, her background in sales, marketing, and account management has proven to be instrumental in her success. Kelly has been a member of Calgary Women in Energy since 2012, and she quickly moved up and was elected to the Executive Board as Co-Director of Membership. “I initially joined Calgary Women in Energy for the Oil & Gas 101 sessions, as I thought the lunch semi nars would be a great way to expand my knowledge of the industry. I then began attending the network ing events, technical sessions, and got involved in the volunteer activities, as I felt it was a great fit for me. My decision to join the Board this year was based on my desire to get involved at a greater level and to continue to build relationships with both existing and prospective members,” she says. Kelly is a member of the Association of Professional Recruiters of Canada and completed her Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR) designation in February of last year. While attending Mount Royal Univer sity, she was recognized for her volunteer efforts on campus with the Petro Canada Student Ambassador award. “Volunteerism is something I’ve always en joyed and certainly an area I look forward to remaining active in through Calgary Women in Energy.”

Naomi is a Project Manager, and she is employed with a pipeline company. She is an experienced professional with a track record of delivering results on time and on budget. Naomi builds strong relationships both internally and externally with vendors and clients. From submission of proposals to delivery of services, she works with technical departments and internal networks to identify and manage risks, meet deadlines, and exceed client expectations. After earning her Business degree at the University of Calgary, she enjoyed a ten year career working in investments and banking. From there, she moved to Ireland for one year on a work travel visa. She returned to Alberta and started working in oil and gas sales, which exposed her to rural communities in Northern Alberta and South East Saskatchewan, allowing her the opportunity to promote Aboriginal labour. SHAUNA HOLMES CO-DIRECTOR OF Naomi’s desire to learn and her passion to help MEMBERSHIP women gain the confidence they need in any meeting Shauna Holmes is a Sales or sales call was her draw to the Director of Technical Professional for Artic Therm Education position within CWIE. Naomi has been in International, and she focuses this role for two years and has been a member for on corporate sales, product over four years. “I could not be more proud of CWIE’s demonstrations, and B2B presentations. After com growth and our role in supporting women working in pleting undergraduate studies in Marketing at Mount the energy sector. Just as important to me are the

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Royal University, she developed her professional career in various sales and marketing roles. Her expertise includes marketing, event planning, sales management, corporate communications, marketing strategy, business development, social media, and online marketing. As the current Co-Director of Membership with Calgary Women In Energy, Shauna loves being part of the intimate community of pro fessional women in the energy industry. She was a member in past years but recently renewed her membership. Outside of a professional setting, Shauna is very involved in her philanthropic work through organizations such as the Terry Fox public relations committee, ARF, and KidSport.

CONNOR MCMANUS

TREASURER

Connor is a Coatings Technologist within the Materials Engineering division at TransCanada. An employee for six months, she brings five years of experience to the table. “My experience was largely gained hands-on in the field at pipeline construction sites. At TransCanada, I am responsible for supporting the projects, auditing new shops, and developing company specifications,” she says. Connor has been with Calgary Women in Energy for over a year and has just taken on the responsibility of Treasurer. “I was originally inspired to join CWIE for the purpose of networking and to make connections with other women in the industry. Being a member has been an incredibly positive experience, so much so I was moved to become more involved,” she says. Connor has committed to grow membership and further inspire networking, mentorship opportunities, and community involvement within the group.

SUEANNE FU-JONCIC

CORPORATE SECRETARY SueAnne is a Manager of Process & Integration (HR) at Suncor Energy. She progressed into this role from her position at Accenture

where she was a management consultant. SueAnne’s focus encompasses the energy industry and operations management. She holds two impressive designations: an MBA and BSc from the University of Calgary. SueAnne’s expertise and drive led her to work on process and integration projects for Human Resources, where she finds opportunities to improve performance. SueAnne has been involved with Calgary Women in Energy for three years, and she maintains the position of Corporate Secretary. “CWIE aligns with my own values and goals. The membership is composed of a diverse group of women who have so much to contribute,” she says. SueAnne continues to volunteer in the community by supporting the Ronald McDonald House of Southern Alberta and helping sick kids and their families feel more at home while getting treatment in Calgary.

