DRIFTER PROJECTS - Key Persons
Mr. Betts has 30+ years of experience in the industrial service sector of western Canada. His Oil Industry experience includes drilling, well logging, perforating, cased hole inspection, liner hangers, and completion services including packers, perforating, cased hole logging, and fracking. In the pulp & paper and sawmill industries service sector his work included commercial industrial gas applications and installations, as well as pump and compressor applications. Mr. Betts has spent the last 12 years working with industry and governments in the planning, application and compliance of projects in Western Canada. His regulatory experience includes directing applications and approvals for oil sands projects at the EPEA and EIA level with the AER, AE&P and CEAA. Mr. Betts has comprehensive experience and understanding of the regulatory process required for stakeholder consultation programs and has successfully concluded regulatory requirements working with First Nations, Industry, Government and Private Landowners.
Mr. Smith holds a Red Seal Journeyman Certificate, as a Instrument Technician and Electrician. He has worked in the oil and gas industry for 19+ years in both construction and maintenance, having spent the last 10 years working in SAGD. Prior to that he worked in the conventional side of the oil and gas industry performing construction, maintenance and turnaround work on gas plants, compressor stations, oil batteries and their associated production fields. He joined Drifter in 2013 having worked on the Pengrowth Lindbergh Commercial SAGD & sustaining capital projects as well as the Harvest BlackGold SAGD project.
Ms. Gaspar holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Catholic University of Colombia, South America and completed the International Business Administration Program at the EAN School of Business of Colombia. Ms. Gaspar has 25+ years of experience in the Oil and Gas industry in establishing work standards and specifications, analyzing cost benefits and enhancing operations management. An original founding partner of Drifter, she currently maintains a Senior Advisor role to the company. Prior to her time at Drifter, Ms. Gaspar was a key member of the Project Management Team for a multinational oil company in Calgary.
Job Titles:
- Services and Infrastructure
Mr. Derdak holds a CET certification from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and has more than 30 years of project and operations experience in the oil and gas industry. Having been with Drifter since its inception, Mr. Derdak has played a key role in all projects executed to date including being responsible for all required utilities and associated infrastructure for our SAGD developments. Mr. Derdak was General Manager responsible for overseeing the entire Southern Pacific McKay SAGD Project. Most recently he oversaw the Pengrowth Groundbirch sales pipeline project and was Project Manager for the Harvest BlackGold construction completion. Mr. Derdak also has extensive experience in operations and the development of corrosion and chemical programs for oil and gas facilities.
Mr. Wilson holds a B.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary, graduating in 1992. He has 25+ years of domestic and international project management and engineering experience in the oil and gas industry. Mr. Wilson joined Drifter in 2013 and has been involved in the Pengrowth Lindbergh Phase 2 Expansion, Sales Oil Pipeline and Diluent Pipeline, Pengrowth's Groundbirch gas plant expansion and new well tie-in as well as Harvest BlackGold. Prior to Drifter he worked at AMEC BDR Engineering for 17 years as an Engineering Manager and Mechanical Lead, completing over 150 projects ranging in cost from $500k to $240MM, including the Deer Creek SAGD projects and the Connacher Algar SAGD projects.
Mr. Loucks holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Calgary. He has 35+ years of experience in the construction industry including 12 years' experience in earthworks construction for SAGD projects in Alberta and extensive work in environmental containment using liner systems for the oil and gas, mining, petrochemical, and municipal sectors. Mr. Loucks was responsible for the design of site grading and containment and planning and execution of all earthworks construction on the Connacher Pod 1, Connacher Algar, Southern Pacific McKay, and Pengrowth Lindbergh SAGD projects. He has also been involved in the planning and preparation of regulatory information for various other projects in the Fort McMurray area. He brings extensive experience in AutoCad (including Civil 3D) and interfaces with engineers, surveyors, drilling, environmental, regulatory, and geology disciplines.
