Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show coming up Sept. 11-12

BY BRIAN ZINCHUK

Plans for the 2024 Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show, a two-part show, are underway. The show is anticipated to showcase exhibits for the oil and gas industries and the public this September in the country’s heavy oil capital.

The two-day event is presented by the Lloydminster Oilfield Technical Society and member volunteers.

“The Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show is a staple in the heavy oil industry, and the committee is excited to present the 2024 edition of this great bi-annual show,” said show chairperson Andrew Oracheski in a release.

The opening ceremony and banquet are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. This year’s show will once again feature a fireside chat during the banquet. This year’s panellists include Jeff Lawson, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Development and Acting Chief Sustainability Officer with Cenovus Energy, and Kendall Dilling, CEO of Pathways Alliance.

Cenovus Energy is the largest oil producer in Saskatchewan, with both the Lloydminster Upgrader and Lloydminster Asphalt Refiner in the community. The Pathways Alliance is a consortium of six major oilsands producers who are working together to bring about a massive $16 billion carbon capture and storage program for the Canadian oilsands.

From Sept. 11 & 12, attendees will have the opportunity to explore indoor and outdoor oil-themed exhibits and additional shows featuring oil and gas support services.

Guests attending the event can participate in the Wednesday and Thursday luncheons and panel discussions. On Wednesday, Sept. 11, Premier Danielle Smith of Alberta and Premier Scott Moe of Saskatchewan will discuss energy opportunities and issues, while on Thursday, Sept. 12, prominent energy service officials will speak on the energy industry of today, tomorrow and the future.

Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers, who is also director of protocol for the show, told Pipeline Online that Deidra Garyk is the moderator for the premiers discussion.

While he noted there’s no particular theme this year, “Certainly, there’s a stronger push to consider to continue to grow the oil show itself, as well as that other side, where we’re going to have the service industry that serves oil and gas industry, such as hotels, banks, truck dealerships, and people that have a vested interest in seeing that oil and gas industry thrives. That’s going to be one of the big pushes this year.”

When asked how the industry is doing in Lloydminster right now, he replied, “All indications are relatively well. The yards are full of casing and tubing. And when I see fresh casing and tubing, it tells me there’s wells going to be drilled, and there are wells being drilled.

Aalbers thinks there is going to be a re-evaluation of cold, heavy oil production in the area. That form of oil production has been in decline for many years, with thermal production in the advent. However, the Saskatchewan government’s new drilling incentive program for extensive multilateral wells may breathe new life into cold production.

Lycos, the company highlighted during that announcement, has been drilling cold production wells with up to 39 legs southeast of Lloydminster.

The Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show has a long history of bringing the world’s leading heavy oil production technology to the forefront for the world to see. In past shows, the show has played host to delegations from around the world, and it hopes to continue this tradition in the future.