JENNIFER GROSE

DIRECTOR AT LARGE Jennifer Grose is employed at TransAlta Corporation in their Land Administration & Hydro Operations Division. Jennifer looks after recreational leases and renewable payments in her position and she has an innate ability to review and interpret survey plans, maps, and ERCB-D56 notification packages. Along with this, Jennifer also provides land and contract support for regional seismic monitoring networks established around their hydro facilities. A keen supporter of Calgary Women in Energy, Jennifer was recently elected to the Executive Board as Director at Large. “An old friend in oil and gas suggested it (CWIE) to meet new people and get a feel for the industry. Once I joined and started doing the volunteer work, I realized it was more than just meeting people and getting contacts. It was about helping others,” she says. Aside from a busy career, Jennifer is an enthusiastic budding photographer and is an avid traveler. OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

EVENTS

KEEPING YOUR EVENT ECO-FRIENDLY

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n an effort to promote sustainable event management practices, many events are making a conscious decision to minimize environmental burdens, and they are “going green.” By integrating environmentally preferred practices into their planning and processes, new guidelines are starting to emerge and become established through some very simple and cost effective changes. For example, the best practices can be used for waste management, travel and local transportation choices, venue selection, energy and resource use, hotel and accommodations, food and beverage choices, purchasing ranges, and printing and signage. Careful planning and consideration can divert up to 70% of the events total waste away from landfills by reducing, reusing, and recycling. To avoid any unnecessary printing, invitations and RSVP’s can be managed through technology, signage can be created and reused for future events or recycled, and name tags for participants can be printed out on a recyclable medium or a biodegradable product. Event information and the finer details can be uploaded to a mobile app or circulated through a pre-set distribution email versus using printed material. Food and beverage selections should be provided based on historical use to provide adequate amounts and not overcompensate which would result in waste. Any residual supplies could be donated to a homeless shelter or organization that provides assistance to people, such as a food bank. Participants could be offered an option to pay for large water tumblers and forward the proceeds to a local charity instead of supplying water bottles. Ample and accessible recycle containers could be rented, and if you wanted to be brave, even a compost bin for waste.

Select a venue that practices and prides themselves in sustainability, as well as hotel accommodations close by to reduce transportation and encourage participants to walk to the event. Options can be provided through email or at the registration desk regarding public transportation, car-pooling, shuttles, and further information offering participants incentives for using these various modalities. Communicate your intent and how you plan to reach it with your guests and service providers to maintain continuity. Encourage feedback

Careful planning and consideration can divert up to 70% of the events total waste away from landfills and suggestions through a short participant questionnaire to gauge whether your outcomes have been achieved and what you can do in the future to bolster your objectives. Promotion of these environmental practices is often supported through government agencies and indus try groups that use recommendations and financial grants to achieve sustainability, reduced carbon emissions, and a healthier planet. Many conventions, meetings, and events are initiating these small modifi cations in an effort to change the big picture. Sylvia M. Vespa

SHINDIGS AND SOIREES, AN EVENT COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY 403-909-9095

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

PERSON IN PROFILE

VALERIE LONGPRE

nergy, intelligence, integrity and a drive to succeed. When one thinks of Valerie Longpre, these are three things

that spring to mind. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s those qualities that helped Valerie begin her career, and land her first position at Schlumberger as a Field Supervisor for Well Services, and she has never looked back. Her versatility with people as well as a keen ability to adapt to situations and learn quickly made it an obvious and easy decision for Schlumberger to move her up the ranks through various positions in which she has had great success. Valerie currently holds the position of Lead Technical Representative of the Drilling Tools and Remedial Services division of Schlumberger. Overseeing both Western Canadian Land and East Coast Offshore business, Valerie

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE MAY 2014 2014

ADVOCATE

WHY SHOULD YOU SIGN UP? HOW ABOUT • Vertical Market Exclusivity • Oilfield HUB Service Package • Unlimited HUB Connect Users • Rotating banner ads throughout the entire Oilfield HUB website • Guaranteed #1 ranking in all Oilfield HUB search results • Permanent Inclusion on Operator Preferred Vendor Lists • Online profile on Leadstone website • 10 full page ads and 2 advertorials per year (2 page spreads) • Contributing editor status for stories/ article submissions to Oilfield PULSE executes her responsibilities with tact, poise and

AS WELL AS

professionalism while leading a team of highly

• Influencer Prospect HUB

experienced Technical and Field Representatives.

