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BBE shows Arctic Gas Symposium how to make complex arctic
exploration logistics simple
From
anywhere on its projects, employees at Devon Canada Corporation can track
the progress of shipments en route to its off-shore drilling site in the
Beaufort Sea.
The complex logistics, intricate coordination, dedicated staff and hard
work that make this simplicity happen was presented by BBE’s Stu
Russell at the 2006 Arctic Gas Symposium held March 7 at the Hyatt Regency
in Calgary.
To an audience of 250 delegates ranging from Aboriginal leaders, government
representatives, and key decision makers in the northern oil and gas industry,
Mr. Russell described how BBE and its partner company, Aurora Expediting
Services (AES), dealt with, managed, and coordinated the source to site
logistics and transportation for Devon’s multi-million dollar off-shore
drilling project.
“We may be a small northern company compared to the oil and gas
giants we serve, but that’s exactly why we are able to handle jobs
of this magnitude and complexity,” notes Stu Russell. “We
have several things going for us, including strong partnerships, and knowledge
of what it takes to meet the challenges of the north. Remote distances,
harsh climate, and seasonal access in the north create challenges we’ve
learned to meet effectively. On this project – like many we do –
we worked with our northern partners using several modes of transportation,
including airplanes, helicopters, trucks, rail, ships and barges. As we
did with the Devon project, we routinely create customized and creative
solutions to negotiate a complex supply chain.”
At the symposium, Russell detailed the staggering challenges of distance
and geography that needed to be addressed in supplying the Devon rig:
• The closest land is Garry Island, NWT, a full 35 km from the rig;
• The closest airport is in Inuvik, NWT, 170 km from the site;
• Southern suppliers to the project are in Edmonton, Alberta, some
3,000 km away;
• Temperatures from source to site range from +30o to
–50o Celsius;
• Winter conditions with 24 hours darkness and ice fog;
• Summer conditions with 24 hours daylight and insects.
Speaking to symposium delegates, Russell noted, “To the BBE Group
that’s all in a day’s work. We thrive in situations like this
because we’ve been in the north for 35 years, and have very strong
partner companies throughout the north. Local knowledge is important,
and we’ve got it.
Together, AES and BBE have worked very closely with Devon to customize
the supply chain required to managing the movement of goods from anywhere
to the Beaufort. The team approached the complex situation directly and
assertively by combining valuable northern knowledge and expertise and
putting that process at the disposal of a major oil and gas exploration
company.
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