CODT0208

An Official Publication of the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors

oildriller

FALL 2008

THREE FLEETS. ONE VOICE .

Rigs on the Road: Industry’s New Driving Standards Message from the CAODC: Minimum Wage Schedules Are On Their Way A Judicial Nod to “Safety-Sensitive” Drug Policies

Trinidad Energy Services Income Trust Trinidad Drilling Ltd. Corporate Head Office 2500, 700 – 9th Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 3V4 Phone (403) 265-6525 Fax (403) 265-4168 Canadian Operations • Trinidad Drilling Ltd. Nisku Operations Center Nisku, AB Phone (780) 955-2340

• Trinidad Drilling Ltd. Lloydminster Area Operations Center Lloydminster, AB Phone (780) 875-1414

• Trinidad Drilling Ltd. The Bear Training Centre Corp.

Springbrook, AB Phone (403) 886-2242

• Trinidad Well Servicing Ltd. Head Office Calgary, AB Phone (403) 265-6525

• Trinidad Well Servicing Ltd. Red Deer Area Operations Center Red Deer, AB Phone (403) 314-0771

• Trinidad Well Servicing Ltd. Grande Prairie Area Operations Center Clairmont, AB Phone (780) 567-3748

• Trinidad Well Servicing Ltd. Lloydminster Area Operations Center Lloydminster, AB Phone (780) 875-4259

• Titan Surface Casing Ltd. Head Office Calgary, AB Phone (403) 265-6525

• Mastco Derrick Services Ltd. Head Office Nisku, AB Phone (780) 955-7433

• Mastco Derrick Services Ltd. Nisku Shop 1 Rig Mast Production Nisku, AB Phone (780) 979-0066

• Mastco Derrick Services Ltd. Nisku Shop 2 Rig Subs and Pump House Production Nisku, AB Phone (780) 955-7471

• Mastco Derrick Services Ltd. Nisku Shop 3 Rig Buildings and Tank Production Nisku, AB Phone (780) 955-7471

• Mastco Derrick Services Ltd. Nisku Shop 4 Building Design and Raw Fabrication Nisku, AB Phone (780) 955-1036

• Mastco Derrick Services Ltd. Nisku Shop 5 Sunrise Painting and Sandblasting Nisku, AB Phone (780) 955-3053

• Mastco Derrick Services Ltd. Nisku Operations Center (Shop 6) Rig Up Yard South Edmonton, AB Phone (780) 955-2340

• Automation Controls & Electric Inc. Nisku, AB Phone (780) 955-4711

US Operations • Trinidad Drilling LP US Operations Main Office Houston, TX Phone (713) 439-1670

• Trinidad Drilling LP East Texas / North Louisiana District Shreveport, LA Phone (318) 841-8005

• Trinidad Drilling LP West Texas/New Mexico District Odessa, TX Phone (432) 332-9247 Phone (214) 452-1878

• Cheyenne Drilling a Division of Trinidad Drilling LP

• Cheyenne Drilling a Division of Trinidad Drilling LP

Garden City Office Garden City, KS Phone (620) 277-2062

Woodward Office Woodward, OK Phone (580) 256-7226

• Axxis Drilling, Inc., a Trinidad Co.

www.trinidaddrilling.com

Broussard, LA Phone (337) 837-8806

est. 1949 FALL 2008 VOL. 6, NO. 2

CONTENTS

10 CAODC

15

news

Message from the CAODC: Minimum Wage Schedules Are On Their Way 7 Committee Updates 9 Committee Profile: The Rig Technician Provincial Apprenticeship Committee 18 Bullseye! CADE•CAODC Drilling Conference Wrap-Up 20 Welcome New Members! 21

features 10 Safe Travels for Service Rigs: Updating the Alberta MOU 15 A Judicial Nod to “Safety-Sensitive” Drug Policies

