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BBE and AES at the forefront of history-making northern research project
“It was exciting to be able to support the experts involved in this unique research project,” said Stuart Russell, vice-president of business development for BBE. “We are pleased our expertise in the logistics support field could assist gas hydrates researchers as they worked to develop this future energy source. And it happened right here in northern Canada.” Headed by the Aurora Research Institute in Inuvik, the Japanese government, and the NWT and the Canadian governments, researchers were hoping to determine how to convert the gas hydrates found 1,200 metres below the surface of the Mackenzie delta into useable energy. Gas hydrates are formed through low temperature and high pressure and are made up of frozen methane (natural gas) and water. Scientists believe there is twice the amount of methane in gas hydrates than there is oil, coal and natural gas in the world. According to the Canadian government, natural gas gathered from gas hydrates is the cleanest carbon-based fuel available, but the challenge of getting the methane out remains. Though the technology to efficiently extract the gas has not yet been perfected, the Japanese government is hoping to use Mallik and Canadian drilling expertise to come up with the answers. Since 1998, international scientists have used Mallik, located approximately 200 km north of Inuvik, as a research site from which to stage the experiments within the hydrate zone. During 2007, the Aurora Research Institute and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation reopened old wells and drilled new ones in the hopes of determining how to best extract the methane from the frozen ground. The researchers sent electricity through a pipe into the hydrate zone to stimulate the hydrates. This allowed the researchers to see how much usable gas will come up to the surface. “We were very excited to be able to work on this unique project, even though we knew getting all of the required equipment to the Mallik site would be a little tricky because of its remote location. We relied on BBE and AES to assist us with that aspect of the project because we know they know how to get us what we needed, when we needed it,” said Andrew Applejohn, director of the Aurora College, who heads the research institute. “The 2007-2008 Mallik program was a success largely due to the professionalism shown by BBE and AES. They helped pull everything together to bring this year to its successful conclusion,” said Applejohn. BBE and AES collected shipments from Alberta vendors. They then bar coded the freight and entered it into BBE’s Integrated Logistics Management System. Then a logistics co-ordinator determined the best shipping method, tracked the shipments and informed staff at the north end of the supply chain about what was coming to them and when it would arrive. Shipped freight included everything from drilling mud, drilling pipe, high-tech testing tools, laptops and even parkas to keep the scientists warm. In Edmonton, BBE expediting manager Heather Stewart and her team dispatched materials via truck or air to meet the necessary timelines. In Inuvik, the AES team confirmed the materials’ arrival and expedited them further to the Mallik site when they were required. “From Edmonton to Inuvik and on to the Mallik site, we were in constant communication with the airlines, trucking companies and the truck drivers. We knew exactly where all freight was at all times. This meant our clients knew the location of their freight so that there were no surprises about when freight was expected to arrive,” said Rod Pilling, BBE / AES Inuvik expeditor. The project manager on the site, Inuvialuit Oilfield Services (an Inuvik-based joint venture between IDC and Schlumberger), used the BBE / AES team to provide the logistical support required to transport project personnel and equipment from Edmonton and points around the world to Inuvik and then to the project well site to meet operating timeline requirements. “We were very impressed by their willingness to be flexible. In one case we were having difficulties sourcing appropriate driving expertise and vehicles to transfer our personnel between Inuvik and Mallik. AES purchased new vehicles, outfitted them will all the necessary emergency gear, sent four of their staff to the Schlumberger driving school in Alberta and provided us with the solution we needed to meet our safety requirements. They were innovative and willing to help us do it right,” said Doug Ashford, project manager for the Schlumberger Integrated Project Management team. “We were even more impressed when we learned that three of the four drivers were Inuvialuit beneficiaries who were gaining new skills from the drivers’ training course. Add the fact that AES had Geotrac GPS satellite tracking devices installed into each vehicle so we could track them on Geotrac’s website at all times, and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner.” “BBE and AES were thrilled to have the opportunity to work on the unique Mallik project with these experts from around the world. We were very pleased the Aurora Research Institute recognized the value we could add to their team from the experience we have gained by assisting other Mackenzie delta explorers over the past six or seven years,” said Stuart Russell. Aurora Research Institute: http://www.nwtresearch.com/
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