July 2015

For Environmental & Support Service Professionals

IN THE OILSANDSSpurring Success

MONEY MACHINES:Texas bed truck reduces costs for customers

PAGE 20

SAFETY FIRST:Roll-off trailer safety equipment

PAGE 50

www.GOMCmag.com | JULY 2015

TM

SASKATCHEWAN-BASED SOUTHERN SPUR ENTERPRISES USES SPECIALIZED VACUUM TRUCKS TO HELP CUSTOMERS OUT OF TOUGH SITUATIONS PAGE 12

2 GOMC www.gomcmag.com - JULY 2015FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX

JULY 2015 - www.gomcmag.com GOMC 3FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX

4 GOMC www.gomcmag.com - JULY 2015

contentsfeatures12 CONTRACTOR PROFILE: SPURRING SUCCESS IN THE OILSANDS Saskatchewan-based Southern Spur Enterprises uses specialized vacuum trucks to help customers out of tough situations. - Cory Dellenbach

28 TECH PERSPECTIVE: THE RIGHT TRACKING CHOICE Follow these key points to make the best decision for your business when selecting a GPS tracking system. - Ryan Driscoll

30 WWETT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: REINSTATEMENT MADE SIMPLE Robotic Trydent 80 pipe cutter easily opens laterals in small-diameter piping. - Craig Mandli 36 PRODUCT FOCUS: LIQUID AND DRY BULK TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT, PIPELINE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION - Craig Mandli 42 CASE STUDY: LIQUID AND DRY BULK TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT, PIPELINE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION - Craig Mandli

COMING IN AUGUST 2015ISSUE FOCUS:

Education, Safety Equipment, Workwear, Buyers Guide

n Contractor Profile: Ebb Tide Environmental (Whitecourt, Alberta)

n Eye on the Industry: Empowering oilfield safety practices

departments8 EDITORS NOTEBOOK: EVER-CHANGING INDUSTRY Business slowing for many companies as the oil and gas industry reacts to drop in crude prices. - Cory Dellenbach 10 @GOMCMAG.COM Clips and quotes from the best of our exclusive online content.

20 MONEY MACHINES: DOING DOUBLE DUTY With its two-for-one capabilities, Texas bed truck gives Alberta oilfield contractor a competitive edge by reducing costs for customers. - Ken Wysocky

22 BAKKEN EXTRA: TIMES ARE CHANGING With low oil prices, service companies and workers are dealing with layoffs. - Cory Dellenbach

24 EYE ON THE INDUSTRY: FACING RISK HEAD-ON Programs are changing the way the oil and gas industry looks at risk, both with equipment and people. - Paul Nicolaus

26 NIOBRARA EXTRA: WORKING FOR THE INDUSTRY Petroleum Association of Wyoming helps explain rules and regulations facing the oil and gas industry. - Greg Bates 32 INDUSTRY NEWS

33 COLE SEEKING PRESENTERS FOR 2016 WWETT SHOW

34 BUILDING THE BUSINESS: KEEPING YOUR STAFF FOCUSED Workplace distractions can sidetrack employees from doing their jobs, but managers can minimize the diversions. - Marty Martin

44 PRODUCT NEWS Product Spotlight: Constant-tension winches with adjustable boom add flexibility to pipe bursting process. - Ed Wodalski 48 CALENDAR

50 SAFETY FIRST: MAKING CHANGES TO THE EQUIPMENT Roll-off trailer manufacturer tries to thwart safety violations. - Doug Day

JULY 2015

on the coverJim Donald, field super-visor for Southern Spur Enterprises in Lashburn, Saskatchewan poses near one of the companys Kenworth trucks with a standard Acro dump trailer attached. The com-pany offers services such as tank cleaning, battery cleaning and vacuum services. (Photography by Nick Sperounes)

12

20

36

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www.linkedin.com/company/gas-oil-&-mining-contractor

Get Social with GOMCFor Environmental & Support Service Professionals



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contentsfeatures12 CONTRACTOR PROFILE: SPURRING SUCCESS IN THE OILSANDS Saskatchewan-based Southern Spur Enterprises uses specialized vacuum trucks to help customers out of tough situations. - Cory Dellenbach

28 TECH PERSPECTIVE: THE RIGHT TRACKING CHOICE Follow these key points to make the best decision for your business when selecting a GPS tracking system. - Ryan Driscoll

30 WWETT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: REINSTATEMENT MADE SIMPLE Robotic Trydent 80 pipe cutter easily opens laterals in small-diameter piping. - Craig Mandli 36 PRODUCT FOCUS: LIQUID AND DRY BULK TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT, PIPELINE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION - Craig Mandli 42 CASE STUDY: LIQUID AND DRY BULK TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT, PIPELINE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION - Craig Mandli

COMING IN AUGUST 2015ISSUE FOCUS:

Education, Safety Equipment, Workwear, Buyers Guide

n Contractor Profile: Ebb Tide Environmental (Whitecourt, Alberta)

n Eye on the Industry: Empowering oilfield safety practices

departments8 EDITORS NOTEBOOK: EVER-CHANGING INDUSTRY Business slowing for many companies as the oil and gas industry reacts to drop in crude prices. - Cory Dellenbach 10 @GOMCMAG.COM Clips and quotes from the best of our exclusive online content.

20 MONEY MACHINES: DOING DOUBLE DUTY With its two-for-one capabilities, Texas bed truck gives Alberta oilfield contractor a competitive edge by reducing costs for customers. - Ken Wysocky

22 BAKKEN EXTRA: TIMES ARE CHANGING With low oil prices, service companies and workers are dealing with layoffs. - Cory Dellenbach

24 EYE ON THE INDUSTRY: FACING RISK HEAD-ON Programs are changing the way the oil and gas industry looks at risk, both with equipment and people. - Paul Nicolaus

26 NIOBRARA EXTRA: WORKING FOR THE INDUSTRY Petroleum Association of Wyoming helps explain rules and regulations facing the oil and gas industry. - Greg Bates 32 INDUSTRY NEWS

33 COLE SEEKING PRESENTERS FOR 2016 WWETT SHOW

34 BUILDING THE BUSINESS: KEEPING YOUR STAFF FOCUSED Workplace distractions can sidetrack employees from doing their jobs, but managers can minimize the diversions. - Marty Martin

44 PRODUCT NEWS Product Spotlight: Constant-tension winches with adjustable boom add flexibility to pipe bursting process. - Ed Wodalski 48 CALENDAR

50 SAFETY FIRST: MAKING CHANGES TO THE EQUIPMENT Roll-off trailer manufacturer tries to thwart safety violations. - Doug Day

JULY 2015

on the coverJim Donald, field super-visor for Southern Spur Enterprises in Lashburn, Saskatchewan poses near one of the companys Kenworth trucks with a standard Acro dump trailer attached. The com-pany offers services such as tank cleaning, battery cleaning and vacuum services. (Photography by Nick Sperounes)

12

20

36

www.facebook.com/GOMCmag

www.twitter.com/GOMCmag

www.plus.google.com

www.youtube.com/GOMCmag

www.linkedin.com/company/gas-oil-&-mining-contractor

Get Social with GOMCFor Environmental & Support Service Professionals



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888-432-9070www.UsedVacuumTrucks.comwww.TornadoHydrovac.com

Full Details Available atWith the strength of the US dollar there has never

been a better time to buy a Tornado than right now!