20 Published for Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors 800, 540 - 5 Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 0M2 Tel.: (403) 264-4311 / Fax: (403) 263-3796 E-mail: info@caodc.ca Web: www.caodc.ca Published by Naylor (Canada), Inc. 100 Sutherland Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R2W 3C7 Tel.: (800) 665-2456 / Fax: (204) 947-2047 Web: www.naylor.com Publisher: Robert Phillips Project Manager: Kim Davies CAODC Editor: Cindy Soderstrom Naylor Editor: Saara Raappana Research Associate: Zach Swick Sales Manager: Derek Kuzina Account Executives: Bert Eastman, Book Leader; Robert Bartmanovich; Brian Hoover; Pat Johnston; Wayne Jury; Patricia Nolin Layout and Design: Naylor, LLC Advertising Art: Lesley Helash ©2008 Naylor (Canada), Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

Published September 2008/COD-T0208/7472 Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40064978

Index to Advertisers 22

The Canadian Oil Driller • Fall 2008

5

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Minimum Wage Schedules Are On Their Way

MESSAGE FROM THE CAODC

A

s we look ahead to ramp-up, there’s no denying that drilling and service rig companies face a daunting task in crewing rigs this year.

The personality best suited to rig work – someone who enjoys working with their hands and someone who eschews a desk for the great outdoors – is in high demand in today’s economy. Rig contractors compete for people against the housing, construction, mining and oilsands sectors, all of which are similarly working hard to attract new people to their industries. ‘Hands-on’ industries in urban areas such as warehousing are also jostling for a better position to attract new workers. These competitive factors have compelled both the drilling and service rig industries to scrutinize wages.

Every October, CAODC updates its Recommended Minimum Wage Schedules on the basis of survey material. This year, CAODC anticipates the recommendations will reflect the pressing need to attract new people to the workforce.

CAODC expects to have these numbers confi rmed during the third week of September. The CAODC Recommended Minimum Wage Schedule will be posted online at www.caodc.ca or www.rigtech.ca.

Also in response to the membership’s staffing concerns, CAODC will undertake a number of career and job fairs across western Canada through the fall and winter. CAODC recognizes that it can be difficult for companies to commit to these events: career fairs can be expensive and time-consuming. Member companies are welcome to send recruiters to participate in these fairs through CAODC’s booth for shorter periods of time. This way, companies can benefit from a presence at these venues but will avoid tying up personnel for full days.

A schedule of this year’s career fairs is posted at www.rigtech.ca. I encourage everyone to consider this opportunity. Please contact CAODC if your company wishes to participate.

Over the coming months, the industry will see an influx of new people. As always, this is reason for heightened awareness around workplace safety. I wish all CAODC member companies success in their upcoming recruiting efforts and a safe and productive year end!

Sincerely,

Don Herring President

The Canadian Oil Driller • Fall 2008

7

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CAODC COMMITTEE UPDATES

Accounting & Taxation (A&T)

Apprenticeship

The Chairmen of the Drilling and Service Rig Accounting and Taxation Committees met recently with Canada Revenue Agency to discuss the federal excise tax rebate programs. CAODC representatives were seeking clarity on the appropriate methodologies for filing rebate claims with CRA. Members should check CAODC General Bulletins for these updated instructions as CRA will be expecting those standards.

A new topic to hit the taxation front is British Columbia’s Carbon Tax. This will affect members who operate in that province. The Accounting Committees will be examining what this means to our members and will be issuing a bulletin as soon as possible.

With ramp-up approaching, industry is focused on working, but now is also the best time for apprentices to plan for training.

Spring classes are accepting enrolments now. Apprentices who register early will have the best chance at getting a seat in the very busy spring classes.

Also, employers and contractors are encouraged to make use of the waiting lists. Waiting lists demonstrate to AIT a need for more classes. They will consider this factor when they schedule future classes. Also, a long waiting list may prompt AIT to add additional classes to the current year’s schedule. As industry finds it easiest to manage training during spring break-up, adding names to the spring classes’ waiting lists will send this message to AIT!

Information Technology (IT) Engineering & Technical (E&T) Committee The Transport Canada permit for TDG has been released in early January to the membership. All members using non-specification fuel tanks registered in the CAODC inventory should have copies of the permit on all of their rigs.

The second phase of the permit roll-out involves the inspection process.

