Deep Panuke newsletter - Encana

D E E P P A N U K E P R O J E C T N E W S L E T T E R
Subsea asset survey
All aboard with new offshore surveyors
To give offshore surveying graduates
key field experience, Encana supported
a new initiative in 2012 during the
subsea asset survey at Deep Panuke.
In the initiative, Carolyn Skerry and
John-Gavin Dunphy, two recent Nova Scotian
graduates from the Centre of Geographic
Sciences (COGS), participated in the
offshore segment of the survey conducted
by DOF Subsea.
Both graduated with a Diploma in
Marine Geomatics from COGS, part of the
Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC—
Annapolis Valley campus) in Lawrencetown,
NS in the spring of 2012, and are employed
by DOF Subsea as offshore surveyors.
Typically hands-on experience offshore
is difficult to obtain for new graduates due to
the high cost and limited space onboard the
vessels conducting this type of survey work
for oil and gas companies.
Encana provided the funding for
their participation from the Deep Panuke
Education & Training and Research &
Development Fund. Their work included
mobilizing survey equipment to the remotelyoperated
vehicle (ROV) on the Atlantic
Condor supply vessel as well as the
John-Gavin Dunphy, offshore surveyor with DOF
Subsea, testing the ROVNAV used to accurately
position the ROV underwater.
collection and analysis of data to onboard
computers from the ROV as it completed the
subsea survey.
Both surveyors also completed offshore
survival and other relevant safety training.
“I learned so much in the offshore
survival and safety training—using the
fire extinguishers, learning CPR and the
helicopter exercises—it all definitely helped
to prepare me for the work ahead,” says
John-Gavin.
The knowledge gained by the surveyors
can be transferred to other projects in Nova
Scotia’s offshore as the local oil and gas
industry continues to develop.
Carolyn Skerry is at home at sea. Her great-grandmother Jean
Grace Tobin was born on Sable Island, NS. From a family of ten
children, Jean Grace was nicknamed “Grassy”, after the grass found
growing on the Island. At Christmas time, Carolyn’s family still eats
from the platters and china that Grassy found washed up on the
Island’s beaches. One of Carolyn’s great-great-great grandfathers
was a midshipman during the Napoleonic Wars, and the family still
has his commission papers signed by Napoleon himself. Carolyn’s
surname Skerry is passed down from John Skerry, who set up the
first ferry service across Halifax Harbour from Halifax to Dartmouth,
NS, with a crew of two men working the oars. “Skipper Skerry” could
get you across the harbour in thirty to forty minutes. Says Carolyn
of her decision to become an offshore surveyor: “I love being on the
water and it is amazing to have the chance to survey and see marine
life where no one has ever been. Some projects that DOF Subsea
is involved in are at depths of more than 3,000 metres!”
PHOTOS: DOF SUBSEA
PHOTO: ENCANA
Citizen engineer
Donna Morykot, regulatory advisor at Deep Panuke, is the
recipient of the Engineers Nova Scotia 2012 Citizenship
Award. Donna received the award, which recognizes
volunteer contributions to the community made by a Professional
Engineer in Nova Scotia, at the Engineers Nova Scotia annual
general meeting on September 14.
In her role as a member of the Deep Panuke team, Donna
works closely with the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum
Board and the National Energy Board to ensure that the project
complies with regulatory requirements. As a community volunteer,
she is the president of Adsum House for Women and Children
and is a member of the Research Advisory Committee for Carbon Capture Storage Nova
Scotia (CCSNS).
Her volunteer work with Adsum has helped to break down barriers related to housing for low
income women in Nova Scotia. Adsum is a recognized community leader devoted to reducing
homelessness and promoting independent living for women, children and youth. Donna started
volunteering for Adsum about a decade ago, serving first as a member of the Property Committee.
She is now entering her second year as President of the Board of Directors.
As a member of the Research Advisory Committee for CCSNS, she provides advice on
the studies being conducted to consider the development of carbon capture in Nova Scotia,
including onshore/offshore assessments of storage, transportation, regulatory and environmental
considerations.
Donna received her Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at the Technical University of Nova
Scotia (TUNS) in 1991, and in 2000 completed her Master of Engineering at TUNS—now part of
Dalhousie University. Congratulations Donna!
Share your energy
IQ–take the quiz!
To learn more about natural gas, take Encana’s energy
quiz. Since the launch of the quiz earlier this year,
more than 3,500 people have completed it. The 10
questions in the quiz walk participants through helpful facts
about the merits of natural gas, explaining why the fuel is
cleaner, abundant and affordable. The quiz is among the most
visited pages on the Encana website. You can take the quiz
and access more information on natural gas and its versatile
uses at www.encana.com/natural-gas/.
F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N
Contact Encana in Halifax for more information on the
Deep Panuke project and other Encana activities:
Phone: (902) 422-4500
Fax: (902) 425-2766
E-mail: dpinfo@encana.com
Web: www.encana.com/deeppanuke
Mail: Suite 700, Founders Square, 1701 Hollis Street,
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3M8
For information on the company responsible for the
provision of the production field centre at Deep Panuke,
visit www.sbmoffshore.com or contact:
Oivind Tangen, Unit Manager, SBM Nova Scotia Contractors Inc.
250 Baker Drive, Unit 222, Dartmouth, NS, B2W 6L4, Canada
Phone: (902) 406-8700
Fax: (902) 406-8722
E-mail: oivind.tangen@sbmoffshore.com
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If you are interested in working on the Deep Panuke project
or other opportunities with Encana, watch for postings under the
Work for Us section at www.encana.com.
Business opportunities with SBM in Nova Scotia are now
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com/communities/canada/atlantic/business-opportunities/.
For information on contracting with Encana elsewhere across
our operations, please visit www.encana.com.
For industry information, please visit The Maritimes Energy
Association at www.maritimesenergy.ca.
This newsletter is printed on 100% chlorine free and acid free paper that is manufactured using pulp certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
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