• VRM to manage your preferred vendor database

Tracking job successes, drafting technical quotes, performing client seminars and “lunch & learns”, technical presentations to engineers and creating technical bulletins and monthly tool feature sheets are just a few of the shining examples of Valerie’s commitment to performance excellence. As the next step in her impressive career, Valerie is excited to announce that she is taking a new position with Schlumberger as Canadian Sales Manager for Drilling Services. Originally from Newfoundland, Valerie has a Diploma in Electrical Engineering Technology, but her most important achievement to date is

• SCM to manage your own sourcing inquires, bid requests, and order processing • Inclusion onto the demo Preferred Vendor List for all Leadstone / Operator interactive sales call presentations and contracted client implementations AND MORE! To find out how you can get on board contact Dave O’Connor at Dave.Oconnor@LeadstoneGroup.com or call (403) 910-4172

that of dedicated wife, and mother to 4 year old son TJ. Photography By Charlene Woodman

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

THE BEAT

CONNECT

EVENT

HOSTED BY LEADSTONE GROUP INC.

uesday April 29th 2014, marked the inaugural HUB Connect Event hosted by Leadstone Group Inc. and it was a great success! This event is designed to connect Service and Supply companies with an Exploration and Production company that is doing business in Oilfield HUB. This HUB Connect Event was thrown for Stormhold Energy Ltd., (View the invite here) and was attended by over 60 different companies (approx. 120 people) from all over Canada who are working in the oil and gas industry. Stormhold is using Leadstone’s Oilfield HUB vendor management and supply chain order processing tools for sourcing products and services on their ambitious 80 well drilling program in East Central Alberta, concentrating on development of carbonate in the Killam Barrier Reef Complex. Chadd Radke, President and CEO of Stormhold Energy Ltd. said to the crowd at the event, “An affair like this helps us to meet lots of great companies we otherwise may not of thought to do business with. Leadstone Group made the decision to throw this event on our behalf, it’s a great opportunity for people to come together and learn more about what Stormhold Energy and Leadstone Group are doing together in Oilfield HUB.” Fun was had by all, but most importantly, many business connections were made which was the primary intent of the event, making it a huge success for everyone who attended. Many thanks to Chicago Chophouse for allowing us to use their wonderful restaurant as our venue. The food, drinks and exceptional staff undoubtedly helped to make the event such a hit. We look forward to many more successful HUB Connect Events in the future, stay tuned for information on our next event!

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Photography By Charlene Woodman

ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

AGING &

HORMONES CAN SUPPLEMENTS BE A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO HRT? The concern over potential side effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has led to an increased interest in the use of natural health products by women experiencing menopausal symptoms. Women often ask themselves if these supplements will be effective. Considering the potential risks of estrogens (that needs to be discussed with your health provider), the ultimate question now turns to the safety of natural supplements for menopause.

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

everal years before menopause, which usually occurs between 45 and 55 years, menstrual periods become irregular, and many women develop hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty falling and staying asleep, and vaginal dryness. During the transition to menopause, it is the decrease estrogen production related to these symptoms. This transition may also be associated with an increase in anxiety and depression in some women. There are a number of options available to ease the symptoms of menopause, including estrogen and natural health products. Postmenopausal hormone therapy is the use of two hormones, estrogen and progestin, given to relieve the symptoms of menopause. The estrogen is the ingredient that actually relieves the symptoms and the progestin (a progesterone-like hormone) is added to prevent uterine cancer. When estrogen is given alone it can increase the potential for uterine cancer. Women who have had a hysterectomy only require estrogen since they do not have a uterus and cannot develop uterine cancer. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was a large study designed to find out if hormone therapy would reduce the risk of heart attacks after menopause. The study found, surprisingly, taking estrogenprogestin in combination actually increases the risk