The E&T Committee will release information through the CAODC to help members better understand these requirements. The deadline for completing inspections is Sept. 1, 2008.

The committee is also working closely with B.C. and Saskatchewan authorities on boiler requirements. Members will be notified with specifics once these negotiations have been completed.

Service Rig Safety & Technical (S&T) Committee The S&T Committee discussions continue to focus on transportation. The federal Hours of Service initiative is moving through provincial government processes.

CAODC remains optimistic that the issue will be resolved in a positive manner.

The committee is working closely with Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation on the draft Service Rig Vehicle and Driver Standards. The document will elevate the minimum competency standards for service rig contractors and will be an important element in the CAODC/ Alberta Transportation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Drilling Health, Safety & Environment (HS&E) Committee The HS&E Committee continues to monitor a number of projects, including: the CAPP Safety Metrics Workgroup (pursuing a singular incident reporting standard for upstream); working with Potassium Silicate (seeking policies for working with these substances); and clubroot disease (this canola plant disease can be spread when equipment moves from infected to non-infected fields).

In addition, two new sub-committees are developing a new incident reporting guide and finalizing the new fall protection manual for our association. The incident reporting guide is in its review stages and does not have a date for release. The new fall protection manual and booklet have been developed and is also under review. The sub-committee is hopeful for a release date this fall.

Since April 1, the drilling rig fleet has done an excellent job of moving ahead and adopting the new Electronic Tour Standard. As with any technological change, there can be training challenges. The field users are to be commended for their patience and thanked for their important feedback. With their help, the majority of the bugs have been worked out of the software and now we can move toward full fleet integration.

CAODC will announce shortly a cut-off date after which the new ETS will be the only CAODC-accepted version of the Electronic Tour Standard. The next phase of the ETS project will be to work with operators to integrate some of the more critical field data into the proper ETS format.

Human Resources & Training (HR&T) Recruiting issues remain front and centre for the Human Resource and Training Committees. A number of contractors have expressed an interest in widely participating in career and job fairs.

CAODC will participate in career fairs again this fall, targeting venues that focus on high school students. Most of these events also attract job seekers. CAODC’s booth is open to member companies who wish to use these events to hand out and accept applications. Please contact Cindy Soderstrom (csoderstrom@ caodc.ca) for more information.

CAODC members are invited to attend and participate in our meetings. Please contact Nancy at the CAODC at (403) 264-4311 if you would be interested in joining the HR&T committee.

The Canadian Oil Driller • Fall 2008

9

Safe Travels for Service Rigs:

Updating the

Alberta MOU

S

ervice rig companies have felt like they’ve been spinning their wheels on driving issues for some time now, but the industry is about to get some traction. The 1999 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Alberta Transportation (Alberta MOT) and CAODC is getting a long-awaited update.

In the overall picture of what a service rig does, very little time is spent on highways. A service rig’s primary function requires it to be stationary at a well site. But service rigs are truck-mounted, and when it’s time to move to a new site, the crew drives the rig to the next job.

Through the discussion that shaped the 1999 MOU, the government understood service rigs were in the business of well servicing, not trucking and transportation. The industry recog10

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One of the stickiest issues in the federal Hours of Service legislation is that of logging driving time.

nized the government expected that industry practices ensured the safe transport of this equipment on provincial highways.

Service rig personnel don’t carry the same qualifications as drivers of heavy transport vehicles, but they are required to have an air brake endorsement on their class five license as well as a CAODC driver training certificate. When service rig crews travel on highways, they do so in a safe manner: service rigs drive in convoy at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour.

In 2005, Alberta MOT asked industry to revisit the MOU. Wayne Lilly, the Manager of National Safety Code and Operating Authorities with Alberta MOT, explains that Alberta MOT wanted to see service rigs operating to a more consistent standard.

“At the end of the day,” Lilley notes, “we want to ensure that when the drivers get behind a wheel, they are safe.

We’re just trying to tighten up the standards.”

