PSAC member company volunteers essential to rebuilding
A FLOOD of suppOrt
FALL 2013
PSAC golf tourney tees up scholarships for students
2013 Drilling Activity Forecast Update
Pason field workers help in missing children search
PM#40020055
T H E O F F I C I A L V O I C E O F T H E P E T R O L E U M S E R V I C E S A S S O C I AT I O N O F C A N A D A
PSAC_Fall _2013-p01.indd 1 2013-08-22 9:33 AM
000PSN-PHR-FP.indd 1 8/9/13 10:39:34 AM
Located just north of Calgary in Rocky View County,Balzac offers tremendous advantages to businesses and industrieslooking for relocation opportunities.
Alberta’s oil and gas sector is the lifeblood of the Alberta economy.When it flourishes, every citizen in Alberta benefits. Rocky View County plays a key role in this success story by facilitating growthand development of this vital industry. Rocky View has become a prime location for new business in Alberta.
Take advantage of the Rocky View County success story.Take your operation to the next level. Take it to Balzac.
www.thinkingalberta.com
Cultivating Successes
Rocky View_PrintReady.pdf 7/23/13 4:16:59 PM
000PSN-RockyViewCounty-FP.indd 1 7/23/13 4:17:33 PMPSAC_Fall _2013-p02-03.indd 2 2013-08-23 4:39 PM
000PSN-PHR-FP.indd 1 8/9/13 10:39:34 AM
Located just north of Calgary in Rocky View County,Balzac offers tremendous advantages to businesses and industrieslooking for relocation opportunities.
Alberta’s oil and gas sector is the lifeblood of the Alberta economy.When it flourishes, every citizen in Alberta benefits. Rocky View County plays a key role in this success story by facilitating growthand development of this vital industry. Rocky View has become a prime location for new business in Alberta.
Take advantage of the Rocky View County success story.Take your operation to the next level. Take it to Balzac.
www.thinkingalberta.com
Cultivating Successes
000PSN-RockyViewCounty-FP.indd 1 7/23/13 4:17:33 PMPSAC_Fall _2013-p02-03.indd 3 8/22/13 9:01:23 AM
13
20
corporatetraining
Your Plan for Success!We are committed to supporting the growth of Alberta business by providing innovative training programs specific to your industry. By supplying you with the right training, we give you the essential tools to grow your workforce, strengthen partnerships in the industry, and expand your business.
We will work with you to identify your training needs and recommend effective and affordable training solutions, customized to your exact requirements. You will receive:
Rodney Holt at 403.342.3550
www.rdc.ab.ca/corporate_training
immediate innovative impactful
000PSN-RedDeerCollege-FP.indd 1 7/31/13 10:31:27 AMPSAC_Fall _2013-p04-05.indd 4 8/22/13 9:02:15 AM
WWW.PSAC.CA �
Features
Departments69
11
22
25
28
30
COVE
R
F A L L 2 0 1 3
PitChing in PSAC members and staff on the front
lines in post-flood Alberta clean-up
EduCAtiOn At thE FOREA golf tourney drives up scholarship
fund for petroleum services and
trade sectors
13
20
MESSAgE FROM thE PRESidEnt
in thE FiELd News, notes and events from the industry
2013 dRiLLing ACtiVity FORECASt uPdAtE Slight spike over 2012 levels
PSAC in ACtiOn Advocacy initiatives from PSAC
BuSinESS MAttERSInnovate Calgary helps oil and gas,
hi-tech sector companies grow
MEMBER PROFiLEPason Systems signs on to
help locate missing children
A LOOk At LEAdERShiPUp close and personal with PSAC board
members Mike Edmonds and Lucas Mezzano
13
WWW.PSAC.CA
25
22
CONTENTS
28
20
corporatetraining
Your Plan for Success!We are committed to supporting the growth of Alberta business by providing innovative training programs specific to your industry. By supplying you with the right training, we give you the essential tools to grow your workforce, strengthen partnerships in the industry, and expand your business.
We will work with you to identify your training needs and recommend effective and affordable training solutions, customized to your exact requirements. You will receive:
Rodney Holt at 403.342.3550
www.rdc.ab.ca/corporate_training
immediate innovative impactful
000PSN-RedDeerCollege-FP.indd 1 7/31/13 10:31:27 AM PSAC_Fall _2013-p04-05.indd 5 8/22/13 9:03:01 AM
� FALL 2013 PetroLeum services news
Mark Salkeld, President & ceo
t’s cLeAr From the APPLicAtions the Petroleum
Services Association of Canada (PSAC) received for this year’s PSAC
Education Fund scholarships that the future holds a lot of promise
for the petroleum services sector. This year, PSAC awarded five regu-
lar member scholarships to students across Canada pursuing post-second-
ary education and the 2013 PSAC Roger Soucy Legacy Scholarship Funded
by KPMG to Ryan Kearns, who is pursuing a career in power engineering
and has demonstrated outstanding commitment to his community of Lac
La Biche, Alberta.
The PSAC Education Fund has given over $200,000 in scholarships and
grants since its inception over a decade ago. The PSAC Education Fund
Golf Classic is the primary fundraiser for PSAC’s scholarship program and,
yet again, had another successful fundraising effort this year which will en-
able the Fund to continue to support the development of a labour pool for the petroleum services sector.
Supporting the development of a labour pool to address the ongoing labour shortage our industry faces
is a key activity for PSAC. PSAC has stepped up our advocacy efforts with both provincial and federal
governments to find long-term policy responses that will assist in helping to build a future workforce.
PSAC is seeing the results of its efforts. In June, PSAC and the Government of Alberta launched a pilot
project which will assist PSAC members in accessing government services and programs related to attract-
ing much needed workers, and will also help PSAC members to navigate the processes involved in federal
foreign worker programs.
We are also working hard to continue to deliver value to our members on other fronts as well. PSAC will
also continue to produce its industry-leading publications and events, to help its members with their busi-
ness planning needs. On Wednesday, October, 30, 2013 PSAC will hold its annual Industry Insights event.
Designed to provide industry representatives with the information they need to plan for the year ahead,
this three-part event is comprised of the PSAC Annual General Meeting, the 2014 Canadian Drilling
Activity Forecast and the Industry Insights dinner.
PSAC will also take the opportunity to update our members on the Working Energy Commitment
initiative. Launched in February, this program is being led by PSAC and 12 of our member companies in-
volved in hydraulic fracturing, and aims at increasing public confidence in hydraulic fracturing operations
and outlines principles under which its members conduct themselves.
PSAC together with representatives from those 12 companies, producers and the regulators have met with
community members across Alberta and British Columbia to gather feedback that will help to inform the
development of a Hydraulic Fracturing Code of Conduct. This program is already having a positive impact on
further opening the lines of communication with local communities about our members’ operations, and we
have met with more than 70 community representatives ranging from landowners to local elected officials.
The strengthened focus on public outreach and community engagement is an important part of how
PSAC is working to champion the interests of all its members, and PSAC looks forward to ongoing com-
munication as that program evolves. We look forward to providing our members with further updates on
all of these initiatives and the other great work we are undertaking on their behalf at our Annual General
Meeting in October.
There’s no doubt that the petroleum services sector will continue to face challenges and tremendous
opportunities, but there’s also no doubt that PSAC will continue to provide the leadership, knowledge and
advocacy in the year ahead to support our members’ success.
