The "hard shit"...

That would be refering to formation I'm basing my term project on. Nikanassin rock aka "hard shit" is found in many of the deep wells drilled in the foothills. This formation is really thick in the Grande Cache area (kind of where Alberta's border with BC goes from jagged to straight north). It can be a kilometer thick out here and we can usually only drill 1 or 1.5 meters an hour. Very, very slow. It's super hard, especially at the bottom, and can have other hard elements in it (called chirt) that just chew up bits. Sometimes we'll use 40 or 50 bits to drill one well. Wells in the prairies use 2, maybe 3 bits.

Anyway, it's going to be my job to sift through the wells that we've already drilled out there and find out what has worked good. You'd think that a company would already know that but it's a newer area, technology is always changing, and it's the perfect job for a student. I learn a lot and they don't have to waste their planning time on a side project. Every student at Talisman has to pick one special project to do a presentation on in August. This could have a huge impact on future wells so I think it's going to be worthwhile. Basically, it has the potential to save us enough money that if I do a good job and find some kind of trend, big people are going to notice. Luke may not be the only student with a presentation on Buckey's desk (although I doubt this would get much beyond the big people in the drilling department). The CEO doesn't care how we drill them as long as they get done.

So my hard work ethic is paying off this week. I've been super tired all week but I've pushed through it with motivation and the odd coffee. I was here at 7:10 this morning and in Jim's office at 7:15 getting work for the day. My drilling program is coming along nicely and Yvonne needs some time to review it so for the next few days I'm all Grande Cache (the well for Yvonne is in the Ferrier region, southeast of Grande Cache).

Anyone else find this exciting? Probably not. It will be a lot of computer work but I'm going to expand it to looking at the rock properties (talking to geologists) and new bit technologies (talking to Baker sales people next door). If things work out I should have a kick ass presentation ready for August and a good chance for rehire next year.

Tomorrow is a half day. Lucas, Nevin, Jared, my dad, and I all leave for Montana to build the beach volleyball court. Anyone know where we can get a decent net?