Shortly after these discussions began, it became apparent to industry members that the timing was right to return to this document. Hours of Service legislation, the federal regulations that Alberta MOT enforces, had been revisited and modified. These changes affected the Alberta MOU’s ability to exempt service rigs. As well, the National Safety Code modified vehicle weight thresholds, bringing lighter vehicles into a category with more rigid regulatory criteria.

The changes in federal legislation required expanding the MOU discussions. The MOU, itself, had to take on a new form. Don Herring, President of CAODC, explains, “The MOU is an instrument the Alberta government uses to enforce federal legislation. When Hours of Service changed, it affected the MOU.” “The MOU will recognize that the industry can operate with some privileges associated with parts of the legislation, in exchange for some due diligence which would give the government comfort,” says Herring.

“So, what we are really doing here is saying, there are a number of areas where we don’t follow the legislation or regulation to the same extent as other commercial carriers. In exchange for that accommodation, we’ll provide some due diligence.”

New Safety and Training Tools Rethinking the issue of due diligence meant putting in place some new expectations for CAODC members.

CAODC has always required, as a condition of membership in the association, that service rig members have programs to address driver training and driver safety.

Looking forward, Herring anticipates these issues will have a higher profile.

A significant portion of the MOU discussions have involved creating a new industry standard: the CAODC Service Rig Driver and Vehicle Standards Guide.

The Service Rig Driver and Vehicle Standards Guide is a comprehensive manual to assist service rig contractors when training employees on driving issues. The guide addresses the specific concerns Alberta MOT raised

about industry’s current practices: standardized driver training in the industry and safeguards surrounding fatigue management. It has been a work-in-progress for the last three years, and a final version, to which Alberta MOT will give a stamp of approval, is expected to be released to the membership sometime in the fall.

A new expanded driving training exam will accompany the Service Rig Driver and Vehicle Standards Guide. It will replace industry’s current 60-question test that an employee must pass to earn his CAODC driver training

CAODC will continue to assert the effectiveness of the tour sheet as a log book alternative.

certificate. Like the Service Rig Driver and Vehicle Standards Guide, the industry did the extra legwork to make sure this test is thorough.

Brad Rowbotham, General Manager of Roll’n Oilfield Industries Ltd. and chair of the CAODC Service Rig Executive Committee describes the sources used to build the service rig driver training exam. The description attests to how seriously industry takes this initiative. Says Rowbotham, “We’ve taken exam examples B.C. uses for similar license types, and a program which Alberta Motor Association has put together. We’ve also looked at the driver training standards for Class 1 drivers with the Alberta government and at the Heavy Haulers course at Enform. We’re taking all these and combining them. It will be a very good test, one the Alberta government will be satisfied with – and something that will help us improve standards for our drivers.”

Logging Driving Hours One of the stickiest issues in the federal Hours of Service legislation is that of logging driving time. Hours of Service legislation requires that federal carriers (those moving across provincial borders) use log books, but service rigs crews already record all kinds of activity, when the rig is both moving and stationary, in a tour sheet. Mark Scholz, CAODC’s Manager of Technical Services, points out that the industry is already diligent with its record-keeping. A second format to record rig movement is redundant.

Says Scholz, “Tour sheets have all the information that would be in a log book. In fact, the tour sheets provide more driving information than what is required by a The Canadian Oil Driller • Fall 2008

11

log book. They’re easy to read, and the industry is already using them. It just makes sense to identify the tour sheet as a service rig’s log book.”

The new MOU will allow service rigs to use the tour sheet as an alternative to a log book, but Alberta MOT granted this provision with some stipulations. Service rigs can use their tour sheet in lieu of a log book if the rig is traveling in Alberta and within 160 kilometres of a home terminal. The tour sheets on hand

must be able to show regulators that no one on the crew is driving more than 16 hours and that all individual crewmembers have had at least three days off in the last 24 days.

If the rig is driving outside of the 160 kilometre radius, or if the rig is crossing provincial borders, then a log book must be used in order to comply with federal Hours of Service regulation. CAODC will continue to assert the effectiveness of the tour sheet as an alternative

reporting mechanism. In particular, CAODC would like to see uniformity on the log book requirement across western Canada and will pursue the recommendation at the federal level with Transport Canada.

