Danielle Smith says Alberta will be proponent for Pacific pipeline, for now. Here’s Pipeline Online’s deep dive, including Saskatchewan persepective.
Smith says Alberta will be proponent for Pacific pipeline, for now
Danielle Smith says Alberta will be proponent for Pacific pipeline, for now. Here’s Pipeline Online’s deep dive, including Saskatchewan persepective.
Smith says Alberta will be proponent for Pacific pipeline, for now

My stomach has been tied up in knots for months as to whether I should write this story. In Saskatchewan, most of the oilfield jobs are in the oilfield services. And I’ve had more conversations than I can count as to “why things are slow.” It’s not just oil prices, which aren’t great. There is a major technological change that is happening that is impacting much of the industry. I finally decided people need to know what is actually going on in as fulsome way as possible.
I’ve always told my kids, “Do you want me to sugar coat things or tell it to you straight?” They’ve always wanted it straight. So that’s what I’m doing here.
The ‘next big thing’ is big multi-lateral wells – but the impact is devastating to many oilfield services

BREAKING: SaskPower buys land on Rafferty Reservoir for possible nuclear reactors #saskatchewan #nuclear #SMR
Also:

Digging deep into the talk about shipping oil from Hudson Bay/James Bay and this week’s announcements

Brian Zinchuk: Let’s get serious about shipping oil from Hudson Bay

Coal Revival: “I’m going to stay,” one coal worker told IBEW. This is one union that is over the moon with the right wing government that just saved their industry and jobs.
More formal letter of support from IBEW:
Coal Revival: IBEW says coal announcement will ‘have a meaningful impact on the lives of our members and their families’
Part 5 of Upgrader series:
Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders, Part 5: Were the Regina and Lloydminster upgraders worth it? The two upgraders’ massive impact on provincial revenue

Coal Revival: Westmoreland intends to grow in Saskatchewan, says letter of support
Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders, Part 4: Regina NewGrade Upgrader, now part of FCL, has processed 16 million barrels of heavy oil per year for 30 years

Here’s a union supporting a right-wing government’s move to rebuild its coal fleet. It has everything to do with the left wing wants their industry to disappear, and the SaskParty is moving to keep it going for decades to come. Interesting, that. As in the musical Hamilton – The World Turned Upside Down.
“Saskatchewan’s leadership in asserting provincial jurisdiction over its energy future deserves recognition. While the federal mandate to phase out coal-fired electricity by 2030 posed existential threats to entire communities, this new direction offers hope and continuity.”
I’ll have a more in-depth interview with the union in coming days, as well as a similar story from the other union involved, and a similar tale.
Also, in my series on the upgraders:
Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders Part 3: The Lloydminster Bi-Provincial Upgrader doubled the city in size

Saskatchewan is rebuildings its coal fleet. Here’s a chance to hear from Crown Investments Corp and SaskPower Minister Jeremy Harrison explain how this came about. It’s the biggest energy decision in 10 years. If you work in the coal industry in take time this weekend to watch/listen.

Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders, Part 2: Grant Devine’s motivation to build upgraders while they had the chance.
Also:
Alberta power reserves falls to zero late Tuesday afternoon

In late June, Federated Co-operatives Limited will be celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Regina Refinery Complex. In September, 2022, Pipeline Online published a six-part series on the two Grant Devine-era heavy oil upgraders, and their lasting impact. One of those upgraders is an integral part of the Regina Refinery Complex, and thus, is a major part of the history of that refinery. To commemorate this momentous anniversary, Pipeline Online is republishing this series.
Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders, Part 1: The two heavy oil upgraders built by the Grant Devine government had a tough opening act, but became anchors for Saskatchewan’s current economy
Also:
Saskatchewan premier says he can ‘get behind’ Ottawa’s energy superpower vision
Trump leaves G7 summit early amid escalations in Middle East
Anyone think that new pipeline might actually make a real difference? Hmmm? Too bad it wasn’t done five years ago. Trans Mountain pipeline project ushers in new era for oilsands hub Fort McMurray.
And too bad Northern Gateway wasn’t built 8 years ago. And Energy East was supposed to be in service December, 2018. Lots of too bads. I wonder why…
So I take my kid to a career day in Estevan, THE ENERGY CITY, and not one energy company has a table at the career fair. Here’s my not too impressed column about it.
Cenovus got spanked for an offshore oil spill.
And if you move dirt, ever, in Saskatchewan, you should be aware of Sask 1st Call. They had some big changes last year, apparently.

Brian Zinchuk: If Poilievre wins a massive majority, can we PLEASE build the Energy East Pipeline?
(I’m fairly certain Premier Moe is tired about me asking about this. I was still talking about it two years ago, which was four years after it was supposed to have been completed. But it’s worth a shot.)
UPDATE: It appears Premier Scott Moe agrees:
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) March 14, 2024

On Monday, Saskatchewan announced a new comprehensive program to attract investment to the province. One of the items is a new program to incentive multi-lateral wells. That’s a well that looks like a herringbone or spiderweb, with lots of legs and increased production.
The question I will be asking soon is if companies are already doing this, why do we need an incentive? Are we leaving money on the table, or is there an expectation of a lot more returns?