Cheers,
Mark Salkeld
President & CEO
IMESSAGE From the PRESIDENT
Building and Planning Ahead
PSAC_Fall_2013_p06-07.indd 6 8/22/13 9:04:07 AM
WWW.PSAC.CA 7
You Gotta See thiSFrackinGthinG!
icsgroup.ca1-866-247-4460
Calgary Edmonton fort mCmurray winnipEg
Simultaneously heat an entire tank farm. maintain frac fluid temperature. mitigate scheduling risks.
iCS group’s ground-breaking frac fluid Heating System is here! pit ponds, above-ground tanks, tank farms – precise, reliable temperature control ensuring consistent up-time and service.
you frac when you’re ready, ‘cause your water is always ready to go!
Ad Heading:You Gotta See...
Publication: PSAC
Art Deadline: Oct 26, 2012
Size: 4.75” (w) x 9.875” (h)
Color: 4-Colour
Strut Docket #: ICS-15
FALL 2013 VOL 13 • No.2
PETROLEUM SERVICES ASSOCIATION OF CANADA 1150 800 6TH AVENUE SW
CALGARY, AB T2P 3G3TEL: 403.264.4195FAX: 403.263.7174
PRESIDENT AND CEO: MARK SALKELDVICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS: KELLY MORRISON
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: LINDA ALDRIDGE
PETROLEUM SERVICES NEWS IS PUBLISHED FOR PSAC BY
VENTURE PUBLISHING INC. 10259-105 STREET,
EDMONTON, AB T5J 1E3TEL: 780.990.0839FAX: 780.425.4921
TOLL-FREE: [email protected]
PUBLISHER: RUTH KELLYDIRECTOR OF CUSTOM CONTENT: MIFI PURVIS
MANAGING EDITOR: SHELLEY WILLIAMSONCONTRIBUTING WRITERS: ROBIN BRUNET, LISA RICCIOTTI
ART DIRECTOR: CHARLES BURKEASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: ANDREA DEBOERASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: COLIN SPENCEPRODUCTION MANAGER: BETTY-LOU SMITH
PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS: BRENT FELZIEN, BRANDON HOOVER DISTRIBUTION: KAREN REILLY
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: PEGGY BOGDAN, KATHY KELLEY, DENNIS McCORMACK, RACHELLE WATTS
PRINTED IN CANADA BY RHINO PRINT SOLUTIONS. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE MAIL TO 10259 105 ST.
EDMONTON AB T5J 1E3. [email protected] • PUBLICATIONS
AGREEMENT #40020055 CONTENTS © 2013 PSAC. NOT TO BE REPRINTED OR
REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION.
The Petroleum Services Association of Canada is the national trade association representing the service, supply and manufacturing sectors within the upstream petroleum industry. PSAC represents a diverse range of nearly 260 member companies, employing more than 80,000 people and contracting almost exclusively to oil and gas exploration and production companies.
PSAC_Fall_2013_p06-07.indd 7 2013-08-23 3:59 PM
www.sterlingwesternstar.ca
9115 - 52 Street SECalgary, AlbertaT2C 2R4
Telephone: 403-720-3400Fax: 403-720-3409
Toll Free: 800-874-5812
7690 Edgar Industrial CourtRed Deer, AlbertaT4P 4E2
Telephone: 403-314-1919Fax: 403-314-2203
Toll Free: 888-314-1919
CalgaryCorporate Head Office
Red Deer
Mark Lester & Alan JohnsonS P E C I A L I Z E D A S S E T S G R O U P
LAKESIDE RETREATGlimpse Lake, BC $4,850,000
CUSTOM HOME GETAWAY Stump Lake, BC $2,750,000
HOSPITALITY PORTFOLIOPort Renfrew, BC $3,950,000
SpecializedAssets.com
BRITISH COLUMBIA UNIQUE PROPERTIES FOR SALE
T: 604.632.3345 / 604.632.3346
LAKE OKANAGAN RESORTKelowna, BC Call for details
E: [email protected] / [email protected]
Impeccable 6,000 sf retreat home/family compound built with historical materials
Located on 6 acres with 560 feet of lake frontage in beautiful Nicola Valley
Fully furnished offering includes a share in the neighbouring Glimpse Lake Ranch Estate
Award winning 4,400 sf home with unique stonework and post beam interiors
Located just 3 hours from Vancouver on 16 acres with 650 feet of lake frontage
dock, state of the art gym, green roof, geothermal heating, riding arena, pastures and more!
Hospitality oriented portfolio including the Port Renfrew Hotel, West Coast Trail Motel and the Lighthouse Pub
Situated on approximately 12 acres and prominently located adjacent to the government wharf with waterfront
Located on 74 acres with almost 5,000 feet of waterfront on Lake Okanagan
Offering includes 76 of the existing 217 units, all amenities, 15 acres of development land and marina
All 76 units are strata and can be sold
PSAC_Fall_2013_p08-09.indd 8 8/22/13 9:06:24 AM
WWW.PSAC.CA �
News, events and activities in the industryIN THE FIELD
PSAC PArTiCiPATEd for the second
time in a tour of oil and gas operations in
farming communities in Alberta, for residents
and farmers hailing from Quebec. The tour
brings together Alberta and Quebec farmers and
landowners for an open discussion about impacts
of oil and gas operations. In addition to touring
a high-tech dairy farm near Rosemary, Alberta,
the guests from Quebec toured multistage
fracturing equipment in a yard and had a chance
to meet with Alberta’s surface rights and farmers’
advocate groups. The July 15 event capped off
with a press conference hosted at PSAC’s offices
in downtown Calgary.
PSAC Joins the Second Annual Quebec Farmers’ Tour
PSAC mEmbErS mAkE uP the
majority of the 50 companies listed by
revenue in Alberta Oil ‘s annual 100 + 50
Energy Service list. The list boasts 27 PSAC
member companies, with several notable
stories including Precision Drilling Corp.
with the largest capital expenditure budget;
Pason Systems Inc. with 2,000 rigs equipped
with its devices around the world; and Black
Diamond Group Ltd., with a purchase of
interests in Australian building companies.
Congratulations.
PSAC Members Make the Top 50 List
COMING EVENTS
PSAC PRE-DRILLING SEASON MEETINGSeptember 12, 2013
Fort St. John, B.C.
PSAC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGOctober 30, 2013
TELUS Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta
2014 CANADIAN DRILLING ACTIVITY FORECASTOctober 30, 2013
TELUS Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta
PSAC INDUSTRY INSIGHTS DINNEROctober 30, 2013
TELUS Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY BLUEPRINT BREAKFAST FORUMDecember 3, 2013
Westin Hotel
Calgary, Alberta
STARS & SPURS GALA PRESENTED BY PSACJanuary 25, 2014
BMO Centre, Stampede Park
Calgary, Alberta
For more information about PSAC events,
visit www.psac.ca/events
NEw MEMBERS
REGULAR MEMBERSEnzo Energy Services
Element Technical Services Inc.
Keane Completions CN Corp.
Targa Energy Services Inc.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSCenturyVallen
Wells Fargo Energy Group
Aviva Canada Inc.