Mr. Schill has 30+ years of construction experience in the oil and gas industry, having constructed hundreds of miles of pipelines, from 2" to 48" diameter, including infield gathering systems and sales lines. He joined the Drifter team in 2013. Mr. Schill has experience working with steel, composite, poly and fiberglass piping. He has also been involved in the construction of various oil batteries, gas plants, compressor stations and single well oil batteries, and has worked with numerous fabrication shop inspectors over the years.
Mr. Simpson holds a Power Engineering Diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology with a 3rd class steam ticket. He has 22+ years in SAGD and conventional oil & gas operations, with the last 10 years in Mechanical Inspection. His extensive operational background is a great benefit in design, construction & start-up of any project. Having joined Drifter in 2008, Mr. Simpson has overseen several construction projects with Drifter as well as multiple commissioning and start-ups of SAGD facilities including Connacher, Pengrowth and Harvest.
Mr. Lemee holds a CET certification from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He joined Drifter in 2013 as our shop inspection coordinator. He provides shop inspection services ensuring all code compliance to CSA W59 structural standards and ASME Section 8 and B31.3 and coordinates all third party inspection services. Mr. Lemee utilizes feedback from inspectors and reports to monitor project status and works with engineering, procurement and logistics to ensure smooth project execution. His recent experience includes the Pengrowth Lindbergh Commercial SAGD facility and sustaining capital projects, Harvest BlackGold construction completion, as well as various gas plant construction projects.
Ms. Cavanagh holds both B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. She has 15+ years of engineering and project management experience in both conventional oil & gas and SAGD facilities. Having joined Drifter in 2012, she successfully executed the Pengrowth Lindbergh Commercial SAGD project with the team, responsible for overseeing all aspects of facility engineering, procurement, and construction, including cost and schedule management, and facility commissioning. She oversaw Pengrowth Lindbergh Phase 2 development activities as well as sustaining capital projects for Phase 1. Ms. Cavanagh ran commissioning activities for the Harvest BlackGold SAGD facility. She has also conducted numerous engineering studies for various clients. Prior to Drifter she worked at a local engineering firm gaining a vast array of project experience. Ms. Cavanagh acquired Drifter in 2018 from its founding partners, Rob McNeill and Consuelo Gaspar, who continue to remain active with the company as senior advisors.
Job Titles:
- Administration & Cost Control
Ms. St. Louis has 15+ years experience in the oil and gas sector, varying from SAGD construction to head office and operations administration. Her main role at Drifter has been to set up and oversee all field cost tracking and control activities. Other duties she has been responsible for are work force site accommodations, logistics and assisting all project leads as required. Her experience also plays into operations by assisting junior companies with setting up administration procedures, systems to effectively manage site administrative/logistical duties, and cost control tracking to help clients understand their profitability and cash accruals. She can assist with office set up, as well as hiring and training of future office staff to best complement the operations team and their specific needs.
Job Titles:
- Mark Burren - Superintendent Mechanical Inspection
Mr. Burren holds a Mechanical Engineering Diploma and Power Engineering Diploma both from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology with a 3rd class steam ticket. He has 20+ years experience in various sectors of the oil and gas industry throughout Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan and Texas. He has been responsible for: design assistance, reviewing design drawings, reviewing bids, creating budgets, directing contractors, interfacing with clients and engineering firms, supervision and quality control of construction, and executing schedules within project management guidelines and budgets. He has been involved in an extensive range of projects, recently including: Construction Manager for completion of Harvest's BlackGold SAGD facility, Construction Manager for Crew Energy's Wilder gas plant followed by Chief Engineer once the plant was operational, Superintendent - Mechanical Inspection for Pengrowth's SAGD Facility, Construction Manager for Chinook Energy's sour gas compressor and pipeline gathering Red Creek Battery, Superintendent - Mechanical Inspection for Southern Pacific Resources McKay SAGD Facility, the deconstruction of a piece of the Suncor Dover SAGD site, and Construction Manager for N-Solv's solvent injection facility.
