Innovation on display as thousands attend Weyburn Oil and Gas show

Nearly 200 vendors demonstrated new technology to crowds bracing the windy conditions Thursday at the Oil and Gas Show in Weyburn.

The biennial event in the heart of Saskatchewan’s oil patch attracts thousands of attendees to learn about innovative technological and environmental advancements in the sector.

Andy Pfeifer with Perspectum Drones brought a one-of-a-kind drone that can detect emissions in the oil and gas industry.

“This is pretty new from start to finish,” he said. “This is a custom design and built right here in Canada using North American parts,” he said

“Increased regulatory environment is going to require technologically advanced solutions to make sure the companies can keep up with their reporting and their compliance,” he explained. “So we’re in the business of identifying the needs of clients and designing the technology required to keep them ahead of the regulations.”

He said there are many pros to having a drone with these capabilities.

“It’s a lot more cost-effective. We can get a lot more done in a day. There’s less risk to personnel being on the ground so there’s a safety aspect to it. It’s a very good solution to having boots on the ground doing the work instead.”

Denise and Art Dougherty with Estevan-based Industrial Communications System Limited have attended the show for years promoting radio systems to farmers, mines and oil companies.

“The best way I would explain it is, do you remember walkie-talkies when you were a kid? And you could talk to your friend wherever? Well, imagine that on a big scale basis,” Denise explained.

While radio communication might sound like old technology, there are modern uses today, Denise said.

“Why do you need a two-way radio when you’ve got a cellphone? That’s because there isn’t cellphone coverage everywhere. If a cell tower goes down you lose your capability to communicate. But you’re never going to lose that capability with a two-way radio,” she said.

Art showed off some of their new products.

“We have cellular boosters is what they’re called,” Art said. “They’re actually used in areas where you can’t get cellphone coverage. But if you go into quonsets or metal buildings or even your car it will boost the signal up so you can receive and transmit on your cell phone better than you could with no coverage.”

Another homegrown Estevan business had a booth at the show.

David Heir is the president of ALX Artificial Lift Works, a pump jack manufacturer.

“We’ve sold about 700 pumping units in the North American oil industry. All the producing states and provinces have ALX jacks running in them,” he said.

Pump jacks are scattered throughout the prairie provinces.

“For those that don’t know, a pump jack is a reciprocating jack like a nodding donkey head,” he said.

“It’ll bring oil, water and or gas up and then go to a battery to be separated. The oil is of course sold and refined. The gas is captured and heats your home.”

Heir said he doesn’t see the industry slowing down anytime soon since all consumer goods are connected to oil.

“This includes your cell phones, your clothes, anything that you eat is all touched with oil because it all has to be trucked to you or come by train.”