The industry did the extra legwork to make sure this test is thorough.

Driver Abstracts We carry a wide range of drilling and work-over rigs built to API & ISO9001 specs. These include module type, truck mounted, trailer mounted and special rigs driven by diesel, VFD or combined power, and a complete solution to drilling & servicing operations.

Another common industry practice that will change under the new MOU has to do with requesting driver abstracts. The 1999 MOU had a provision to help contractors work with the different licensing organizations across western Canada. Industry used a common form (created and distributed through CAODC) to access abstracts from licensing issuers across western Canada. With the implementation of the Privacy Act, this provision was rendered obsolete: Industry can no longer submit the CAODC form for an employee’s abstracts.

CAODC’s Service Rig Human Resources and Training Committee will be working with another interprovincial agreement that should help industry streamline the process to obtain driver abstracts.

Vehicle Inspections A final point that was closely scrutinized in the MOU discussions had to with vehicle inspections.

Recent changes to the National Safety Code lowered weight thresholds for vehicles. This required more rigorous safety inspections for a wider range of lighter vehicles. The inspection schedule requires that

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vehicles undergo an external inspection each year.

CAODC proposed that the MOU accept a maintenance program that modified the rigorous inspection schedule to one that was more sensible for service rigs.

Lilley explains the reasoning behind modifying the inspection schedule: “Service rigs get that concession because 95 percent of the time they are rigged up on a site, so they put on very few kilometres.”

As has been the case throughout the MOU discussions, it’s a matter of give and take. Lilley continues, “To give them that concession, we expect them to do things to earn it.”

Industry will earn that concession by implementing more frequent internal inspections. The yearly external audit will only be required once every five years, but the MOU requires that contractors undertake an internal written inspections every time the rig is moved and an additional, more thorough internal inspections every six months.

An Ongoing Conversation

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In short, updating the MOU to address today’s regulatory environment has been a lengthy undertaking. Says Scholz, “This MOU is ARNCO TECHNOLOGY TRUST LTD. an important piece to the CAODC membership. Going forward, we’re 3657 Briarpark Drive, Houston, Texas 77042-5205, USA tel: 832-214-5200 • fax: 832-214-5205 going to change how we manage it. email: arnco@arncotech.com • website: www.arncotech.com The MOU is a discussion the industry would like to revisit every year, not once every eight years. “ Rowbotham, looking back over 391652_Arnco.indd 1 the three years of MOU discussions, is pleased with the way industry is approaching the issues. He sees laudable progress in the new practices and believes the negotiations have reflected well on the industry: “This has been just another step at constant improvement. We never settle. It’s always good to try to better yourself somehow.”

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A Judicial Nod to

“Safety-Sensitive” Drug Policy I

n fall 2007, the OilDriller provided an overview of Enform’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Model for the Canadian Upstream Petroleum Industry. That article noted that alcohol and drug policies need to justify a balance between an individual’s rights and workplace safety. It also noted that striking this balance can be an onerous task: It must be consistent with Canada’s legal rulings on the subject, but these rulings are always evolving.

A recent ruling has been added to the annuls of this legal framework, Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission v. Kellogg Brown & Root (Canada) Company (also known as the “Chiasson” case) In the case, an individual who used drugs recreationally was fired after the employer obtained the results of his pre-employment drug screen. The employee had failed the drug screen, and the employer used these results as grounds for dismissal. The individual sought a human rights complaint against his employer.

The Alberta Court of Appeal found in favour of the employer in this case.

MacLeod Dixon, the employer’s legal representation, notes the Court’s decision on its Website: “In its decision, the Court held that pre-employment drug screen, with automatic consequences in the event of failure, does not violate the Human Rights, Citizenship & Multiculturalism Act in a case dealing with a safety-sensitive workplace.”

This decision has particular resonance for the upstream petroleum industry. In its Alcohol and Drug Policy Model, the concept of “safety-sensitive” work environments is a key underpinning. The model

The Canadian Oil Driller • Fall 2008

15

“Extending human rights protections to situations resulting in placing the lives of others at risk flies in the face of logic.” encourages companies to build policies that take into account different risk environments within their companies.

