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SkyStrat™ drilling rig

The SkyStrat™ drilling rig is a new rig we developed to improve stratigraphic drilling programs in the oil sands. It’s approximately two-thirds the size and less than half the weight of a conventional rig and can be transported by helicopter, allowing us to access remote exploratory drilling locations year-round while reducing our environmental impact.

Transporting the SkyStrat™ drilling rig by helicopter eliminates the need for temporary roads, which significantly reduces the surface footprint. It also has the potential to reduce water use for drilling operations by up to 50 percent. Further reductions in water use are achieved by not having to use additional water to freeze in winter roads.

Drilling all year round creates long-term job opportunities for drilling rig workers, which may decrease seasonal turnover and potentially improve safety performance because the same crew works together all year.