Over the years, I’ve photographed many of the drilling rigs working in southeast Saskatchewan. It’s time to renew the 12 Rigs of Christmas! Over the next 12 days, you’ll see rigs of companies still here, and others that have come and gone. Some have changed names and colours. People have come and gone. But you know what? Our industry is still keeping our trucks fueled and our people warm. Please share these posts – you might be in them, or recognize others who are.
This is Horizon Drilling Rig 34, drilling Deep Earth Energy Production’s first geothermal exploratory well south of Torquay in November, 2018. It’s not often you see coring taking place, and this was the second time I got to see it up close. This was also my first time on a Horizon Drilling rig.
This well is significant, as it marks the start of geothermal energy exploration and production in Saskatchewan. When drilled, it was the deepest well in Saskatchewan. The core you see was, at the time, the deepest core ever taken in this province, only to be surpassed by neighbouring wells on the same site. They cored right into the PreCambrian basement, although I think the portion you see is likely the Deadwood, above it. It was a honour to be there, present and documenting what will hopefully become historic developments.
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DEEP drilled its first well in November, 2018. Now, after over four years of development, the project is going ahead. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
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That chunk of core is the deepest core ever taken in Saskatchewan, drilled by DEEP in 2018.
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The 12 rigs of Christmas:
On the first day of Christmas, my missus gave to me, Stampede Drilling Rig 1
On the second day of Christmas, my missus gave to me, Vortex Drilling Rig 1.
On the third day of Christmas, my missus gave to me, Red Dog Drilling Rig 3
On the fourth day of Christmas, my missus gave to me, Betts Drilling Rig 1
On the fifth day of Christmas, my missus gave to me, Horizon Drilling Rig 34
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