The model uses a matrix that categorizes each position in a com-

pany according to risk. The rigour of the alcohol and drug testing conditions correlates to that risk.

Both a position’s work activity and a position’s work environment

can be contributing factors in risk assessment. For example, computer support personnel working in a non-operating location (for example, away from a rig) would be considered “non-safety sensitive.” A service rig floorhand also working in a non-operating location similarly would be considered “non-safety-sensitive.”

If the computer support personnel were to move to a rig site, the safety-sensitivity of the position would be upgraded to “potentially safety-sensitive” while a well services floorhand employed at the rig site would be considered “safety-sensitive.” (Any activity involving driving is, at minimum, “potentially safety-sensitive.”)

By associating testing and intervention directly with the potential for risk, the matrix identifies how rigorous the testing should be.

The results of the Chiasson case – which note that strict guidelines on drug and alcohol use are warranted in a safety-sensitive position – can be taken as a nod to the Enform’s safety sensitive approach.

As for the intersection between human rights and workplace safety, the judge drew a clear, common sense between which of these variables take precedence: “Extending human rights protections to situations resulting in placing the lives of others at risk flies in the face of logic.”

After the decision was handed down, the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission, which represented the dismissed employee, took the next step: an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. In February, the Supreme Court dismissed the Commission’s application. The Alberta Court of Appeal’s opinion stands as the final word!

For more information on the Chiasson case, go to www. macleoddixon.com.

For more information on how to obtain Enform’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Model for the Canadian Upstream Petroleum Industry, see www.enform.ca.

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The Canadian Oil Driller • Fall 2008

17

COMMITTEE PROFILE

Committee Profile: The Rig Technician Provincial Apprenticeship Committee B

efore the Rig Tech trade even had a name, a committee was brought together to ask the big questions about the proposed trade: how much on-the-job training should be logged? What topics would be covered in technical training? What will the record book look like? And yes, even “what should the trade be called?”

Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) worked with CAODC to coordinate the committee, and the committee was identified (as per AIT’s terminology) as the “Provincial Apprenticeship Committee” (PAC).

CAODC’s downtown Calgary board room is typically busy with committee meetings, but the first meeting of the Provisional Apprenticeship Committee had a unique aspect to it: The committee had a one-to-one ratio between management personnel and field personnel. This set-up is an AIT policy for all trade committees.

Senior field employees – the frontline of any trade – are an important voice and a critical perspective in PAC discussions.

The drillers who attended that first meeting realised they were being asked to be part of something much larger than a one-off meeting. “I thought we were just getting some information and giving some 18

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feedback,” one committee member said during a break.

“But we’re really here to help build this thing.”

The PAC met often – usually monthly – during the trade’s development period. The committee members looked at all aspects of how apprenticeship training would affect the workplace and how the trade could be flexible to accommodate a drilling rig’s unique work environment.

They addressed the broad question: How can classroom training help a crewmember be more confident in his day-to-day responsibilities?

Today, the Rig Tech trade has nearly 3,000 registered apprentices.

Technical training classes (for all three levels of the trade) run across western Canada. The heavy work

Today, the Rig Tech trade has nearly 3,000 registered apprentices.

of trade development finished, the committee now meets twice a year to cover housekeeping issues. The Committee receives updates about apprenticeship registrations and addresses curriculum issues that the vocational schools bring forward.

PAC is officially an AIT committee, but CAODC continues to work closely with this group. The CAODC membership recognized the value in using the same industry representatives to help govern the Rig Tech trade in other jurisdictions.

(Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories all offer the trade).

The Rig Tech trade is the first trade in Canada to offer identical training from day one of an apprentice’s training through to the jour-

neyman certificate no matter which province or territory the apprentice is registered with. This industry is driven by geological lines – lines which aren’t governed by provincial borders – and because of the continuous movement of employees and equipment across borders, it made sense to create and maintain a training program that was uniform across the industry, not parceled according to a political map.

This objective is unprecedented.