TELUS
Ryder Transportation & Logistic Solutions
Gowlings
THE NorTH AmEriCAN FATiguE mANAgEmENT ProgrAm (NAFMP) for
commercial vehicle drivers and carriers, after many years of research and development is now
available. Designed to address the issue of driver fatigue with a comprehensive approach, the
NAFMP includes:
Information on how to develop a corporate culture that facilitates reduced driver fatigue
Fatigue management education for drivers, drivers’ families, carrier executives and
managers, shippers/receivers, and dispatchers
Information on sleep disorders screening and treatment
Driver and trip scheduling information
Information on Fatigue Management Technologies
To learn more about this program visit, www.nafmp.com.
•
•
•
•
•
North American Fatigue Management Program Now Available
PSAC_Fall_2013_p08-09.indd 9 8/22/13 9:09:20 AM
When the going gets tough, the tough stay put. Through the credit crunch, depressed commodity prices and global economic turmoil, we’ve done just that. We never left the side of the people who’ve made Alberta an economic powerhouse, and we continue to custom build solutions to help them do what they do best…lead. Because Alberta means the world to us.
atb.com/Leaders
TM Trademarks of Alberta Treasury Branches.
Leaders don’t flinch.
000PSN-ATB-FP.indd 1 8/6/13 3:14:17 PM
I
PSAC_Fall_2013_p10-11.indd 10 8/22/13 9:10:24 AM
WWW.PSAC.CA 11
When the going gets tough, the tough stay put. Through the credit crunch, depressed commodity prices and global economic turmoil, we’ve done just that. We never left the side of the people who’ve made Alberta an economic powerhouse, and we continue to custom build solutions to help them do what they do best…lead. Because Alberta means the world to us.
atb.com/Leaders
TM Trademarks of Alberta Treasury Branches.
Leaders don’t flinch.
000PSN-ATB-FP.indd 1 8/6/13 3:14:17 PM
Slow and Steady
DRILLING ACTIVITY FORECAST UPDATE
Note: Total includes activity in Northern and Eastern Canada.
PSAC’S DrIllINg ForECAST ExPECTS CoNTINUED groWTh
N ITS ThIrD UPDATE to the 2013 Canadian Drilling
Activity Forecast, the Petroleum Services Association of
Canada (PSAC) expects to see a three per cent increase over
2012 drilling levels. The revised 2013 forecast estimates a total
of 11, 415 wells (rig releases) to be drilled, which represents a slight
increase of 15 wells from PSAC’s original 2013 forecast released in early
November 2012.
PSAC is basing its updated 2013 forecast on average natural gas prices
of $3.40 CDN/mcf (AECO) and crude oil prices of US$90/barrel (WTI)
and the Canadian dollar averaging (on par with the U.S. dollar) $1.
“This updated forecast is a reflection of a continued healthy pace for our
industry,” says PSAC President and CEO, Mark Salkeld. “Our forecasted
activity levels for this year meet PSAC members’ expectations given they
are looking for a steady pace of activity compared to last year, despite
experiencing a wetter than normal spring resulting in an extended
breakup.”
On a provincial basis, the July revision to the April update includes
a decrease expected in Alberta from 7,563 to 7,190, representing a five
I per cent change. As well, the updated outlook anticipates an uptick in B.C.
from 457 wells to 506, an 11 per cent increase, a decrease of activity of six
per cent in Saskatchewan to 3,081 wells, as well as a decrease of nine per
cent to 613 wells in Manitoba.
“There are many factors at play that are having an effect on activity
levels,” says Salkeld. “Among those having the biggest impact are on-
going low gas prices, current higher prices for oil and tightening of the
differential which has resulted in some uptick in the number of oil wells
being drilled as industry shifts the operations toward oil plays.
Overall, the expected levels of drilling activity, coupled with
increasing efforts to get product to new markets, points strongly to
a positive sign for steady growth over the next few years.” PSAC will
release the 2014 Canadian Drilling Activity Forecast on October 30 in
Calgary.
The Canadian Drilling Activity Forecast can be used with the
PSAC Well Cost Study to effectively determine potential drilling and
completion market sizes, as well as pricing and activity direction. For
more information, contact PSAC at [email protected] or 403.264.4195.
PSAC_Fall_2013_p10-11.indd 11 8/22/13 9:10:57 AM
Managing succession
You’re proud – and rightly so - of what you’ve achieved. You’ve led the way. Now it’s time for others.
Whether it’s the handover to the next generation, or a sale to new owners, you want a smooth transition and you want to maximize value.
KPMG’s Corporate Finance network is the global leader in mid-market M&A transactions.* Together with KPMG’s powerful network of tax, transaction and accounting advisors, we will help you close the deal and secure the future.
kpmg.ca
Passing the baton
*Source: Thomson Reuters SDC; mid-market transactions (under $1 billion - USD)
© 2013 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member fi rm of the KPMG network of independent member fi rms affi liated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
Rhys RenoufManaging Director,KPMG Corporate [email protected]
Deb MacPhersonPartner, KPMG Enterprise, [email protected]
Alex HendersonPartner, Transaction [email protected]
000PSN-KPMG-FP.indd 1 7/24/13 4:04:07 PMPSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 12 8/22/13 9:14:00 AM
WWW.PSAC.CA 13
Managing succession
You’re proud – and rightly so - of what you’ve achieved. You’ve led the way. Now it’s time for others.
Whether it’s the handover to the next generation, or a sale to new owners, you want a smooth transition and you want to maximize value.
KPMG’s Corporate Finance network is the global leader in mid-market M&A transactions.* Together with KPMG’s powerful network of tax, transaction and accounting advisors, we will help you close the deal and secure the future.
kpmg.ca
Passing the baton
*Source: Thomson Reuters SDC; mid-market transactions (under $1 billion - USD)
© 2013 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member fi rm of the KPMG network of independent member fi rms affi liated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
Rhys RenoufManaging Director,KPMG Corporate [email protected]
Deb MacPhersonPartner, KPMG Enterprise, [email protected]
Alex HendersonPartner, Transaction [email protected]
000PSN-KPMG-FP.indd 1 7/24/13 4:04:07 PM
by Lisa Ricciotti
PSAC members and staff are on the front lines, post-flood Alberta
n ThurSdAy, June 20, Ed Oke found himself flying right into the raging storm. Returning from a business trip to Denver, the vice-president of Human Resources at Calfrac Well Services Ltd. anxiously surveyed the landscape below as his plane approached Calgary.
Farmers’ fields lay covered with massive “lakes” that didn’t exist when he left. He’d heard some updates that schools had closed and talk of a mandatory evacuation for parts of the city. Then, as his taxi headed for Calfrac’s corporate headquarters downtown, he caught his first glimpse of the Bow River, flowing furiously at heights he’d never imagined. “That’s when I started thinking, ‘this is not going to be good,’ ” recalls Oke. “And it wasn’t; it got real bad, real fast.”
O
Pitching In Su
bm
itt
ed
ph
oto
PSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 13 8/22/13 9:14:25 AM
14 FALL 2013 PetroLeum services news
serviceAT YOUR
UFA.com
©2013 UFA Co-operative Ltd. All rights reserved.02/13-20751
Bulk Fuel and Oil DeliveryThe right products, at the right time. UFA Bulk Fuel and Oil Delivery gives you the fuel, lubricants and fluids you want, when and where you need it. Our Fuel Quality Assurance Program ensures we meet or exceed the demands of your equipment through continual monitoring. On a job site, for your shop or out in the field – talk to your local UFA Petroleum Agent today.
Fueling your life on the road, in the fields and everywhere in between.