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Tornado Hydrovacs Manufactured By Petrofield Industries, Built in Canada, 12.5-Yard Debris Body, 2150 Gallon Water Capacity, Tornado Aluminum

Fully Insulated & Heated 42", 60" and 70" Wide Van Body,

Robuschi 3800/6400 CFM 28"Hg. Blowers with 3-Stage

Filtration System, 8" TopGun, Vacuum Boom, Omnex Wireless

Remote, CAT Pump, 980,000 BTU Boiler, PowerSweep Mud

Sweep Off-Loading System, Extreme Cold Weather Package

Advertiser Index JULY 2015

ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. ..........................15......

American Fabric Filter Co. ................................................21......

Canary, LLC .......................................................................................2......

ClearSpan Fabric Structures ............................................33......

Comforts of Home Services, Inc. ...............................25......

Curry Supply Co. ......................................................................43......

Ditch Witch .......................................................................................9......

Eaton Vehicle Group .............................................................11......

Eldred Environmental & Export Co. LTD ...............46......

Fabco Power ................................................................................35......

Found It Now ..............................................................................49......

ManufacturingEst. 1957

FRUITLAND

Fruitland Manufacturing ...................................................25......

GapVax, Inc. .....................................................................................3......

Granite Seed and Erosion Control.............................27......

Great Lakes Equipment Sales, Inc. ...............................7......

Harrison Truck Centers ........................................................17......

Hi-Vac Corporation .................................................................23......

Irwins Safety and Industrial Services Ltd. ............29......

Master Pumps & Power ...................................................................33......

Moro USA, Inc. ..............................................................................5......

Northeast Industrial Mfg....................................................43......

Petrofield Industries ...............................................................47......

PolyJohn Enterprises, Inc. ................................................51......

PowerWashi n d u s t r i e s

PowerWash Industries .........................................................49......

Premier ..............................................................................................11......

Pressure Lift Corporation ...................................................29......

Screenco Systems LLC .........................................................49......

Snap-on Industrial Brands ................................................27......

Southwest Products ..............................................................31......

StoneAge, Inc. ............................................................................47......

Tankformator

Tankformator Pte Ltd ...............................................................6......

Ultra Shore ........................................................................................8......

Vac-Con, Inc. ................................................................................52......

Vactor Manufacturing ..........................................................13......

Vacuum Sales, Inc. ...................................................................35......

Vertiflo Pump Co., Inc. .........................................................49......

Water Cannon, Inc. ................................................................49......

WJTA - IMCA .................................................................................19......


Published monthly by:

1720 Maple Lake Dam Rd., PO Box 220

Three Lakes, WI 54562

www.GOMCMag.com

In U.S. or Canada call toll-free 800-257-7222

Elsewhere call 715-546-3346

Email: [email protected]: www.gomcmag.com

Fax: 715-546-3786

Office hours Mon- Fri.,7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. CST

Copyright 2015 COLE Publishing Inc.No part may be reproduced without

permission of the publisher.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: A one year (12 issue) subscription to GOMC in the United States or Canada is free to qualified subscribers. A qualified subscriber is any company or individual who maintains, services or supports land-based gas, oil or mining operations in North America. Non-qualified subscriptions are available at a cost of $60 per year in the United States and $120 per year outside of the United States. To qualify visit www.gomcmag.com/qualify or send company name, mailing address, phone number and check or money order (U.S. funds payable to COLE Publishing Inc.) to the address above. MasterCard, VISA and Discover are also accepted. Supply credit card information with your subscription order.

Our subscriber list is occasionally made available to carefully selected companies whose products or services may be of interest to you. Your privacy is important to us. If you prefer not to be a part

of these lists, please contact Nicole LaBeau at [email protected].

DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Contact Tim at [email protected] or 800-994-7990. Publisher reserves the right to reject advertising which in its opinion is misleading, unfair or incompatible with the character of the publication.

REPRINTS AND BACK ISSUES: Visit www.gomcmag.com for options and pricing. To order back issues, call Nicole at 800-257-7222 (715-546-3346) or email [email protected]. To order reprints, call Jeff Lane at 800-257-

7222, (715-546-3346) or email [email protected].

CIRCULATION: Circulation averages 19,000 copies per month.

Tim Krueger

SCAN THE QR CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE

SUBSCRIBE TO

GOMC FOR

FREE!

FREE Information from Advertisers (check the Free Info boxes above)PRINT NAME: ___________________________________ TITLE: _________________________________________

COMPANY: _____________________________________ NAME: _________________________________________

MAILING ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ___________________________________________ STATE: ___________________ZIP: __________________

PHONE: ________________________________________ CELL PHONE: __________________________________

FAX: ___________________________________________ EMAIL: _________________________________________

Scan and email to: [email protected] / Fax to: 715-546-3786Mail to: COLE Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 220, Three Lakes WI 54562

FREE INFO

FREE INFO

GO

TO

FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX

Tankformator Tankformator = Creation-Innovation-Transformation

Vacuum Extraction in a Frame for Enviro and Energy Services

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Tanks are at the center ofTankformators universe.

Seeking likemindedagents in USA.

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888-432-9070www.UsedVacuumTrucks.comwww.TornadoHydrovac.com

Full Details Available atWith the strength of the US dollar there has never been a better time to buy a

Tornado than right now!

The One. The Only. The Original.Worlds Best Hydrovac

Often Imitated, Never Duplicated

Tired of High Rental Costs? Our Lease purchase option will cut

your monthly payments in HALF! Quit Renting and Build Equity.

Tornado Hydrovacs Manufactured By Petrofield Industries, Built in Canada, 12.5-Yard Debris Body, 2150 Gallon Water Capacity, Tornado Aluminum

Fully Insulated & Heated 42", 60" and 70" Wide Van Body,

Robuschi 3800/6400 CFM 28"Hg. Blowers with 3-Stage

Filtration System, 8" TopGun, Vacuum Boom, Omnex Wireless

Remote, CAT Pump, 980,000 BTU Boiler, PowerSweep Mud

Sweep Off-Loading System, Extreme Cold Weather Package

Advertiser Index JULY 2015

ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. ..........................15......

