The Petroleum Services Association of Canada is stepping up its efforts to allay concerns about hydraulic fracturing in the country.
PSAC president Mark Salkeld was the featured speaker at the Estevan Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon last Wednesday at Allie's Fine Dining.
Salkeld used his speech to talk about the multifaceted role of his organization in the oilfield as the trade association for well over 200 companies in the service and supply sectors of the patch.
"If we can support the development of oilfield services then we are supporting the opportunities for kids to get jobs in the local communities, which helps the communities helps the province and helps Canada as a whole," he said.
"Our advocacy efforts span many issues including labour shortages, health and safety, transportation, hydraulic fracturing, market access and supply chain."
Salkeld said a particular focus at the moment for PSAC is fracking which is important here in the southeast, as it has helped open up the Bakken oil play, among many others.
However, fracking has been cast in a bad light recently, primarily in the United States where a series of media reports and documentaries have raised public concern.
Salkeld said PSAC has undertaken a campaign to inform the public about fracking and the impact upon the environment. Entitled the Working Energy Commitment, the program was founded earlier this year along with 12 different fracturing companies, many of whom operate in the southeast.
"The Working Energy Commitment is our way of communicating the commitment of our members to listen to and openly discuss public concerns about oil and natural gas development," Salkeld said.
He added that the commitment includes a shared set of values and principles as well as a code of conduct, which they created through extensive consultation with the industry as well as any other group with a stake in the issue.
"We are the folks on the ground," he said.
The reaction from the public at their various consultation sessions has been positive, Salkeld noted. He said the public appreciates that PSAC isn't simply coming to town because of a disaster. They have also appreciated the chance to talk about any potential impact on the water supply in that community.
"It has been a really good dialogue."
The code of conduct will be released to the public later this month.
Salkeld also spoke to the media about the current outlook on the industry and said although their forecast will be released later this year, he feels things are very positive.
He said although drilling is down a bit, other areas of the patch remain busy.
"There is just a lot more going on, so that is why you see towns like Estevan so busy," he said. "The outlook is steady."
Salkeld said the biggest challenges facing the industry right now are labour and getting their product to market.