000PSN-UFA-FP.indd 1 4/15/13 9:45:23 AM
By the time Oke arrived home at midnight, he’d decided to close
Calfrac’s downtown office and put the company’s business continuity
emergency response plan into action. On Friday, many other businesses
in Calgary’s central business district – headquarters for many of Canada’s
oil companies and oil-patch service providers – did the same. Power to
the downtown core was cut and the largest evacuation order in the city’s
nearly-120-year history came into effect. As 75,000 residents scrambled to
find temporary homes, waters rose in the Saddledome, covering the first
10 rows of seating in the home of the Calgary Flames.
High River was hit hard and 32 other communities declared states of
emergency, including Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, as well as
several First Nation reserves. Insurers estimated this catastrophic flood
could require $3 billion to $5 billion – or about 20 to 30 times what was
paid out for southern Alberta’s 2005 “flood of the century,” which up to
now was the second-costliest natural disaster in Canadian history.
Despite its magnitude, the southern Alberta flood story will also be
remembered as a time when the human spirit shone, when individuals,
companies and organizations rallied to help total strangers. And
members of PSAC –such as Calfrac, National Oilwell Varco (NOV),
Tervita and Trican Well Service, all headquartered in Calgary – were
among them.
As Mayor Naheed Nenshi asked Calgarians to stay out of downtown,
many businesses kept their doors open electronically, giving employees
the option of working remotely from home. The first order of business,
however, immediately changed from day-to-day operations to ensuring
all staff members were safe and had roofs
over their heads, to helping those who didn’t.
“At Calfrac, everyone wanted to know what
they could do to help,” says Oke. “We realized
we had a pool of company vehicles sitting in
garages and a lot of employees sitting at home.
We decided to put them together and asked for
volunteers.”
By Tuesday, June 25, Calfrac had eight
pickups loaded with volunteers heading
out on a clean-up mission. Equipped with
masks, gloves, goggles and other personal
protective equipment (PPE) to shield them
from contaminated waters, mold and other
health hazards, volunteers were ready to
haul out garbage, rip up basement carpeting,
move furniture and wash walls. Calfrac asked
employees to create an ad hoc list of people who
needed help. Then the company divvied up the
list and off the trucks went.
“That first day in Elbow Park we didn’t get
past the first address on our list; we just kept
working our way round the block,” explains
Oke. “By the end of the day we were dirty, tired
and sore but felt great knowing we’d made a
volunteers from a number of PsAc member companies were helping with cleanup within days.
Su
bm
itt
ed
ph
oto
PSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 14 8/22/13 9:15:25 AM
serviceAT YOUR
UFA.com
©2013 UFA Co-operative Ltd. All rights reserved.02/13-20751
Bulk Fuel and Oil DeliveryThe right products, at the right time. UFA Bulk Fuel and Oil Delivery gives you the fuel, lubricants and fluids you want, when and where you need it. Our Fuel Quality Assurance Program ensures we meet or exceed the demands of your equipment through continual monitoring. On a job site, for your shop or out in the field – talk to your local UFA Petroleum Agent today.
Fueling your life on the road, in the fields and everywhere in between.
000PSN-UFA-FP.indd 1 4/15/13 9:45:23 AM
Su
bm
itt
ed
ph
oto
PSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 15 8/22/13 9:15:47 AM
So What’s the Problem?Is it because...
Drivers plan poorly and don’t get enough sleep? Butt heads with D.O.T. Officers?
Dispatchers have timelines too tight?Carrier’s shops overloaded with repairsShippers use bad packaging and have
unrealistic expectations?
The following courses are availablefrom Capilano Truck Training:
Bring in an Original Copy of this Ad for $25 Off any Day Course.
Class Space Limited. Call 780-463-9664 to Get Started Today!Edmonton & Red Deer
It’s Amazing...Avoid Thousands in Fines by Taking a
Few Hundred Bucks in Courses!
* Offer cannot be combined. 1 per customer. Expires: 02/28/2014
Every day in Alberta, hundreds of drivers get pulled over, get fined, and their bosses get dinged with “carrier points”. NO FUN.
WHOSE FAULT WHEN DRIVERS DISOBEY!
(log books)
Dimensions
Why Capilano?Over 25,000 Successful Students have rock-solid confidence our training
will help you avoid nasty audits and frustrating delays at the scales.Enjoyable Classes students arrive dreading another boring safety
presentation, but are regularly delighted. Our instructors are upbeat, friendly, and interesting to listen to.
Multiple Industries we've trained drivers, and junior admin staff, for all of
TaxAttributeRegistry.ca
Grow your business.Save tax.
Did you know that if you buy or merge with acorporation who is in the same or a similar businessto yours, you can deduct their tax attributes againstyour income? It’s true, and it’s not a loophole. It isa targeted measure designed to help businesseswho might otherwise be in difficulty.
Or, does your corporation have so many taxdeductions that you will probably never be able touse them all? If so, you might want to considerselling your corporation to, or merging yourcorporation with, a profitable corporation in thesame industry as yours. In valuing yourcorporation, your tax deductions will be countedsince the profitable corporation will be able to usethem.
But where do you find the right sale or merger candidate?TaxAttributeRegistry.ca is the answer and registration is free.Check it out and see for yourself.
Partners in Compliance
Excellenceon our roadways
Partners In Compliance
Please Contact us to learn more about
1·800·267·1003
PSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 16 8/22/13 9:16:52 AM
WWW.PSAC.CA 17
difference. People were so appreciative.”
As Calfrac’s office re-opened the next day,
trucks of volunteers headed out again and again.
Other employees borrowed PPE supplies from
Calfrac and organized relief efforts on their
own to help friends and neighbours. “None
of us had a real appreciation of the damage
until we went out and saw homes covered with
mud, watermarks up to ceilings, and piles of
destroyed personal belongings,” says Oke. “It
was like A Tale of Two Cities. Some areas of
Calgary weren’t affected at all, and where life
went on as normal it was hard to imagine the
devastation in other neighbourhoods. But inside
the flooded areas, it was like a war zone.”
While floodwaters receded quickly in Calgary,
High River was another story. “And there we
were, a pressure-pumping services provider with
all this pumping equipment,” Oke says.
Calfrac brought in a crew from Red Deer
equipped with secondary pumps and for nine
days, a dozen employees worked around the
clock in two rotating shifts. Oke says “They
moved a lot of water, 60 million gallons. We
estimate Calfrac’s total cost for that project was
around $200,000.” Back at the office, Calfrac set
up a matching-funds internal fundraiser that
resulted in a $15,000 donation to Red Cross.
Mike Doepel, an area manager for NOV Wilson
Canada’s national field sales and operations, was
also away on business as the waters rose. He heard
how his Okotoks neighbourhood near the Sheep
River was threatened, how everyone was pitching
in to help – and then how a neighbour was
tragically killed after being thrown from his ATV
while checking sandbags.
“That really hit me,” says Doepel. “Here’s a
man who risked his life – and lost it – to help
while I couldn’t do anything. He became my
inspiration. I vowed I would help unconditionally
with flood relief when I got back, because I was
returning home while another man with a wife
and six kids wasn’t.”
Before returning to Calgary, Doepel still had
travel to Houston, where parent company NOV
is headquartered. There, he received approval to
take NOV Wilson’s “We Care” campaign to all
divisions across Canada, increasing fundraising
efforts from around 900 employees to 3,500
nationally.