American Fabric Filter Co. ................................................21......

Canary, LLC .......................................................................................2......

ClearSpan Fabric Structures ............................................33......

Comforts of Home Services, Inc. ...............................25......

Curry Supply Co. ......................................................................43......

Ditch Witch .......................................................................................9......

Eaton Vehicle Group .............................................................11......

Eldred Environmental & Export Co. LTD ...............46......

Fabco Power ................................................................................35......

Found It Now ..............................................................................49......

ManufacturingEst. 1957

FRUITLAND

Fruitland Manufacturing ...................................................25......

GapVax, Inc. .....................................................................................3......

Granite Seed and Erosion Control.............................27......

Great Lakes Equipment Sales, Inc. ...............................7......

Harrison Truck Centers ........................................................17......

Hi-Vac Corporation .................................................................23......

Irwins Safety and Industrial Services Ltd. ............29......

Master Pumps & Power ...................................................................33......

Moro USA, Inc. ..............................................................................5......

Northeast Industrial Mfg....................................................43......

Petrofield Industries ...............................................................47......

PolyJohn Enterprises, Inc. ................................................51......

PowerWashi n d u s t r i e s

PowerWash Industries .........................................................49......

Premier ..............................................................................................11......

Pressure Lift Corporation ...................................................29......

Screenco Systems LLC .........................................................49......

Snap-on Industrial Brands ................................................27......

Southwest Products ..............................................................31......

StoneAge, Inc. ............................................................................47......

Tankformator

Tankformator Pte Ltd ...............................................................6......

Ultra Shore ........................................................................................8......

Vac-Con, Inc. ................................................................................52......

Vactor Manufacturing ..........................................................13......

Vacuum Sales, Inc. ...................................................................35......

Vertiflo Pump Co., Inc. .........................................................49......

Water Cannon, Inc. ................................................................49......

WJTA - IMCA .................................................................................19......


Published monthly by:

1720 Maple Lake Dam Rd., PO Box 220

Three Lakes, WI 54562

www.GOMCMag.com

In U.S. or Canada call toll-free 800-257-7222

Elsewhere call 715-546-3346

Email: [email protected]: www.gomcmag.com

Fax: 715-546-3786

Office hours Mon- Fri.,7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. CST

Copyright 2015 COLE Publishing Inc.No part may be reproduced without

permission of the publisher.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: A one year (12 issue) subscription to GOMC in the United States or Canada is free to qualified subscribers. A qualified subscriber is any company or individual who maintains, services or supports land-based gas, oil or mining operations in North America. Non-qualified subscriptions are available at a cost of $60 per year in the United States and $120 per year outside of the United States. To qualify visit www.gomcmag.com/qualify or send company name, mailing address, phone number and check or money order (U.S. funds payable to COLE Publishing Inc.) to the address above. MasterCard, VISA and Discover are also accepted. Supply credit card information with your subscription order.

Our subscriber list is occasionally made available to carefully selected companies whose products or services may be of interest to you. Your privacy is important to us. If you prefer not to be a part

of these lists, please contact Nicole LaBeau at [email protected].

DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Contact Tim at [email protected] or 800-994-7990. Publisher reserves the right to reject advertising which in its opinion is misleading, unfair or incompatible with the character of the publication.

REPRINTS AND BACK ISSUES: Visit www.gomcmag.com for options and pricing. To order back issues, call Nicole at 800-257-7222 (715-546-3346) or email [email protected]. To order reprints, call Jeff Lane at 800-257-

7222, (715-546-3346) or email [email protected].

CIRCULATION: Circulation averages 19,000 copies per month.

Tim Krueger

SCAN THE QR CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE

SUBSCRIBE TO

GOMC FOR

FREE!

FREE Information from Advertisers (check the Free Info boxes above)PRINT NAME: ___________________________________ TITLE: _________________________________________

COMPANY: _____________________________________ NAME: _________________________________________

MAILING ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ___________________________________________ STATE: ___________________ZIP: __________________

PHONE: ________________________________________ CELL PHONE: __________________________________

FAX: ___________________________________________ EMAIL: _________________________________________

Scan and email to: [email protected] / Fax to: 715-546-3786Mail to: COLE Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 220, Three Lakes WI 54562

FREE INFO

FREE INFO

GO

TO



ve said it before and Im saying it again. The oil and gas industry is a roller coast-er ride: One day it can be flourishing

and the next it could be forcing companies out of business. Its amazing what this industry can do for whole areas too.

Take for example a report released by the Energy Information Administration in late April listing the top U.S. oilfields. The rankings were initially released in 2009

and the Eagle Ford Shale play, discovered in 2008, wasnt even listed yet.

This time, however, the southern Texas play had the top U.S. oilfield based on proved reserves in the EIAs report. The EIA defines proved reserves as estimated quantities of oil and natural gas that can be recoverable with reasonable certainty under existing economic and operating conditions.

The Eagle Fords Eagleville field took the top spot, while Prudhoe Bays oilfield in northern Alaska dropped to the third largest. In the 2009 report, the Prudhoe Bay field was the largest. The No. 2 spot on this years list was the Spraberry Trend field in the Permian Basin.

Colorados Wattenberg field was fourth, while Eagle Fords Briscoe Ranch was fifth.

In natural gas, the top U.S. field is the Marcellus Shale, which includes areas of West Virginia and Penn-sylvania. Marcellus stole the top spot from Texas Barnett Shale area.

GROWTH OF THE MARKET

Since the early 2000s, the industry has grown im-mensely. Just look at oilfield services company Southern Spur Enterprises, profiled this month. The Saskatche-wan-based company started operations in 2004 with just

one truck and today has over 20 vehicles in its fleet.

The company, which cleans tanks and production facilities in the oilsands region of Canada, operates within a 100-mile ra-dius of Lashburn and only serves the oil and gas industry with its fleet of vacuum trucks and trailers.

Jim Donald, Southern Spurs field supervisor, spent a week in February at the Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport Show in Indianapolis trying to gather ideas for diversifying the company.

BEING CAUTIOUSWhile Southern Spur has grown con-

siderably over the last 11 years, the compa-ny needs to think about diversification if it wants to continue growing. Thats thanks to the decline in crude oil prices, which has affected the company.

The Bakken Shale play is one of the areas thats been hit hardest by the price drop. In this months Bakken Extra fea-ture, we tell you about a company and some workers who have been affected first-hand by the volatile crude oil prices.

For many contractors, its a time to tighten the shoestrings a bit and find out where they can save money.

