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Fired Up An annual air cadets’ fall survival weekend was recently held in a remote pasture north of Evesham, Sask. and this photo shows some of the 36 Macklin-based cadets silhouetted around a roaring—and warming bonfire after supper. The event had been in the planning stages since spring and commanding officer Lt. Lorne Kohlman says that counting adult helpers, 50 people took in the two overnight camps. Most of the male and female cadets stayed up until midnight and then rose again by 7 a.m. for ham and cheese and bacon and egg breakfasts. Of the cadets, 16 are from Provost, two from Hughenden and the balance from Saskatchewan. ©Provost News Photo. More photos in October 29 edition of The Provost News. Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.

Drilling Rigs Busier • Thousands More Workers Needed Soon in Western Canada An increase in gas and oil prices has spurred exploration in Western Canada and that means that drilling records will be made in the balance of 2003, according to the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) president Don Herring. An increase in gas and oil prices has spurred exploration in Western Canada and that means that drilling records will be made in the balance of 2003, according to the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) president Don Herring. Herring spoke to The News from his Calgary office explaining that their forecast made a year ago had been correct for the first two quarters of 2003 but “when we saw the (drilling) numbers for the third quarter, we knew we would have to update it.” The oilman says for the fourth quarter of 2003 there will be a record in the number of wells being drilled in Western Canada. A total of 19,423 wells will be completed in 2003 —beating out the old record of 17,945 in 2001. About 75 percent of that drilling will take place in Alberta. The exploration of gas is “significantly ahead of oil in Western Canada.” So far in 2003, 10,240 gas wells have been drilled in Western Canada and by year’s end that’s expected to grow to 13,600. The balance of the drilling (about 25 percent) will be for oil.

Fleet utilization during 2003 is expected to be 63 percent, based on 128,159 operating days. The figures for 2004 are 58 percent utilization, and 120,600 operating days. Drilling contractors are expected to add another 11 rigs next year which means the fleet will stand at 681 rigs, up from 670 in 2003. Peak activity will take place in the first quarter of 2004 and “that will be the busiest quarter that we will have seen.” There will be a record number of rigs operating at that time, predicts Herring. The first quarter of 2004 is expected to see 584 rigs running, or 86 percent of the fleet. This will be the highest level of activity ever measured in a first quarter. That activity will be followed in the second quarter by one half that amount of activity—but still busier than its 2003 counterpart. After that oil patch rush there will be a “contraction” in the third and fourth quarters of 2004 and the reason for that is that the commodity prices on average in 2004 will be slightly less than what they are right now. “But it will still be the second busiest year ever.” The CAODC president said during the interview during the fourth week of October that there are currently 432 rigs active with full crews, which is down slightly because of weather. But that number will jump rise in the first quarter of 2004 with the bulk of the rigs operating in Alberta. Because of that surge in drilling, an extra 3,000 people will have to be found to work directly in the oilfields for drilling and servicing. Plus, Herring points out, another 6,000 people will be needed for associated tasks like geology, testing, cementing, catering, pipe supplying, trucking and associated services. Rest of story and picture in October 29 edition of The Provost News. Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.