Finally back in Calgary, Doepel became the
natural leader for company activities already
underway and created a succinct catchphrase to
describe how employees could get involved: Time, Talent and Treasury.
“We really wanted to get the message out that everyone can find some
way to participate,” Doepel explains. “We set our goal at $200,000, but it’s
not just about money. That sum represents a cash equivalent of however
people choose to pay it forward – by volunteering their time or their
talent or by giving cash or a donation in kind.”
By the end of July, NOV’s “We Care” campaign had already passed
the half-way point. Cash donations were accumulating from staff
across Canada (which will be matched by NOV); client companies had
contributed $28,000; volunteers were manning a flood relief information
booth every weekend at Crossroads, Calgary’s largest year-round market,
collecting donations from the general public; and volunteer work crews
“ NoNe of uS hAd A reAl APPreCiAtioN of the dAmAge uNtil We WeNt out”
– ed oKe, viCe-PreSideNt of humAN reSourCeS At CAlfrAC Well ServiCe ltd.
Su
bm
itt
ed
ph
oto
Cleanup was a big part of the volunteers’ efforts.
PSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 17 8/22/13 9:17:29 AM
18 FALL 2013 PetroLeum services news
were pitching in to help in High River and on Siksika First Nation. A
barbecue was held for High River residents, where 50 staff showed up
with their personal grills to flip burgers and roast hot dogs. And plans
were in the works for a NOV Barbecue Week, when 120 locations across
Canada would host fundraising barbecues.
As well, one of NOV Wilson’s high-profile employees had more than
done his part: Tom Jackson, vice-president of business development/
Dreamcatcher oil spill technology (more widely known as Tom Jackson,
singer, songwriter, actor and humanitarian) brought together top
performers from the Alberta Ballet to Susan Aglukark to Olympian
Kaillie Humphries for a sold-out Halo High Water benefit concert and
telethon, held August 4 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
“Hopefully that event will raise millions, but we won’t count those
proceeds toward our goal,” says Doepel. “Still, I feel confident we’ll reach
$200,000 and personally I’m aiming for $500,000.”
For Jaime MacDonald and her co-workers, there was no question about
getting involved. “It was a no-brainer decision; it’s part of our culture,”
says Trican’s director of talent management. “We wanted to do more than
make a financial donation.”
Since MacDonald is part of Trican Cares, the company’s community
involvement committee, she and other members naturally became
the co-ordinating committee for volunteers. “Our past experience has
been doing things like making sandwiches for the Mustard Seed and
organizing fundraisers for breast cancer or United Way,” she explains.
“We had to create some unique roles this time, like a PPE co-ordinator.”
Trican mobilized its volunteers quickly and work crews were out cleaning
up Calgary just days after the flood hit. Its volunteers also teamed up with
partner companies to make an even greater impact, joining NAL Resources
volunteer crews and their water pumps to tackle flooded basements and
overflowing sewage systems. From a command
centre set up just east of High River, Trican
and Pengrowth provided PPE, volunteers and
equipment to pump out flooded basements and
perform bleach-water washes on damaged homes.
Up to 12 combo vacuum/pressure wash trucks,
two dump trucks and a loader were kept busy
daily as volunteers cleaned up homes and cleared
out garbage.
“It was our privilege to help out,” says
MacDonald. “It was humbling to see how gracious
people were, even though they’d lost everything.”
She’s proud of how employees demonstrated
that Trican’s core values are more than words on
paper and, although the clean-up has now shifted
to contracted companies, employees continue
finding ways to help, hosting a week of pancake
breakfasts and rounding up books, DVDs and
CDs for the Calgary Public Library’s donation
fundraiser to replace 20,000 books and other
materials damaged during the flood.
Tervita mobilized its people and expertise
to ensure The Greatest Outdoor Show on
Earth would go on. When floodwaters washed
over Calgary (and Tervita’s downtown offices,
which were under water for three days),
the Calgary Stampede was just weeks away.
As an environmental and energy services
company with expertise in reclamation, site
rehabilitation, and the cleanup of hazardous
materials, Tervita was well equipped to take
on the seemingly hopeless task of restoring the
flood-damaged Stampede grounds within a
very short time frame.
“It’s our business, it’s what we’re good at,”
explains Stacie Dley, Tervita’s communications
advisor. “We never had time to consider the
possibility of failure. The Stampede is such a
quintessential Alberta event, we had to succeed.”
Tervita pulled in crews and specialized equipment
from its network across Canada, and managed 10
subcontractors. And they got the job done.
Tervita also helped stabilize damaged rail
lines near Canmore, Exshaw and Okotoks
and was contracted by the Government of
Alberta for six months of specialized recovery
and reconstruction work in High River. “The
impact of the southern Alberta flood was
overwhelming,” Dley says. “But the human
response, as so many pulled together to help
out, is equally overwhelming. It speaks to the
powerful energy of our city and Albertans’ great
resilience and compassion.”
trican volunteers’ efforts included setting up a command centre east of High river.
Submitted photo
PSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 18 8/22/13 9:18:08 AM
PSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 19 8/22/13 9:18:32 AM
20 FALL 2013 PetroLeum services news
A golf tourney drives up scholarship funds for petroleum
services and trade sectors
he PsAc educAtion Fund has more cash coming its way with another successful Golf Tournament held on July 18, at the Calgary Elks Lodge and Golf Club. The more than $50,000 raised will provide scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary education, including
those enrolled in university or trades programs related to the petroleum services sector.
T
EducationAT THE
Fore
Laurie taskinen (left), a university of Alberta student affiliated with snubco Pressure control Ltd. and meghan Kruger (right), a university of calgary student affiliated with tenaris Global services (canada) inc., were two of five PsAc regular member scholarship recipients who were presented cheques by PsAc education Fund chair, travis strube.
PSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 20 8/22/13 9:21:43 AM
WWW.PSAC.CA 21
Education
The tournament delivered perfect golfing weather and a
lot of fun contests and games, including the ever-popular
“beat the PSAC president” longest-drive contest, a draw worth
$2,000. Additional tournament highlights included cheque
presentations to Meghan Kruger, a University of Calgary
student affiliated with Tenaris Global Services (Canada) Inc.
and Laurie Taskinen, a University of Alberta student affiliated
with Snubco Pressure Control Ltd., who were each awarded a
$1,000 PSAC Regular Member scholarship.
Three other 2013 PSAC Regular Member Scholarships
have been awarded to Nicole Bulan, a Seneca College
student affiliated with Halliburton Group Canada;
Connie Ho, a University of Alberta student affiliated
with Stream-Flo Industries Ltd.; and Patricia Sanchez, a
University of Lethbridge student affiliated with Precision
Drilling Corporation.
The PSAC Education Fund also manages the KPMG-
funded $2,500 Roger Soucy Legacy Scholarship, which
was awarded to Ryan Kearns, a Portage College power
engineering student affiliated with Sanjel Corporation from
Lac La Biche, Alberta. This award is given to a student who
demonstrates academic achievement and commitment to
community while pursuing a post-secondary education in a
petroleum-related or trades-related program.
Since 2001, the PSAC Education Fund has awarded more
than $200,000 in scholarships and grants to deserving
recipients. PSAC will begin accepting applications for the
2014 scholarships in January 2014. For more information
about PSAC’s scholarship program, visit www.psac.ca
Thank you To our SponSorS and donorS
Major SponSorSATB Financial
Calfrac Well Services Ltd.