HOW ABOUT YOU

How is your company dealing with the crude oil price slump, and what advice would you give to other contractors? Wed like to hear from you. Email me at [email protected] or call 800/257-7222 to let me know.

Enjoy this months issue of Gas, Oil & Mining Contractor! GOMC

Cory Dellenbach

Editors Notebook

EVER-CHANGING INDUSTRYBusiness slowing for many companies as the oil and gas industry reacts to drop in crude prices

By Cory Dellenbach

IThe oil and gas industry is a roller coaster ride: One day it can be flourishing and the next it could be forcing companies out of business.



@GOMCmag.comVisit the site daily for new, exclusive content. Read our blogs, find resources and get the most out of GOMC magazine.

Visit GOMCmag.com and sign up for newsletters and alerts. Get exclusive content delivered right to your inbox, and youll stay in the loop on topics important to you!

Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/GOMCMag orTwitter at twitter.com/GOMCMag

emails and alerts

CONNECT WITH US

want more?

SHIPPING CRUDE

Rail RulesCompanies that transport oil by rail faced a variety of new rules this spring, ranging from lower train speeds to what kind of tank cars can be used in hauling hazardous or highly flammable materials. Find out the details in our DOT update. gomcmag.com/featured

OVERHEARD ONLINE

This is a film that tries to take a really balanced perspective

to it. It shows the area as

it is; it has stories that are

uplifting ... it also shows

when things arent so great.

- New TV Show Portrays Life in the Bakken Boomgomcmag.com/featured

SHOP SMART

New Equipment ChecklistTheres nothing like the feeling of unwrapping a piece of brand-new equipment designed to catapult your business into the future. However, if the purchase doesnt deliver as expected, it can inspire a whole other set of feelings. Here are 12 questions contractors should ask themselves before making a significant investment in new technology. gomcmag.com/featured

GOING LIGHT

Tank TechnologySouthern Spur Enterprises, featured in this issue, has over 20 trucks in its inventory. Find out why the Saskatchewan-based company depends on a manufacturer in Missouri to customize its trucks in an exclusive online story. gomcmag.com/featured



@GOMCmag.comVisit the site daily for new, exclusive content. Read our blogs, find resources and get the most out of GOMC magazine.

Visit GOMCmag.com and sign up for newsletters and alerts. Get exclusive content delivered right to your inbox, and youll stay in the loop on topics important to you!

Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/GOMCMag orTwitter at twitter.com/GOMCMag

emails and alerts

CONNECT WITH US

want more?

SHIPPING CRUDE

Rail RulesCompanies that transport oil by rail faced a variety of new rules this spring, ranging from lower train speeds to what kind of tank cars can be used in hauling hazardous or highly flammable materials. Find out the details in our DOT update. gomcmag.com/featured

OVERHEARD ONLINE

This is a film that tries to take a really balanced perspective

to it. It shows the area as

it is; it has stories that are

uplifting ... it also shows

when things arent so great.

- New TV Show Portrays Life in the Bakken Boomgomcmag.com/featured

SHOP SMART

New Equipment ChecklistTheres nothing like the feeling of unwrapping a piece of brand-new equipment designed to catapult your business into the future. However, if the purchase doesnt deliver as expected, it can inspire a whole other set of feelings. Here are 12 questions contractors should ask themselves before making a significant investment in new technology. gomcmag.com/featured

GOING LIGHT

Tank TechnologySouthern Spur Enterprises, featured in this issue, has over 20 trucks in its inventory. Find out why the Saskatchewan-based company depends on a manufacturer in Missouri to customize its trucks in an exclusive online story. gomcmag.com/featured

THE BEST TOOL FOR THE JOB JUST GOT BETTERThe Eaton UltraShift PLUS Series. Rugged. Reliable. Ready to work.Its already the workhorse you need for hard jobs, now the UltraShift PLUS features enhanced split-shaft PTO capability for pumper and vacuum work. Thats on top of the intelligent automated shifting, Hill Start Aid, and Creep Mode that puts driver focus where it should be - on the job. Its all part of your tailored transmission solution and always backed by the solutions, support and expertise of the Roadranger network. Learn more at ultrashiftplus.com




No Hydro-Excavator keeps you moving like a Vactor HXX. When you need earth-moving performance no matter how tough the conditions, try the vacuum excavator that

started the trend. Built to keep working in extreme weather and the toughest soils, the Vactor HXX is backed by 24/7 responsiveness, and it doesnt stop until the jobs done. Whether youre hydro-excavating or cleaning up drilling mud, the Vactor HXX is ready to move heaven and earth or at least all the earth you need it to move.

Meet our rugged lineup of equipment for the gas and oil industry at machinesthatwontquit.com, or call to request a live demo: 815.672.3171 x297

2015 Vactor Manufacturing

Now Available with ROBUSCHI BLOWER!

35% air flow performance improvement QuietPak Sound System for lower

noise levels: less than 90dB(A)

G

(continued)

Cover Story

erald Grassl didnt want to leave Lashburn, Saskatch-ewan. He was familiar with it, he knew people and he was familiar with the major industry in the northern Ca-nadian region oil and gas exploration and production.

Grassl, who was working for another company driv-ing vacuum trucks, wanted to set out on his own and saw

the opportunity for success as the market was taking off in 2004. He launched his company, Southern Spur Enterprises, at that time.

He had a vision about starting his own company, and he went and talked to a few prominent people who were in charge of some of the oil companies in the area and pitched his idea to them, says Jim Donald, field supervisor for Southern Spur. They told him that if he built the trucks they would give him a chance, and thats how it all started.

The company started with one sludge hauler, but the fleet has since expanded to over 20 trucks serving a 100-mile area around Lashburn and Lloydminster. Basically once you get outside of this little area, there isnt a whole lot of other industry, Donald says. Everyone that works here is oil and gas oriented.

GETTING TO WORKThe company, with 38 employees, has a primary focus on tank cleaning,

which accounts for up to 80 percent of the business.Crude oil extracted from underground formations commonly contains

sediments such as sand that are extracted with the oil. The sand settles to the bottom of the storage tanks and accumulates, eventually blocking the tanks ports if they are not cleaned.

Crews attach a hydraulic stinger to the lower portion of the tank wall. Wa-ter pressure mixes the sand and turns it into slurry. Our vac trucks can then suck that out of the tank, Donald says. Crews will do about 20 stings a day.

The companys sludge haulers serve oilfield production facilities. We go in and clean the facility out and we haul the sludge from them to a nearby disposal plant.

Southern Spur uses four disposal plants situated around the area, but the Lloydminster and Unity disposal plants are the companys primary disposal sites.