In all other trades, an apprentice trains according to a standard set by the province. Only when the apprentice becomes a journeyperson can they apply to write a Red Seal exam which confers interprovincial recognition.

Despite the fact that this trade uniformity has never been attempted before, the drilling industry has the right tools to help achieve this goal: A well-supported association that works nationally, good relationships with the different apprenticeship divisions and a strong group of industry representatives, the PAC, who, in some combination between where they live and where they work, do cover western Canada.

who holds a Rig Tech journeyman certificate or drilling company manager is welcome to forward their name to AIT or to CAODC. The drilling industry is a dynamic one, and PAC members frequently must give up their seat as they move to other sectors of the oil and gas industry.

For people who want to get involved, more information, including a list of current committee members, can be found at www.rigtech.ca.

from companies of all sizes. They seek representation from people well-versed with different ranges of rig equipment – from triples to coiltubing to super singles. And finally, the ratio between field employees and management personnel needs to be managed so that it is always one-to-one.

To help manage this committee’s needs, there is a formal application process. However, any driller

An Opportunity to Get Involved PAC members are the industry’s voice for guiding the trade. Part of 351192_Cantool.indd 1 a PAC member’s responsibility is to be a point of contact for those in the industry. Whether you are a journeyman Rig Tech working as a driller or a first-year apprentice working as a motorhand or a business owner running a fleet of rigs, the PAC members are available to you to discuss trade issues.

For individuals wanting greater involvement in directing the trade, PAC often has positions available.

PAC has a limited number of Grande Prairie (Head Office) ......(866) 814-6111 member seats, and the composition Grande Prairie (West).................(780) 532-7366 of the committee is carefully manDrayton Valley ............................(780) 542-6110 aged to ensure the committee proEdson ..........................................(780) 712-6111 vides a good representation of the Fort Nelson .................................(250) 774-6111 industry. CAODC and the provinFort Smith ...................................(867) 872-2136 cial apprenticeship divisions try to High Level...................................(780) 926-4201 ensure that PAC has representation

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The Canadian Oil Driller • Fall 2008 19 PM 8/12/08 8:49:06

By Aimée Barnabé

“The Drilling Conference really allows the sharing of concepts without egos or agendas.”

T

heir aim was to “catch the moving target” and they hit the centre ring! The CADE•CAODC Drilling Conference, held June 3 at Vertigo Theatre, was a resounding success by all accounts. Taking the gamble of changing to an annual format paid off in spades with record attendance at the event.

Engineers, Drilling Managers, Producers, Manufacturers and students gathered for the one-day forum to exchange ideas and take advantage of networking opportunities.

The concept for this year’s conference was a reflection of everything that has happened to the Canadian oilfield in the last year. The theme, “Chasing the Moving Target,” was chosen to express the need for adaptation of drilling and sharing of concepts without egos or agendas.” In the spirit of completions programs, as well as fundamental cost structhat knowledge exchange presentations from the event have tures in the wake of political mandates like the Alberta oil and been posted on the Website as a take away for delegates. gas royalty changes, federal trust company tax reform, and To raise the bar this time around, organizers rounded the effect of the rising Canadian dollar. out the program by bringing in several influential keynote An exceptional lineup of speakers revealed their successes and challenges in drilling programs and new technology.

Presentations touched on the areas of Risk Mitigation in Well Operations, State-Of-The-Art Drilling Technology, Drilling Fluids, and Unconventional Resource Plays.

“The Call for Presentations yielded an overwhelming number of collaborative presentations,” said Technical Chairman Doug Hollies. “It created a great opportunity for delegates to get a look at advanced technologies and, through case studies, examine how they are applied in the field.” He adds, “The Drilling Con- Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach answers reporters’ ference really allows the questions at the CADE-CAODC Drilling Conference.

-Technical Chairman Doug Hollies

20

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Flames Central was the setting for the luncheon featuring an address from Alberta’s Premier Ed Stelmach. “Having Premier Stelmach speak at the event was an important and timely addition to our agenda,” said Conference Co-Chair Ryan Schoenhals. “It gave our membership the opportunity to hear directly from the Premier on clarification of the unintended consequences of the Royalty Review. It is definitely still a hot topic in industry right now.”