Derrick Exhibit
Gibson Energy
Grant Thornton
Import Tool Corp. Ltd.
JuneWarren Nickle’s Energy Group
KalTire
KPMG
National Oilwell Varco
Sterling Western Star Trucks Alberta Ltd.
Stream-Flo Industries Ltd.
Strike Energy Services Inc.
Tenaris Global Services (Canada) Inc.
Weatherford Canada Partnership
hole SponSorS ARC Financial Corporation
Cole International
ComplyWorks Ltd.
Doran Stewart Oilfield Services
Enterprise Commercial Trucks
FP iMarketing
Halliburton Group Canada
Jim Peplinski’s Leasing
Lloyd Sadd Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Pajak Engineering Ltd.
Sanjel Canada Ltd.
Trojan Safety Services
Green SponSorSClean Harbors Energy and
Industrial Services
Di-Corp
Ensign OPSCO Energy Industries
FMC Technologies Company
RBC Royal Bank
Schlumberger Canada Ltd.
Topco Oilsite Products Ltd.
donorS and SupporTerS Community Natural Foods
Crowfoot Liquor
ExtraTech Automotive
HUB International Ltd.
Janet Horbacio Photography
Moving Forward Ltd.
Pazzer’s Saskatchewan Pub
Select Coffee Service
Sheraton Red Deer Hotel
TELUS Convention Centre
Westin Calgary
Lucas Mezzano, chair, PSAC Board of Directors, and Mark Salkeld, president and CEO, PSAC, enjoy some fun and sun at the 2013 PSAC Education Fund Golf Tournament.
Education Fund Golf Classic committee volunteer Brian Farmer sports his “flower power” apparel.
PSAC_Fall_2013_p12-21.indd 21 8/22/13 9:22:48 AM
22 FALL 2013 PetroLeum services news
the PetroLeum services AssociAtion oF cAnAdA (PsAc) continues to keeP the services sector Front And centre through AdvocAcy And outreAch
Other efforts to assist members with their labour requirements including
working with the federal Employment Insurance commissioner to see how
we might better connect unemployed and under-employed Canadians
with PSAC members’ job openings and participation on an Alberta
government committee, examining high school credentialing to ensure
future graduates better meet the needs of the oil and gas services sector.
On the foreign worker front, PSAC participated in a conference
call with federal Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
(HRSDC) Minister Diane Finley on the impact of changes announced
to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and attended
a roundtable consultation. The event was hosted by Parliamentary
Secretary to Minister Finley, Dr. Kelly Leitch, as well as MP Joan
Crockatt (Calgary Centre) and MP LaVar Payne (Medicine Hat), to
discuss TFWP issues and impacts of the recent changes announced.
PSAC also been providing input and attended a consultation for the
federal Expression of Interest (EOI) program that is being developed
to improve the federal immigration system while at the same time,
assisting employers by providing access to a databank of applications.
IntroducIng a PIlot Project wIth the alberta government to address labour shortages PSAC is pleased to announce that, through its efforts to address labour
shortages and recruitment challenges of PSAC members, the Alberta
government has launched a pilot project that will assist members in accessing
government services and programs and navigating processes for federal
foreign worker programs. We hope members will take full advantage of
this opportunity and give us feedback on the results. For more information,
please visit the members’ area of the PSAC website or email [email protected].
PursuIng Further actIon on labour shortages
IncreasIng suPPort For members In saskatchewan
In recognition of the increasing importance of the growing
opportunities in Saskatchewan and the need for PSAC to work with
key players in developing solutions to obstacles to continued growth,
for the first time the PSAC Board of Directors held its monthly meeting
in Regina. This meeting was attended by the Saskatchewan Minister
of Energy, the Honourable Tim MacMillan, and his chief of staff,
Cole Schulz, who discussed Saskatchewan’s business climate and the
importance of the oil and gas industry to the future economic outlook
of the province.
While in Saskatchewan, PSAC members also attended the bi-
annual Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show in Weyburn, which
provided many PSAC members the opportunity to display and
explain the technologies and innovations that are improving the
industry’s performance. During the show, PSAC brought together the
producer and services communities at the first-ever PSAC Southeast
Saskatchewan Business Forum.
PSAC member companies, producer companies and representatives
from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources met to get
a better understanding of supply chain challenges and opportunities
with the goal of discussing opportunities to grow a local services
sector in and around the Weyburn and Estevan areas.
PSAC also recently met with Nancy Perras and Rosanne Boyarski,
Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance, to advance ongoing discussions
related to the PST regime and the Ministry’s work to re-write
Interpretive Bulletin PST-13, which governs the application of the PST
legislation on the petroleum services sector.
rePresentIng Psac members at the canadIan energy strategy workshoPIn June, PSAC attended a Canadian Energy Strategy stakeholder
workshop organized by the Council of the Federation, which is
comprised of all of the provincial and territorial premiers. Workshop
participants discussed energy in Canada in three broad areas:
sustainability and conservation, technology and innovation, and
delivering energy. Key points from each of those discussions with be
provided as input for consideration in the development of a Canadian
Energy Strategy.
suPPortIng oPPortunItIes For manuFacturIng membersAt PSAC’s recent Manufacturing Committee meeting, PSAC hosted
Lynn Wyton, Senior Director, Alberta Enterprise and Advanced
Education, Supply Chain Development, Industrial Development
Branch, to discuss the Government of Alberta’s initiatives to assist oil
sands producers in finding manufacturing capacity outside Alberta.
The focus of the meeting was to ensure that PSAC member companies
have the opportunity to participate in these initiatives, possibly
through joint ventures, outsourcing or collaboration.
Psac in actIon
PSAC_Fall_2013_p22-24.indd 22 8/22/13 9:24:14 AM
Worldwide Patents & Patents Pending
North America: 1-800-840-2877International: 1 (780) [email protected] more at www.katchkan.com
Zero Spill System™ (ZSS™)
facebook.com/KatchKanLtd@KatchKan
Hose & Tank
Upper Katch Kan™
Window Stripper™
ACE™
2nd Stage
Katch Kan™
H-Seal
Surface Junk Basket™
Steel Adapter Plate
Flow Nipple Seal
Nu-Lite Flange Adapter™
Discharge
We Protect Lives & The Environment
“Where Cu
stomers
Come
First !!
”
PSAC_Fall_2013_p22-24.indd 23 8/22/13 9:25:18 AM
Tundra Process Solutions Ltd. is increasing their customer base, product range and markets — they’re dynamically positioned to continue exceeding customers’ expectations. At Grant Thornton we’re proud to be a part of their success — by positioning them to manage opportunities.
Our team provides Tundra with a wide range of tax compliance services for expansion into the U.S., as well as advice on streamlining accounting processes and improvement of controls, ensuring their continued growth and expansion runs smoothly.
We’re a leading national accounting firm with a full range of audit, tax and business advisory services — and we know the challenges that companies in the oil and gas industry face. Give us a call. And let us help unlock your potential for growth.
Tundra Process Solutions Ltd. knows products and service.
We know opportunity and profit maximization.
