Trenchless Market Provides Opportunity for Waste Management Companies

The complexity for companies operating in the trenchless market is increasing with bigger diameter bores and longer drills, which puts increased emphasis on the circulating system and on the fluid required to keep the bore open.

As the chemistry in the drilling fluid evolves so, too will the processes to keep the fluid within chemical specifications. Many believe solids control equipment can play a crucial role in managing this process. This is where companies like Newalta Corp., with years of experience in Canada’s oilfields, see a business opportunity.

There are new opportunities for the trenchless market to recycle its waste streams — from using innovative strip sites to working with the drilling fluids provider — as operators run more complex systems to reduce the amount of fluid being hauled in and out of job site.

The Calgary-based company, in operation for more than 20 years, is one of Canada’s leading waste management companies, primarily serving the energy sector.

“The foundation of our business revolves around developing innovative, engineered environmental solutions that enable our customers to reduce disposal, enhance recycling and recover valuable resources from exploration, production and infrastructure waste streams,” says Chad Hayden, technical sales representative at Newalta Corp.

Hayden adds, that the Newalta differentiates itself from similar companies with its core competencies in designing, building and operating advanced processing equipment to recover value from complex waste streams. By becoming experts in this business Newalta was able to translate those skills and talents to success in adjacent markets. For example:

• The company operates solids control equipment and closed-loop drilling programs on drill sites in Canada and the U.S.

• It treats the mature fine tailings resident in the tailing ponds developed during oil sands mining operations

• Using thermal technology to process oil-based mud cuttings, Newalta is able to recover the base oil and reduce the environmental impact

• It recycles production and completions water for our customers’ frac programs

And what do all of these have in common? “We have generated these opportunities by listening to our customers, understanding their needs, and developing new ways to manage the complex issues on their worksites,” says Hayden.

“Our people have been following this proven service model for many years. We have experienced and capable operational staff so we are able to provide a high-quality level of service,” Hayden adds. “It has taken years to refine our treatment processes and technology to develop our reputation as a trusted and reliable partner to our customers.”

Newalta applies a processing and recovery focus to the complex waste streams generated from upstream and downstream phases of the oil and gas industry. Through processing, it extracts recoverable value from the waste generated, and seek to reduce, and where possible, eliminate the reintroduction of those wastes into disposal wells and landfills.

By offering  a full fluids management approach, Newalta takes accountability for the drilling fluid system from generation to disposal. One of the most critical components in an HDD operation is the physical and chemical properties of the fluid and how they interact with geology to maintain bore hole integrity.

Newalta works with various fluids providers to develop and engineer drilling fluids programs to anticipate issues with hydraulics, frac outs, lost circulation and torque and drag issues. This anticipation and engineering reduces overall costs and increases efficiency. Throughout the lifecycle of the fluid, Newalta then uses a fleet of shakers, centrifuges and excavators, to maintain the integrity of the fluid and finally transferring it to a disposal facility if necessary.

“We use our facility network to recycle waste before treating it for reuse or disposing of it in an environmentally conscious manner. We are capable of performing pipeline abandonments, as well as reclamation and remediation of commercial installations including pipelines, facilities and work sites,” says Hayden. “We are also involved in spill response and operate as the primary vendor to many large pipeline operators.”

Working through a project requires an in-depth understanding of a customer’s business. Site visits, operational meetings, planning and analysis tools  deliver sustainable solutions.

Canada will be relying on the pipeline industry to help reduce the challenge of moving energy products to new markets. This will require the full support of many stakeholders and groups, including the trenchless market, as well as service companies like Newalta.

“We see the trenchless market continuing to grow to transport energy products to new markets,” says Hayden. “We look forward to simplifying the operations for an entirely new customer base. “

Shane Fortner is a technical sales representative at Newalta Corp.