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

of heart attacks, breast cancer, blood clots, and strokes in older postmenopausal women. The results were different for women who took estrogen alone, because they had their uterus removed. Women who took estrogen alone had a small increase in the risk of stroke and blood clots, but there was no increased risk of heart attacks or breast cancer. The most common reason for taking hormone therapy is to treat menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes or vaginal dryness. The majority of experts agree hormone therapy is generally safe for healthy women who have menopausal symptoms. If you decide to take hormones, you should take them for the shortest period of time possible. Shortterm use of hormones (less than five years) does not seem to increase the risk of breast cancer. Hormone therapy is not recommended for women with the following: history of breast cancer, coronary heart disease, previous blood clot, heart attack, or stroke and women at high risk for these complications. A phytoestrogen is an ingredient that has the ability to affect estrogenic activity in the body. Some of these ingredients cause estrogenic effects and others cause antiestrogenic effects. Individual phytoestrogen ingredients share general properties but can vary greatly, for example, in strength and where they act in the body (i.e. on what tissues).

Phytoestrogens are found in many plants and one well known source of these is Soybean. Other sources include Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated these phytoestrogens have health benefits, including the possible protection against menopausal symptoms. Foods rich in phytoestrogens are thought to reduce the frequency of hot flashes. It is claimed that the lower incidence of hot flushes in Asian women is due to the traditional Japanese-Asian diet that includes

The North American Menopause Society (www.menopause.org) has an excellent summary regarding soy isoflavones. It states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soy-based isoflavones are modestly effective in relieving menopausal symptoms, supplements providing higher proportions of genistein, or increased in equol may provide more benefits.â&#x20AC;? Products with isoflavones from Red Clover often claim to reduce signs and symptoms of menopause. These isoflavones have demonstrated estrogenic properties in animal research. Evidence from multiple

To date, there is insufficient human evidence demonstrating the long-term efficacy or safety of isoflavones as a treatment for menopausal symptoms. many soybean foods. These foods are high in plant phytoestrogens. There have been many clinical trials of soy foods and of soy isoflavone supplements. The studies to date on soy isoflavone consumption on menopausal symptoms have reported mixed results. Studies with positive results only reported marginal benefits. The long-term safety of consuming high doses of soy isoflavone supplements is not yet known.

randomized controlled trials using isoflavones from Red Clover demonstrated only a marginal significant benefit in reducing menopausal symptoms. To date, there is insufficient human evidence demonstrating the long-term efficacy or safety of isoflavones as a treatment for menopausal symptoms. Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) is one of the best-selling supplements in the United States and

OilfieldPULSE | MAY/JUNE 2014

ALTERNATIVE HEALTH is popular as an alternative to hormonal therapy in the treatment of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood disturbances, and vaginal dryness. It also has a long history of use for treating menstruation health issues. Extracts from Black Cohosh are not considered phytoestrogens. Several controlled trials have reported Black Cohosh improves menopausal symptoms for up to one year. However, other studies did not show these benefits. There is only safety and efficacy data supporting the use for up to one year, including in women for whom estrogen replacement therapy is contraindicated. In 2004, the North American Menopause Society recommended considering lifestyle changes, alone or combined with a natural health product remedy, such as isoflavones or Black Cohosh, for the relief of mild menopausal symptoms. For more severe symptoms, prescription systemicestrogencontaining products were recommended and are still considered the standard of care. There are other medical treatment options for women who are concerned about the use of estrogencontaining products and for whom a natural remedy is ineffective. Bottom line, although supplements for treating menopausal symptoms have a long history of use, the long-term use is not well supported by clinical trials. Clinical trials in patients whom estrogen replacement therapy is contraindicated (not recommended because of health risks like breast cancer) have not been performed. According to the data, a natural supplement may help reduce the frequency and severity of the menopausal symptoms. It could be worth trying before taking medication. If this is the case, be sure to let your health care professional know what products you are taking so they can adequately monitor your health condition and any potential risks associated with the supplement.

NEXT MONTH

IN OILFIELD PULSE Jill Drader & Susan Brattberg Partnering to bring e-learning software for the construction, energy, and transportation industry based on Global eTraining - The World Leading Technical Training Platform

By Guy Chamberland, M.SC., PH.D., MASTER HERBALIST, HEALTH PRODUCTÂ CONSULTANT CONTACT HIM AT GUYCHAMBERLANDMASTERHERBALIST@LIVE.CA.

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