GrantThornton.ca
Audit • Tax • Advisory
Jeremy Fearnley, CA, CAFMNorthern AlbertaT +1 780 401 8234E [email protected]
Devin Wagner, CA•CBVSouthern AlbertaT +1 403 260 2543E [email protected]
Calgary l Edmonton l Camrose l Wetaskiwin
© Grant Thornton LLP. A Canadian Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd
000PSN-GrantThornton-FP.indd 1 8/20/13 11:36:47 AMPSAC_Fall_2013_p22-24.indd 24 8/22/13 9:25:47 AM
WWW.PSAC.CA 25
allowing operators to reduce the total energy requirements and cost of their
drilling process and reducing the associated environmental impact.
In July, nFluids completed a private round of financing from a group
of angel investors and Yaletown Venture Partners. “This partnership not
only provides us with capital, it also adds a partner with considerable
market intelligence and industry expertise,” nFluids president David
Edmonds says. “nFluids is ramping up operations through a series of field
tests that will support existing laboratory results and provide additional
data to bring the technology closer to market.”
Patented history“For me, joining the organization was a great way to give back to an
industry that has supported me over the years,” says Garrett, adding
Innovate Calgary’s 45-person team is largely comprised of profession-
als who were either previously entrepreneurs or were responsible for the
creation of start-up companies. “In other words, they’re not bureaucrats
and having a background in these specific fields makes communicating
with clients very easy because we know the difficulties they face and the
ambitions they have,” says Garrett.
Pooling resourcesInnovate Calgary was formed under a joint-operating agreement between
Calgary Technologies Inc. (a not-for-profit organization) and University
Technologies International (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University
of Calgary). “The policy-makers of each organization realized a partner-
ship would create a substantial synergy between services, some of which
overlapped,” says Garrett.
he nAme InnovAte CAlgAry may only be three
years old, but for a growing number of entrepreneurs and start-
up companies it has become an invaluable and proven resource.
That’s because more than ever, Alberta’s oil and gas sector
is scrambling to meet core business objectives while complying with
changing regulatory and environmental standards. The sector is also
changing in key ways.
“Traditionally, innovation focused on geology and processing,” says
Peter Garrett, president of Innovate Calgary, whose programs have been
in place in some capacity for 30 years. “While this is still true today, more
innovations are revolving around high tech. We’re also seeing oil and gas
people looking outside of their industry to improve cost structures and
social licence.”
Innovate Calgary’s mandate is to accelerate commercialization of emerg-
ing technologies, facilitate and support the creation of technology-based
companies and assist in the growth of existing firms in southern Alberta.
“Our main objective is to support and build the oil and gas sector’s tech-
based economy,” says Garrett, adding the ultimate goal is to be the go-to for
commercialization and knowledge transfer.
creating viable venturesThree main client groups turn to Innovate Calgary: entrepreneurs and
small to medium-sized companies; inventors; and investors seeking
early-stage technologies opportunities. “For the first group, we help with
everything from creating boards of directors to drawing up business
plans,” says Garrett. “For inventors, we offer market assessment, patent
strategies and the co-ordination of licence agreements.”
As mundane as these services may seem, they are vital: new inventions
must address market needs better than competing technologies and in a
manner that allows for the creation of viable business ventures.
As for investors, services are all geared towards matching this type of
client with the appropriate partner or investment opportunity. Other In-
novate Calgary services include intellectual property protection and strat-
egy, company creation and incubation, and the mitigation of the financial
and resource risks associated with technology commercialization.
a case studyOne recent example worth noting is company creation client nFluids Inc., a
privately held University of Calgary spin-out firm. nFluids has developed a
nanoparticle oil and gas drilling fluid additive that reduces fluid losses dur-
ing drilling, while increasing lubrication, strengthening the well bore, thus
Getting Technical
T
KnoWledge trAnSfer ComPAny lendS exPertISe to oIl And gAS, teCh SeCtorS
by lisa ricciotti
business mAtterS
PSAC_Fall_2013_p25-32.indd 25 8/22/13 9:26:53 AM
26 FALL 2013 PetroLeum services news
Combined, the organizations have more than 50 years of experience
supporting the tech community. Over the decades they have evaluated
more than 1,700 discoveries securing more than 680 patents, negotiated
690 technology agreements in 24 countries, are consistently ranked
within the Top 5 among 37 Canadian institutions in gross licensing
revenue (AUTM survey 2007-11) and have developed or assisted more
than 40 start-up companies.
Monthly Meet-upsThe offices of Innovate Calgary are located in the Alastair Ross
Technology Centre, a 120,000-square-foot facility dedicated to
supporting the high-tech sector (since it opened in 2000 it has
served over 600 tenants and corporate ID clients). “Many of our
tenant neighbours are also clients, so it’s a supportive and beneficial
arrangement,” says Garrett. The building is also the staging point for
a new Innovate Calgary initiative: a monthly “meet-up” social event,
the first of which occurred in April and attracted about 110 oil and gas
tech professionals. Garrett and colleagues also regularly attend other
regional events. “It’s at these networking gatherings where companies
seek mentorship,” he says.
However, Garrett concedes that Innovate Calgary’s ultimate success in
attracting clients will be through the Internet. “Our virtual presence is
already the main way people learn about us,” he says.
proMising partnershipsOn the investment side, expansion efforts are underway for the Alberta Deal
Generator, a joint venture between Innovate and TEC Edmonton that has
established the largest network of accredited investors in Canada, all of whom
are actively pursuing opportunities in Alberta’s early and growth-stage com-
panies. The additions of partnership agreements with the Canadian National
Stock Exchange and Wavefront have added immense value for its client base.
In the entrepreneurial investment sector, it is working with the University
of Calgary to increase focus on entrepreneurial opportunities. “Tradition-
ally, students have always relied on being snapped up by big companies when
they graduate, but today more and more of them are seeking to create their
own companies instead, and our goal is to aid them with practical business
strategies,” says Garrett. Additionally, Innovate is working with a number of
promising new ventures, and Garrett reports “tremendous engagement” in
the private sector with involvement in intellectual properties.
gaining energyCalgary leads the world with 123 international energy headquarters and
more than $20-billion in international capital being invested in the sec-
tor; moreover, one in 13 jobs pertain in some way to energy, and Garrett
doesn’t see growth slowing anytime soon. “Our future prosperity is in en-
ergy and, as the industry matures and new challenges arise, we’ll be there
to help,” he says. “We’re very excited about what the future holds.”
Business mAtters
PSAC_Fall_2013_p25-32.indd 26 8/22/13 9:27:28 AM
WWW.PSAC.CA 27
Keep up with current trends, news and issues in the field. Join senior leaders and industry representatives at this premier event that will provide information and insights to fuel your business planning for the year ahead.
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: PSAC Annual General Meeting (Members only)
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm: 2014 Canadian Drilling Activity Forecast & Industry Outlook
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Networking Social
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Industry Insights Dinner
To register, visit psac.ca/events
Register Today.Wednesday, October 30, 2013TELUS ConvEnTion CEnTrE, CaLgary, aLbErTa
PETroLEUm SErviCES aSSoCiaTion of Canada’S
2013 IndusTRy InsIghTs FORum
Canadian Drilling Activity Forecast Sponsor: Industry Sponsor: Dinner Co-sponsors:
PSAC_Fall_2013_p25-32.indd 27 8/22/13 11:41:21 AM
28 FALL 2013 PetroLeum services news
000PSN-MNP-FP.indd 1 7/25/13 3:01:42 PM
ew, iF Any, PeoPLe in Alberta’s energy sector
haven’t heard of or benefitted from Pason Systems Inc.
