This has been an interesting experience, learning a bit more about the oil industry of northern BC. My first ride, J-----, works for a company that produces a salt water mixture that is pumped into wells to help along the process of fracking. It also replaces what’s pumped out, keeping things in balance. He used to haul the equipment used to drill new wells, and pointed out a crew that was in the middle or working through one. They’ll be in place for about two weeks, then cap it off, pull out their equipment, and be off to the next site. A different team will come in, set up the pump, and pull out the oil later on.
R----- hauls equipment for far off oil camps. His work provides him with a new pickup every two years: he turned in the last one with over 400,000 miles logged. The previous one was closer to 600,000. For today’s trip he’d been driving for two or three hours before we met, carried me for another three or four, then dropped me off before turning off the main road for another few hours of driving. The delivery was a machine for horizontal drilling. Not a clue how it actually works.
Oil really is the lifeline of this area. People make good money in the fields. They support the hotels and restaurants in the towns along the highway. All of the side industries needed to maintain the wells are a very visible source of employment. This area once had agriculture as a source of work. Now, the balance has changed. When the wells run dry, and cars stop needing oil, what will happen to northeastern BC?
Trip Stats:
Total Distance: 281 miles
Total Time: ~8 hours
# of Rides: 2
Total Cost: $3.50
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