It saves us traveling time when were loaded by having nearby facilities, Donald says. The whole trick to the game is to get to the tanks and then to

Saskatchewan-based Southern Spur Enterprises uses specialized vacuum trucks to help customers out of tough situations

| BY CORY DELLENBACH | Photography by Nick Sperounes

LEFT: Southern Spur Enterprises field supervisor Jim Donald grabs a stinger from a truck to set it up for a tank-cleaning job on an oilfield site near Lashburn, Saskatchewan.

MIDDLE: Southern Spur Enterprises owners Connie and Gerald Grassl pose alongside a 2012 Kenworth W900B with a standard Acro dump trailer attached. The company, located in Lashburn, Saskatchewan, uses only Acro trailers within its fleet of over 20 trucks.

RIGHT: Southern Spur Enterprises operator Travis Russell hooks up water pressure hoses to a stinger as he prepares for a tank-cleaning job.



No Hydro-Excavator keeps you moving like a Vactor HXX. When you need earth-moving performance no matter how tough the conditions, try the vacuum excavator that

started the trend. Built to keep working in extreme weather and the toughest soils, the Vactor HXX is backed by 24/7 responsiveness, and it doesnt stop until the jobs done. Whether youre hydro-excavating or cleaning up drilling mud, the Vactor HXX is ready to move heaven and earth or at least all the earth you need it to move.

Meet our rugged lineup of equipment for the gas and oil industry at machinesthatwontquit.com, or call to request a live demo: 815.672.3171 x297

2015 Vactor Manufacturing

Now Available with ROBUSCHI BLOWER!

35% air flow performance improvement QuietPak Sound System for lower

noise levels: less than 90dB(A)

G

(continued)

Cover Story

erald Grassl didnt want to leave Lashburn, Saskatch-ewan. He was familiar with it, he knew people and he was familiar with the major industry in the northern Ca-nadian region oil and gas exploration and production.

Grassl, who was working for another company driv-ing vacuum trucks, wanted to set out on his own and saw

the opportunity for success as the market was taking off in 2004. He launched his company, Southern Spur Enterprises, at that time.

He had a vision about starting his own company, and he went and talked to a few prominent people who were in charge of some of the oil companies in the area and pitched his idea to them, says Jim Donald, field supervisor for Southern Spur. They told him that if he built the trucks they would give him a chance, and thats how it all started.

The company started with one sludge hauler, but the fleet has since expanded to over 20 trucks serving a 100-mile area around Lashburn and Lloydminster. Basically once you get outside of this little area, there isnt a whole lot of other industry, Donald says. Everyone that works here is oil and gas oriented.

GETTING TO WORKThe company, with 38 employees, has a primary focus on tank cleaning,

which accounts for up to 80 percent of the business.Crude oil extracted from underground formations commonly contains

sediments such as sand that are extracted with the oil. The sand settles to the bottom of the storage tanks and accumulates, eventually blocking the tanks ports if they are not cleaned.

Crews attach a hydraulic stinger to the lower portion of the tank wall. Wa-ter pressure mixes the sand and turns it into slurry. Our vac trucks can then suck that out of the tank, Donald says. Crews will do about 20 stings a day.

The companys sludge haulers serve oilfield production facilities. We go in and clean the facility out and we haul the sludge from them to a nearby disposal plant.

Southern Spur uses four disposal plants situated around the area, but the Lloydminster and Unity disposal plants are the companys primary disposal sites.

It saves us traveling time when were loaded by having nearby facilities, Donald says. The whole trick to the game is to get to the tanks and then to

Saskatchewan-based Southern Spur Enterprises uses specialized vacuum trucks to help customers out of tough situations


LEFT: Southern Spur Enterprises field supervisor Jim Donald grabs a stinger from a truck to set it up for a tank-cleaning job on an oilfield site near Lashburn, Saskatchewan.

MIDDLE: Southern Spur Enterprises owners Connie and Gerald Grassl pose alongside a 2012 Kenworth W900B with a standard Acro dump trailer attached. The company, located in Lashburn, Saskatchewan, uses only Acro trailers within its fleet of over 20 trucks.

RIGHT: Southern Spur Enterprises operator Travis Russell hooks up water pressure hoses to a stinger as he prepares for a tank-cleaning job.




the disposal site in a timely fashion so that youre not gouging the customer too bad for travel time.

CONCRETE BUSTING

Southern Spur has proven its willing to take on any tank-cleaning job, even those that other companies cant handle.

In one case, other companies were unsuccessful cleaning a tank at a location just outside Lashburn. It turned out to be a fairly unique job. We went there with a crew and pulled the door to the tank back and found that it was full of concrete.

Crew members took turns jackhammering the concrete into small enough pieces for it to be loaded into a vac truck. That job took us a week to do, but no one else would tackle the job.

Donald says there wasnt any complaining from his crew members, and it helped the company secure that customer for future jobs. The oil company was more than happy to have us continue working for them on a regular basis. I really have to take my hat off to the crew. They went right to work on that job and got it done.

TRUCKS, TRUCKS AND MORE TRUCKSSouthern Spur now has a fleet of over 20 specialized trucks that help it

tackle difficult jobs.Weve had some steady growth and went from having one sludge haul-

er to having six, Donald says. Sludge haulers are different than a normal straight vacuum truck, having a double-helix drop belly rather than a stan-dard cylindrical tank. As the company has grown weve added straight vac trailers and now weve added self-contained vac trucks.

(continued)

SOUTHERN SPUR ENTERPRISESLOCATION: Lashburn, Saskatchewan, Canada

OWNER: Gerald Grassl

EMPLOYEES: 38

SERVICE AREA: 100-mile radius around Lashburn and Lloydminster

SERVICES OFFERED: Tank cleaning, battery cleaning, vacuum services


Southern Spur Enterprises operator Reece Miller, right, looks on as another employee is trained on the tank-cleaning process used by the company at an oilfield site.


CONCRETE BUSTING








(continued)



EMPLOYEES: 38







CONCRETE BUSTING








(continued)



EMPLOYEES: 38






CONCRETE BUSTING








(continued)



EMPLOYEES: 38





ARE ALLARE

Our operator worked hard all day. But what really made the project a success was the supporting cast. The service team who maintained the crane. The logistics team that planned the lifts. The safety team that ensured everyone was ready for, really, anything. And this team is part of a much bigger team, the ALL Family of Companies.

ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp., an Equal Opportunity Employer

www.allcrane.com


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In total, the company has 11 self-contained vacuum trucks, five straight vacuum trailers and six sludge haulers. Acro Trailer of Springfield, Missouri, built all the trailers.

We also have a couple pressure trucks that we run in conjunction with some of the straight vacs, Donald says.

The self-contained vacuum trucks set the company apart from its competitors.

