Well, it has been almost a month since I have updated SlipperyMedic. Let’s see, where to begin. Ok, shortly after moving into ZamaCity and onto a critical sour site, I was spelled off by another medic due to Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Standards limiting workers to a maximum of 21-days. Not being aware of this, day 24 came along and I was approached by the tool-push and he informed that I should be looking for a relief. I contacted dispatch and they were able to find someone to replace me in 4-5 days. Day 29… another medic arrived and I headed to Whitecourt, and following some post-trip paperwork, I proceed to Valemount for some glorious days off, or so I thought.
Frozen water line… good thing I brought my coveralls home with me. Most of my days off were spent under my house with a steam hose and heating chamber borrowed from the local sawmill. After taking apart the water line, I shoved the steam hose in the line coming from the water shed, but I found out that the exposed copper line was attached to an underground ABS plastic line and the steam hose would not go past the coupling. The only thing I could go was add some salt and water and pour it down into the pipe. Hopefully, with the warmer weather Valemount has been getting, it will be near-thawed by the time I return home again.
I started looking at the eaves trough – it runs down the house and onto the lawn directly in the area of the incoming water line. After a few good snow falls and some cold weather, I probably have a 10’x10’ chunk of ice surrounding the waterline. If water is not flowing through the line on a constant basis, I do not think it would take very long for the line to freeze.
This brings some summer project planning and re-routing of the eaves. The deck on the southeast side of the house is completely rotten, so in order to avoid a lawsuit from people falling through, I will rip it off the house, rebuild the stairs to the front door, and re-route the runoff tube around that way instead, or maybe dig under the driveway and run some PVC to the hillside. Hopefully, the golf course’s backhoe will be in good working order. Shovels and I do not get along.
Six days off, then a phone call from Whitecourt… back to the rig I was at, only this time armed with my rowing machine - did I mention how good the food at camp is?!? The rig was in another location already. It was a simple hole, as far as wells go, straight vertical, no directional drilling. The last hole of the season for Nabors24 Drilling Rig and the entire crew was antsy for some extended time-off. Not me… off to Lakota22, conveniently, 22km from Zama.
Said my goodbyes to the outgoing Nabors24 crew, stayed one more night on the lease and then spelled off another medic at Lakota22. With only a few drilling days left, this site hosts the last derrick standing in the region. From what I understand, this crew was also one of the first in the region as well... long winter for them. The hole is completed, cementing today and they are rigging out tomorrow. I will be released by the consultant sometime tomorrow afternoon and on my way back to Whitecourt. Then onto Valemount to begin some home renovations, inside and out, as well as to begin getting firewood for next winter.
If Nabors24 drills during the summer and IPS regains the contract for emergency medical coverage, the tool-push will be asking for me specifically. It is nice to have something to look forward to, however last year, the 'summer' for Nabors24 began in September. If I play one more game of Spider Solitaire, I'll snap.