Launched in 1978 as a specialist in remote drilling chokes,
the company has evolved into a global provider of data
management systems for land-based and offshore rigs. Its rental
solutions, which include data acquisition, well site reporting and remote
communications, improve work efficiency and minimize operating costs.
Pason’s main claim to fame is its Electronic Drilling Recorder
(EDR), developed in the early 1990s to link rig managers, crew,
geologists and other professionals (including those in head office) on
a common network, where they share drilling data, reports and well-
time information. “We still consider EDR to be our biggest innovation,
especially in these cost-conscious times with its ability to drastically
reduce crews travelling long distances to check data on-site,” says
David Holodinsky, Pason’s vice-president of operations for Canada.
But what many may not know about Pason is its passion for giving
back to the community. It’s a value the company has embraced since
its inception, which this year has manifested itself in a partnership
with the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC).
Since 1986, the non-profit MCSC has been reuniting missing
children with their families through investigations, public awareness
and family support programs. It’s a daunting task: in 2011 alone the
RCMP reported 46,718 cases of missing children in Canada, and
numbers such as this galvanized Pason when approached by MCSC for
support in March. “The data hit home on several levels, as did the idea
we could make a difference,” says Holodinsky.
Pason lost no time signing onto MCSC’s CodeSearch, a rapid response
program that engages corporate Canada with the society and law
enforcement in the search for missing children. CodeSearch participants
sign on as field agents and download a smartphone application; when
a child goes missing, MCSC sends out geo-targeted alerts to any field
agents in the area of interest. Holodinsky says Pason’s unique business
structure makes it an ideal CodeSearch partner. “Of our 300 employees,
about 80 of them are field workers located in rural areas from B.C. to
Manitoba,” he explains. “If there’s ever a kidnapping in a small town
somewhere, chances are we’ve got someone nearby who can help.”
The MCSC partnership comes on the heels of Pason donating
$100,000 to the Calgary Foundation to support its flood relief program
and matching employee donations up to another $100,000. Although
Pason doesn’t draw attention to the fact, each year it identifies a
Calgary playground in need of repair or rebuilding, and dispatches
money and manpower to the project.
From Hydrocarbons to Help
F
When asked why Pason is so enthusiastic about giving back, Holodinsky
replies, “I think everyone is – we’re just good at organizing and making
things happen. It’s also good for us in that it brings together everyone from
front-line people to upper management for a common cause.”
All of Pason’s initiatives, whether the products and services it provides
or its support of community organizations, are undertaken with the
same passion, based on the benefits of hydrocarbons, says Holodinsky.
“Hydrocarbons power the world, and we believe our efforts to make
their processing safer and more efficient is a noble cause.”
Not wanting to draw undue attention to Pason’s extracurricular
activities, Holodinsky shifts to the company’s future business objectives:
“The North American market is steady, and we recently diversified our
service capacity to include offshore rigs. We also see opportunities in
the Middle East and other regions. All in all, I would say we have a busy
future improving efficiencies and making things safer for existing and
new clients.”
PAson systems joins the hunt For missing chiLdren with codeseArch APP
by Robin bRunet
MeMbeR ProFiLe
PSAC_Fall_2013_p25-32.indd 28 8/22/13 9:28:15 AM
000PSN-MNP-FP.indd 1 7/25/13 3:01:42 PMPSAC_Fall_2013_p25-32.indd 29 8/22/13 9:28:40 AM
30 FALL 2013 PetroLeum services news
000PSN-TOG-FP.indd 1 8/6/13 8:30:55 AM
If you could do any other job, what would that be?Me: I love music and really appreciate the talent, skill and hard work
that goes into making it. I would have loved to earn a living playing
music.
lM: Granted that I can overcome my limitations in this regard, I
would like to be a writer.
what Is your favourIte book of all tIMe?Me: I have many. I’m a big reader and go where my mood takes me.
lM: Choosing a winner from my first two choices was a difficult task,
but the edge goes to The Ball and the Cross by G. K. Chesterton, an
excellent allegory of the modern world. For those wondering, the
close second is The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene.
what about a favourIte MovIe?Me: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Still enjoy watching it … less is more.
LM: Another tough choice, here the edge goes to Doctor Zhivago with
a close second in Gone With the Wind.
If you could InvIte three faMous people dead or alIve to dInner, who would they be and what would you serve?Me: One of the 12 Apostles, Leonardo DaVinci and my wife, Tracy.
Two people who changed the world forever and one who changed my
life. I’m not sure what the menu would be but we would finish with
Tracy’s gingerbread cake. There’s nothing better.
lM: I would invite a saint, a sinner and an artist from the 20th Century:
Monsignor Fulton Sheen, Charles Lindberg and Arturo Toscanini; I am
sure it would make for very interesting conversation! And they would
be stuck with barbecue, practically the only thing I can cook.…
what do you thInk Is the bIggest challenge facIng canada’s energy Industry? Me: Communication with all of the people who are affected by our
industry and who can affect the energy industry.
lM: Access to market; in a world where oil is a global commodity and natural
gas is fast becoming one, we cannot rely on having just one customer.
what would you say Is your bIggest accoMplIshMent to date?Me: I’ll let others write that.
lM: Keeping friendship and family ties that live a long distance away.
what Motto or phrase do you lIve by?Me: The Golden Rule: treat others as you would like others to treat
you.
lM: At least try to live by: “nunc et hodie” (now and today); a way of
reminding myself of doing what I have to do now and without delay.
what talent would you Most lIke to have?Me: The music thing.
lM: I would like to be able to play the piano; as a matter of fact, I
would like to be able to play any musical instrument!
If you could change one thIng about yourself, what would It be?Me: It seems I inherited a receding hairline gene.
lM: I would like to improve my living the virtue of order; not just
about material things, but also priorities in life.
If you could travel to anywhere In the world, where would you go?Me: I really enjoy the big cities and all they have to offer: New York,
London, Paris.
lM: China, the Far East, is the only place in the world that I haven’t
been to.
who are your heroes In real lIfe?Me: Teachers. They educate, motivate, inspire and inf luence the
future.
lM: Those who offer their lives for their friends.
In 10 words or less, what would you say about how 2013 Is goIng to turn out?Me: The compassion and sense of community resulting from the
f loods will change a generation.
lM: Good and steady year, neither a boom nor a bust.
MIke edMondsPresident
Import Tool Corp. Ltd.
Years in Services Sector: 15
lucas MeZZanoRegional Sales Director-Coiled Tubes Canada
Tenaris Global Services (Canada) Inc.
Years in Services Sector: 17
PetroLeum service news tALks with PsAc’s BoArd oF directors And tAkes A PersonAL Look At LeAders in the services sector
MIke edMonds lucas MeZZano
a Look at LeAdershiP
PSAC_Fall_2013_p25-32.indd 30 8/22/13 9:29:20 AM
000PSN-TOG-FP.indd 1 8/6/13 8:30:55 AMPSAC_Fall_2013_p25-32.indd 31 8/22/13 9:29:49 AM
Increase the reliability of your pipeline project with Flexpipe Systems’ proven solutionsFlexpipe Systems’ corrosion resistant linepipe products:
ShawCor – when you need to be sure
fl expipesystems.com shawcor.com
000PSN-Flexpipe-FP.indd 1 8/13/13 8:20:21 AMPSAC_Fall_2013_p25-32.indd 32 8/22/13 9:30:12 AM