That stands us alone in the field as far as competitiveness, Donald says. Theres a lot of competition in our area because of the amount of work. Weve set ourselves apart by going the extra mile and making it so you dont have to have three trucks on the site, you can have just one. The cost savings are huge.

SPECIALIZED CREW

Being competitive also means having a crew that is trained properly and not afraid to work long hours. Donald says Southern Spur has both. The training is fairly extensive, plus crew members are required to be at our monthly safety meeting that Gerald runs.

When hired, crew members must undergo certification for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG), first aid, H2S and confined space.

ABOVE: Southern Spur Enterprises staff in the truck yard. Back row, from left, Charlie Pambrun, field supervisor; Renae Smith, dispatcher; Jim Donald, field supervisor; Connie Grassl, owner; Gerald Grassl, owner; Luke Grassl, mechanic; Dick Percks, mechanic. Front row, from left, Wilson Chambers, operator; Mike Lawrence, mechanic.

BELOW: One of Southern Spur Enterprises Peterbilt 389 longnose trucks with a standard Acro dump trailer attached at its facility in Lashburn, Saskatchewan.

(continued)

Theres a lot of competition in our area because of the amount of work.

Weve set ourselves apart by going the extra mile and making it so you

dont have to have three trucks on the site, you can have just one.

Jim Donald

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Everybody also has to be oriented by every oil company that we work for, and we probably work for 10 or 15 oil companies, Donald says.

As field supervisor, Donald is normally making sales calls and dropping in on job sites to make sure work is going smoothly. If its a big job, I usually

organize the job and stay on site. I work with the owner to ensure that all health and safety regulations are met in the field on a regular basis also.

Grassl doesnt do much work in the field anymore. He can usually be found in the office handling the day-to-day operations.

Besides the field crews and the office staff, Southern Spur also has a shop with three full-time mechanics.

Its actually a huge savings having our own mechanics, Donald says. We run them 10 hours a day, and they would work longer if need be. We have them go five days a week and one guy is on call over the weekend.

TIME TO DIVERSIFY

With the current state of crude oil prices in flux, Donald doesnt see much more the company can do in the industry and sees its growth coming from other industries.

At this time were probably not going to be doing a lot of changing and diversifying unless we find something to diversify into other than the oilfields, Donald says. The downturn in the price of oil has put the crunch on a lot of companies here.

Southern Spur hasnt had to cut any jobs since oil prices dropped, but crews are working shorter shifts, going from 12- to 18-hour days down to 8- or 10-hour days, and the company hasnt hired anyone since the slowdown.

Were probably one of the fortunate companies, Donald says. We havent had as big of a slowdown as the majority of service companies here have. GOMC

Southern Spur Enterprises, based in Lashburn, Saskatchewan, was looking for ways to grow, and field supervisor Jim Donald thought some of its equipment manufacturers might be able to spark some ideas.

Donald attended the Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show in February for the first time to meet with several of those manufacturers.

We wanted to touch base with our people and see what was new on the market, Donald says. All of our products that we buy were there. The maker of our vac trailers was there, our pump makers were there. Everything that is on our trucks is from people we dealt with at the show.

Southern Spur uses pumps from Hibon on its trucks, so that was one manufacturer Donald visited; others included Acro Trailer and Gardner Denver.

With the downturn in crude oil prices, the company was also looking for ways to keep growing, and going to the show helped them generate some new ideas.

We were looking at some ideas for diversification and we got quite a few good ideas, Donald says. We were pretty impressed with the show. I was in awe when I walked in.

IDEAS FROM THE WWETT SHOW

more infoAcro Trailer800/589-5254www.acrotrailer.com Gardner Denver217/222-5400www.gardnerdenverproducts.com Hibon Inc. (a division of Ingersoll Rand)888/704-4266www.hibon.com

The whole trick to the game is to get to the tanks and then to the disposal site in a timely fashion so that youre not gouging the customer too bad for travel time.

Jim Donald

Several of Southern Spur Enterprises sludge haulers and vacuum trucks are lined up in a field nearby its office in Lashburn, Saskatchewan. The company, founded in 2004, has grown to over 20 trucks and serves a 100-mile radius around Lashburn. (Photo courtesy Southern Spur Enterprises)

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Money Machines

ess is more for oilfield contractors who bring large vehicles to congested drilling pads on a daily basis. In a nutshell, that explains why Fox Oilfield Services in Alberta, Canada, bought a custom-designed Texas

bed truck that does double duty on drilling sites throughout western Canada and brings substantial savings to customers in the process.

Fox Oilfield took delivery of the extra-brawny 2015 Kenworth C500 in February. Since then, the truck, which can work as either a winch truck or a bed truck, has been impressing the companys customers with its versatility. Designed and outfitted by Marcep Manufacturing Ltd., the truck

can carry up to 34,000 pounds of cargo on highways and can bed or spot load up to 50,000 pounds on drilling sites, says Christopher James, vice president of Fox Oilfield, based in Nisku, which is south of Edmonton in central Alberta.

It oftentimes eliminates the need for a bed truck on a drilling site, James says.

A key feature is the trucks 50,000-pound spot loading capacity, which is roughly double the payload capacity of a typical Texas bed truck, which

usually maxes out around 25,000 pounds. That provides our customers with substantial cost savings, because with a single truck we can transport materials to the site, then also use that same truck to put the cargo in place, says Chris Cassin, president of Fox Oilfield. Out here, a lot of equipment is out working in remote areas that might take 14 hours to reach one way. So if they dont have to send out a (full-size) bed truck (along with a winch truck), the cost savings is substantial.

How substantial? It can easily amount to thousands of dollars per day or per trip. Thats very appealing for our customers, Cassin says.

The Kenworth features a 50-ton winch made by Braden (a brand owned

L

DOING DOUBLE DUTYWith its two-for-one capabilities, Texas bed truck gives Alberta oilfield contractor a competitive edge by reducing costs for customers

By Ken Wysocky

It oftentimes eliminates

the need for a bed truck

on a drilling site.

Christopher James

Fox Oilfield Services Inc., Nisku, Alberta, CanadaVEHICLE: 2015 Kenworth C500 Texas bed truck, designed/built by Marcep Manufacturing Ltd.

FUNCTION: Hauling and spot loading large drilling rig components

FEATURES: 550 hp Cummins diesel engine, 50,000-pound spot loading payload capacity, 34,000-pound road payload capacity, 18-speed Eaton-Fuller transmission, four-speed Spicer auxiliary transmission, tri-axle locking differential, 50-ton Braden winch

COST: About $352,000 (or around $450,000 Canadian dollars)

Fox Oilfield Services in Alberta bought a custom-designed 2015 Kenworth C500 truck that can be used as a winch truck or a bed truck. (Contributed photos by Fox Oilfield Services)

SHOW US YOUR MONEY MACHINE!Email [email protected] with a brief description and photo!

