Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Norman Wells (Oct 29/01) - A marine contract to supply captains and deck hands to Imperial Oil's Norman Wells operation ended last week.

The contract was fulfilled by the Norman Wells Claimant Corporation, which is the business arm of the Ernie McDonald Land Corp.

Ed Hodgson, superintendent for marine operations, drives the McKinnon, one of the boats involved in transporting Norman Wells Imperial Oil employees to wells located on islands in the Mackenzie River. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

"We picked up the contract for the first time this season. We had been working on it for a few years," said corporation spokesperson Larry Tourangeau.

Imperial Oil's Norman Wells site has producing wells located on man-made and natural islands in the middle of the Mackenzie River. Field operators drive, float or fly out to the locations to check the wells daily.

The marine transport contract is for the captains and deckhands to operate the boats and transport Imperial's workers. It runs for about four months, from about June to September, or as long as there is no ice on the water.

A safety and environmental package had to be put together by the group in order to fit into Imperial's health safety and environment program. After submitting a number of proposals an agreement was made.

"We were pleased when they notified us to take over," said Tourangeau of the arrangement made last June.

LEDCOR Industrial Maintenance is the main contractor and the claimant corporation sub-contracts through it. The group brought in an expert from Edmonton who had been working for the Canadian coast guard for a number of years in Hay River.

"He was able to check out some of the other guys and give advise on how to get the proper tickets," said Tourangeau.

The seasonal contract, worth about $250,000, keeps 13 people working as long as the Mackenzie River is open. Imperial uses two boats -- a flat-deck that can carry vehicles and a 16-passenger boat.

"We've got 90 per cent that are aboriginal people," said Tourangeau.

Employees started up working as deckhands and then some continued on, taking special classes in Vancouver. After writing a series of exams they can become captains.

"Imperial Oil has kept two of their own captains so they get paid by Imperial Oil," said Tourangeau.

Tourangeau said the past season wasn't as busy as the previous year because, "last year they drilled five new wells on the islands."

In the 2001 season there were two 24-hour shifts going with three boats.

"Tomorrow is our last day. There is too much ice on the river now and tomorrow we are going over to helicopters," said Tourangeau.

Each year during freeze-up, when the river is between stages -- ice forms on the river but is not thick enough to drive on yet -- Imperial uses helicopter service.

"We supply helicopter service with our joint venture partner, Canadian Helicopters," said Tourangeau, referring to a separate contract with the oil company.

Usually by Dec. 15 the river's ice is frozen hard enough to allow Imperial's operators to drive on in order to access their wells.