The overwhelming success of this year’s event has given the planning committee a real mandate to provide another highcaliber event for industry next year. Preparations have already begun for the 2009 edition of the CADE•CAODC Annual Drilling Conference. The Technical ComDoug Hollies, the Technical Committee Chair for the conference, gives opening remarks. mittee will be soliciting presentations early and hopes to expand the program yet again to provide even more opportunities speakers. The tone was set by oil industry historian David for peer to peer sharing.

Finch. Finch opened the proceedings with a look back at For more information on this year’s conference how things used to be done, an interesting contrast to the and updates on next year’s event visit the Website at up-to-the minute nature of the presentations that dominated www.drillingconference.ca. the schedule.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Drilling Members: Exile Drilling Ltd. Associate Members: ATB Corporate Financial Services Bonnybrook Steel Fabricators Ltd. Crescent Point Energy Trust Dudak Intenberg Inc. Tarpon Energy Services Ltd. TerraPro Group of Companies The CAODC community looks forward to working with you!

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach speaking at the CADE-CAODC Drilling Conference.

The Canadian Oil Driller • Fall 2008

21

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS BORE FLUID CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS Katch Kan Ltd. ......................................................14

MACHINING Cantool Industries, Inc. .........................................19

CAMP & CATERING SERVICES Aramark Remote Services.....................................14

MOTELS Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre .......................22

CARDLOCKS United Farmers of Alberta ............. Inside Back Cover

NEW & USED OILFIELD EQUIPMENT Petro & Propane a Div. of Parkland Industries, LP .........................................19

DRILL PIPE PRODUCTS Grant Prideco Canada .................Outside Back Cover DRILLING CONTRACTORS Trinidad Drilling Ltd. ...............................................4 DRILLING EQUIPMENT Varco Canada Ltd. ..................................................3

SPILL CONTAINMENT Katch Kan Ltd. ......................................................14

OILFIELD CONSULTANTS & PROJECT MANAGERS Pajak Engineering Ltd. ..........................................17

TIRE PROTECTION CHAINS & TRACTION CHAINS Rud Chain, Inc. .......................................................6

OILFIELD DRILLING EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Alco Industrial ............................... Inside Front Cover OILFIELD DRILLING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES Cantool Industries, Inc. .........................................19

DRILLING RIGS & EQUIPMENT Allan R. Nelson Engineering (1997) Ltd. ................17

OILFIELD SERVICES & PRODUCTS Cantool Industries, Inc. .........................................19

HARDBANDING Postle Industries, Inc.............................................13

OILFIELD SUPPLIES & RENTALS Katch Kan Ltd. ......................................................14

INSURANCE Renfrew Insurance Ltd. ...........................................8

PREMIUM THREADING & OILFIELD Cantool Industries, Inc. .........................................19

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TRAINING PROGRAMS Enform..................................................................17 TRANSPORTATION Road Train Oilfield Transport Ltd. ..........................14 USED EQUIPMENT Intercontinental Oil Field .......................................17 WELL SERVICING Denarii Well Servicing Ltd. ....................................22

The Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors would like to thank the advertisers whose support made this publication possible.

MOTELS Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre Box 7290, 9510-100 St. Peace River, AB T8S 1S9 Phone: (780) 624-3621 Fax: (780) 624-4855 Web: www.sawridge.com Major Credit Cards accepted, Parking for Rigs, Restaurant

P.O. Box 1941 Camrose, AB T4V 1X8

22 391409_Denarii.indd 1

SAFETY SPECIALISTS HSE Integrated Ltd. ...............................................16 Trojan Safety ..........................................................8 United Safety Ltd. ...................................................8

OILFIELD EQUIPMENT Casco Ltd. ............................................................12

DRILLING EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS Arnco Technology Trust ........................................13 Cantool Industries, Inc. .........................................19

DENARII

RIG SAFETY Katch Kan Ltd. ......................................................14

7/29/08 8:17:47 PM

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