Its a hardworking beast that gives us a significant

competitive advantage.

Christopher James

by Paccar) and a 550 hp, high-torque Cummins diesel engine that generates 2,050 ft-lbs of torque, which gives the truck extra power even when its working in lousy soil conditions. Other features include an 18-speed Eaton-Fuller manual transmission with a four-speed auxiliary transmission made by Spicer (owned by Dana Holding); the auxiliary unit effectively gives the truck a 72-speed transmission. Thats a big benefit for a vehicle thats often lugging extremely heavy loads in very muddy conditions, James notes.

Without exaggeration, you might be working in 2 or 3 feet of mud, especially during the springtime melt, he says.

Differential locking on all three rear axles, plus tire chains when needed, provides extra traction, says Edwin Krezanoski, a bed truck operator and dispatcher for Fox Oilfield. A driver can lock either one, two or all three axles, depending on the conditions, he adds.

When Fox Oilfield originally started talking with Marcep officials about designing a more powerful Texas bed truck, James says the goal was 40,000 pounds of spotting capacity. To achieve and then exceed that goal required some creative engineering that moved as much weight as possible to the front of the truck to effectively create a counterweight that accommodates the extra lifting capacity. Think of it as a teeter-totter, where we have to offset on the front end what the truck is lifting at the rear, he says.

The moment of truth came when a customer asked if the truck could lift one of its 50,000-pound pressure tanks. We gingerly attempted it and the truck handled it like a champ, James says. Being able to lift that extra 10,000 pounds is a big deal. That means it can handle any of the drilling packages that one of our biggest customers uses on site.

If the truck could only handle 40,000 pounds, that customer would need an extra piece of equipment from us to get the job done, he continues. Now they dont have to incur the extra cost of a bed truck as a support unit on location.

That 10,000 pounds may not sound like a lot, but financially, it saves customers big time, Krezanoski notes. This truck has by far exceeded our expectations.

The Kenworth truck hauls and spots a variety of skid-mounted drilling site components, ranging from large pressure tanks, boiler units and

generators to 400-barrel fluid tanks, dry bulk tanks and compressors. It doesnt completely replace a bed truck and its capabilities, James explains. But many times it can do what a bed truck does and if whatever were moving weighs less than 34,000 pounds, we dont need to use a trailer, which is good because theres not a lot of space on drilling sites.

Fox Oilfield also owns a 1995 Kenworth C500 bed truck with tandem

steering and tandem-drive axles, as well as numerous Kenworth T800 winch tractor trucks and various style trailers made by Peerless, Aspen Custom Trailers and Doepker Industries. But its the Texas bed truck thats revolutionizing the companys business, James notes.

Its a hardworking beast that gives us a significant competitive advantage, he says. GOMC


Money Machines

ess is more for oilfield contractors who bring large vehicles to congested drilling pads on a daily basis. In a nutshell, that explains why Fox Oilfield Services in Alberta, Canada, bought a custom-designed Texas

bed truck that does double duty on drilling sites throughout western Canada and brings substantial savings to customers in the process.

Fox Oilfield took delivery of the extra-brawny 2015 Kenworth C500 in February. Since then, the truck, which can work as either a winch truck or a bed truck, has been impressing the companys customers with its versatility. Designed and outfitted by Marcep Manufacturing Ltd., the truck

can carry up to 34,000 pounds of cargo on highways and can bed or spot load up to 50,000 pounds on drilling sites, says Christopher James, vice president of Fox Oilfield, based in Nisku, which is south of Edmonton in central Alberta.

It oftentimes eliminates the need for a bed truck on a drilling site, James says.

A key feature is the trucks 50,000-pound spot loading capacity, which is roughly double the payload capacity of a typical Texas bed truck, which

usually maxes out around 25,000 pounds. That provides our customers with substantial cost savings, because with a single truck we can transport materials to the site, then also use that same truck to put the cargo in place, says Chris Cassin, president of Fox Oilfield. Out here, a lot of equipment is out working in remote areas that might take 14 hours to reach one way. So if they dont have to send out a (full-size) bed truck (along with a winch truck), the cost savings is substantial.

How substantial? It can easily amount to thousands of dollars per day or per trip. Thats very appealing for our customers, Cassin says.

The Kenworth features a 50-ton winch made by Braden (a brand owned

L

DOING DOUBLE DUTYWith its two-for-one capabilities, Texas bed truck gives Alberta oilfield contractor a competitive edge by reducing costs for customers

By Ken Wysocky

It oftentimes eliminates

the need for a bed truck

on a drilling site.

Christopher James

Fox Oilfield Services Inc., Nisku, Alberta, CanadaVEHICLE: 2015 Kenworth C500 Texas bed truck, designed/built by Marcep Manufacturing Ltd.

FUNCTION: Hauling and spot loading large drilling rig components

FEATURES: 550 hp Cummins diesel engine, 50,000-pound spot loading payload capacity, 34,000-pound road payload capacity, 18-speed Eaton-Fuller transmission, four-speed Spicer auxiliary transmission, tri-axle locking differential, 50-ton Braden winch

COST: About $352,000 (or around $450,000 Canadian dollars)

Fox Oilfield Services in Alberta bought a custom-designed 2015 Kenworth C500 truck that can be used as a winch truck or a bed truck. (Contributed photos by Fox Oilfield Services)

SHOW US YOUR MONEY MACHINE!Email [email protected] with a brief description and photo!

Its a hardworking beast that gives us a significant

competitive advantage.

Christopher James

by Paccar) and a 550 hp, high-torque Cummins diesel engine that generates 2,050 ft-lbs of torque, which gives the truck extra power even when its working in lousy soil conditions. Other features include an 18-speed Eaton-Fuller manual transmission with a four-speed auxiliary transmission made by Spicer (owned by Dana Holding); the auxiliary unit effectively gives the truck a 72-speed transmission. Thats a big benefit for a vehicle thats often lugging extremely heavy loads in very muddy conditions, James notes.

Without exaggeration, you might be working in 2 or 3 feet of mud, especially during the springtime melt, he says.

Differential locking on all three rear axles, plus tire chains when needed, provides extra traction, says Edwin Krezanoski, a bed truck operator and dispatcher for Fox Oilfield. A driver can lock either one, two or all three axles, depending on the conditions, he adds.

When Fox Oilfield originally started talking with Marcep officials about designing a more powerful Texas bed truck, James says the goal was 40,000 pounds of spotting capacity. To achieve and then exceed that goal required some creative engineering that moved as much weight as possible to the front of the truck to effectively create a counterweight that accommodates the extra lifting capacity. Think of it as a teeter-totter, where we have to offset on the front end what the truck is lifting at the rear, he says.