Job Titles:
- Matthew Loader - Superintendent Electrical Inspection
Mr. Loader holds a Master Electrician Certification from (NAIT) Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He has worked in the industrial electrical field in Alberta for over 20 years in both construction and maintenance. Mr. Loader has spent the last 10 years with Drifter Projects as an Electrical Inspector and has worked on our Connacher Algar Commercial, Southern Pacific McKay, Pengrowth Lindbergh Pilot & Commercial, and Harvest BlackGold projects. He has been our Superintendent of Electrical Inspection since 2014 and plays a vital role in the team's project execution, construction and commissioning activities.
Mr. Facca holds a Power Engineering Diploma from the SIAST College, with a 2nd class steam ticket. He has 15 years experience in both SAGD and conventional oil, as well as Nitrogen Fertilizer. The last 10 years were focused in the SAGD industry, and the last 5 years within Inspection. His responsibilities with Drifter have included mechanical inspection and commissioning of Pengrowth's Lindbergh SAGD projects and the Harvest BlackGold facility.
Mr. Schoonderbeek holds a certificate in Occupational Health, Safety and Environment specializing in work place safety from the University of Calgary. Prior to joining Drifter Projects in 2008 he worked full time in Emergency services for 25yrs and volunteered with the Town of Olds Fire Department until 2017 where he was an Assistant Fire Chief. He is a Registered Primary Care Paramedic and an instructor for various safety training programs such as Fire Extinguisher Training, Basic Life Support, and Confined Space Entry & Rescue. Since being with Drifter Projects he has overseen the construction safety at Connacher, Southern Pacific, N-Solv, Pengrowth Lindbergh and Harvest BlackGold. Mr. Schoonderbeek also has experience managing Operational and Turn-Around safety activities.
Mr. McNeill co-founded Drifter Projects in 2006 and has been intimately involved in every project undertaken by the team since that time. Prior to Drifter, Mr. McNeill has had a varied 30+ year career in the design, construction and operation of energy facilities. His experience includes SAGD, gas processing and deep cut liquids extraction, sour gas processing and acid gas injection, conventional oil, and cogeneration. Mr. McNeill has executed projects both domestically and internationally and has been involved in emerging technologies such as solvent extraction and plasma gasification. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary.
Job Titles:
- Construction Superintendent
Mr. Raycraft has over 30 years of experience in the oil & gas industry, starting on the conventional side and expanding to SAGD with his construction company. Through his years of experience he had build several oil batteries, gas plants, pipelines and many facility modifications, additions and expansions. He developed his company's QC and safety programs. Mr. Raycraft is well versed in B31.3, B31.1 and Z-662 piping specifications. After selling his company in 2005 Mr. Raycraft joined the Drifter team and is now our Construction Superintendent. He is a team player and leader that takes his work very seriously. He always has the client's best interest in mind when executing projects. Mr. Raycraft prides himself on great communication with owners and vendors of the projects he work on. Getting projects completed on time and on budget, in a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly manner is Mr. Raycraft's main goal on any project he undertakes. His work with Drifter includes the Deer Creek Joslyn SAGD facility, Connacher Pod 1 & Algar, Connacher Randall compressor station, and the Pengrowth Lindbergh SAGD facility. Mr. Raycraft also oversaw facility upgrades, piping modifications and new well pad installations at Pengrowth Lindbergh.
Mr. McMullen holds a Red Seal Journeyman Instrument Technician Diploma from NAIT. He has worked in the instrumentation field for the past 27 years involving manufacturing, construction, maintenance, and commissioning of oil & gas, SAGD, pulp & paper, and food industries. Mr. McMullen has worked with Drifter for 10+ years with construction and commissioning of the Deer Creek Joslyn Commercial SAGD, Connacher Pod 1 & Algar SAGDs, Southern Pacific McKay SAGD, Pengrowth Lindbergh Pilot & Commercial SAGDs, and Harvest BlackGold SAGD.