The moment of truth came when a customer asked if the truck could lift one of its 50,000-pound pressure tanks. We gingerly attempted it and the truck handled it like a champ, James says. Being able to lift that extra 10,000 pounds is a big deal. That means it can handle any of the drilling packages that one of our biggest customers uses on site.

If the truck could only handle 40,000 pounds, that customer would need an extra piece of equipment from us to get the job done, he continues. Now they dont have to incur the extra cost of a bed truck as a support unit on location.

That 10,000 pounds may not sound like a lot, but financially, it saves customers big time, Krezanoski notes. This truck has by far exceeded our expectations.

The Kenworth truck hauls and spots a variety of skid-mounted drilling site components, ranging from large pressure tanks, boiler units and

generators to 400-barrel fluid tanks, dry bulk tanks and compressors. It doesnt completely replace a bed truck and its capabilities, James explains. But many times it can do what a bed truck does and if whatever were moving weighs less than 34,000 pounds, we dont need to use a trailer, which is good because theres not a lot of space on drilling sites.

Fox Oilfield also owns a 1995 Kenworth C500 bed truck with tandem

steering and tandem-drive axles, as well as numerous Kenworth T800 winch tractor trucks and various style trailers made by Peerless, Aspen Custom Trailers and Doepker Industries. But its the Texas bed truck thats revolutionizing the companys business, James notes.

Its a hardworking beast that gives us a significant competitive advantage, he says. GOMC


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ena Olheiser thought the man was joking when he came up to her at Command Center, a temporary

labor and staffing service center in Dickinson, North Dakota, in early April.

The man said he was laid off from an oil rig, getting good money, and was looking for a new job. He said he would only work for $35 an hour, a minimum of 50 hours each week, and paid housing with a $150 a day per diem.

She soon realized he wasnt joking and had a simple response. Well, good luck with that, she said.

Jobs like that are rare now in the Bakken and other shale plays across the country since crude oil prices dropped in October 2014.

I tell them here that everyone is expendable, everyone, says Command Center branch manager Kristen Vesledahl.

LOSING THE JOB

Alena Praus was one of many workers who lost their jobs when oil prices dropped. The 63-year-old Dickinson resident worked for three years as a clerk for Baker Hughes when, in March, the oilfield services company made cutbacks at its Dickinson office and let her go.

Praus says she wasnt surprised when the company cut her position.

I could feel it in the slowdown of

the work, Praus says. They had to give someplace. They had to go somewhere. I have no ill feelings at all.

Praus has since moved to Fargo where she and her husband are building a retirement home closer to her two sons. She has already been applying for jobs in Fargo and wants to work a couple more years before retiring.

Jeff Larson of Williston worked for an oilfield services company doing hydroexcavation when his company laid off about half of its employees as a result of industry slowdowns. He, at least, had something to fall back on.

I was there for five years and the cuts came up pretty quick, Larson says. Im surprised with how fast companies started cutting after the prices dropped. Now Im working for my cousin in Minnesota driving flatbeds and doing deliveries. Its a long way from home, but at least its something.

While Praus and Larson bounced back from losing their oilfield jobs, others may not be so lucky.

The guys that got laid off from out of town, out of state, they came from states where there were no jobs, Praus says. They came up here to North Dakota to get a job, left their families at home, got an apartment and worked here. Now theyre without a job and go back home, and theres still no jobs there. Those are the ones I really feel for the guys with the families.

THE OTHER SIDE

Bobs Oil Field Service in Belfield was one of those Bakken companies that was forced to lay off employees. For owner

Rob Heim it went fast his business was flourishing in December, but a few months later he had to make the tough move.

The company was founded by his father in 1977, and Heim says it was painful to tell his employees that he no longer had enough work to keep them employed.

Whats really tough for me is when I see these guys come from Michigan and Idaho, and they pack up to come here and

kind of settle in and start going to work, and then all of a sudden theyre sitting across your desk and you say, I dont have any more work for you, Heim says. A lot of them are here temporarily. Thats not the worst part. Its the ones who move their families here and everything, and all of a sudden theyve got to uproot their families and go back home. Thats tough.

The company has multiple trucks, backhoes, excavators and steam cleaners. They offer roustabout services, tank battery construction and general maintenance.

Theres less wells coming on with less rigs and less work, Heim says. The construction has slowed down a lot for us. Were finding that theyre not fixing the margin of wells at this time. If they have troubles, theyll shut the wells in and wait until the prices come up to fix them.

Heim says hes using the downtime to catch up on building and equipment maintenance.

We grew faster than we wanted to, Heim says. This gives us time to get our infrastructure up to speed also. Thats important. And then, well just take it as it comes. GOMC

Bakken Extra

TIMES ARE CHANGINGWith low oil prices, service companies and workers are dealing with layoffs

By Cory Dellenbach

R

Im surprised with how fast companies started cutting after the prices dropped.Jeff Larson

I tell them here that everyone is expendable, everyone.Kristen Vesledahl


f theres an asset, theres a risk, says Raul Vieira, VP of energy services at Bureau Veritas North

America Inc. And if theres a risk, it needs to be managed.

Risk management is a process that looks to minimize the probability and consequences of adverse conditions and maximize the probability and consequences of positive events, he explains.

A look at integrated asset management requires an assessment of the perceived risks in a variety of areas, which could include business, safety, environment, health, costs, performance or compliance with regulations. Depending on the owner of the asset and the asset itself, some of these categories of risk may take priority over others.

For example, if an oil platform went up in a city and a safety issue developed, that might be perceived as a high priority because it could impact lives that are operating on the unit as well as people living within the community itself, Vieira says.

If, on the other hand, a problem occurs with an offshore wind turbine, it is likely to be considered more of a financial risk because there is nobody there whose safety would be in jeopardy, and there is

no risk to the environment in the long run, he explains.

Historically, we have been working with risk and trying to address it at different phases of the life cycle of an asset, Vieira says. Experience today indicates that the sooner you start addressing the management of risk the better, because you become better positioned to respond.

First you try to eliminate that risk through design, then you try to reduce that risk through either design restrictions or construction restrictions, and then you try to minimize the consequences by addressing the risk that cannot be eliminated through various integrity management processes such as personnel training, operational procedures or community outreach.

MANAGING UNCERTAINTIES

Every owner, every user, has a different idea or need in terms of risk management, Vieira adds, and when it comes to the oil and gas sectors, the projects involved are often complex. As a result, they involve uncertainties that stem from a wide range of sources.

Th

July 2015

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Transcript of July 2015