september 2014

For Environmental & Support Service Professionals

NEVERSAY NO

MONEY MACHINES:Tornado hydroexcavators maximize productivity

PAGE 20

BAKKEN EXTRA: Oilfield tours reveal the real North Dakota

PAGE 24

www.GOMCmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2014

TM

VAC TRUCK CONTRACTOR ANTICIPATES CUSTOMERS NEEDS AND GROWS HIS BUSINESS TO MEET DEMAND PAGE 12

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4 GOMC www.gomcmag.com - SEPTEMBER 2014

contentsfeatures12 CONTRACTOR PROFILE: NEVER SAY NO Vac truck contractor anticipates customers needs and grows his business to meet demand. - Ken Wysocky 30 PRODUCT FOCUS: PUMPS, VALVES, INSTRUMENTATION & DRILLING EQUIPMENT - Craig Mandli 36 CASE STUDIES: PUMPS, VALVES, INSTRUMENTATION & DRILLING EQUIPMENT -Craig Mandli

42 WWETT SPOTLIGHT: IMPROVING VACUUM TANK ACCESS The Claw from Amthor International is designed to make locking rear-opening vacuum tanks safer and more efficient. - Craig Mandli

COMING IN OCTOBER 2014ISSUE FOCUS:

Support Trucks and Trailers

n Contractor Profile: CETCO Energy Services, Covington, La.

n Money Machines: Low-impact ATVs haul heavy loads across the tundra

departments8 EDITORS NOTEBOOK: PERCEPTION AND REALITY Not everyone can take a tour of the oilfields to learn about the industry firsthand, but there are still opportunities to educate the public. - Luke Laggis 10 @GOMCMAG.COM Clips and quotes from the best of our exclusive online content.

20 MONEY MACHINES: DIGGING THROUGH THE TUNDRA Hydroexcavation trucks help Alberta contractor improve productivity and boost customer satisfaction. - Ken Wysocky

24 BAKKEN EXTRA: TOURING THE OILFIELDS Vacation agency wants to give people a true representation of western North Dakota. - Cory Dellenbach

28 EYE ON THE INDUSTRY: EXPORT DOOR CRACKS OPEN Commerce Department ruling allows foreign sale of minimally processed ultralight oil. - Cory Dellenbach

38 ON THE MONEY: KNOW THE REAL COST Price is only one factor in determining how long it will take a new piece of equipment to return a profit. - Erik Gunn 44 GOM PIPELINES: SEVERAL COMPANIES LOOKING AT ADDING PIPELINES Group plans to explore enhanced oil recovery options. - Cory Dellenbach

46 PRODUCT NEWS Product Spotlight: Spread-axle trailer increases options. -Ed Wodalski 52 INDUSTRY NEWS 58 CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 2014

on the coverThe staff of Schlomkas Vac Truck Service includes (from left) Collin Gustafson, Nick Kehren, CEO Donny Schlom-ka, Randy Worthington and Jeff Brown. The company has stayed ahead of the curve by anticipating customers needs and adding services and equipment to meet those needs. (Photography by Brad Stauffer)

12

2030

www.facebook.com/GOMCmag

www.twitter.com/GOMCmag

www.plus.google.com

www.youtube.com/GOMCmag

www.linkedin.com/company/gas-oil-&-mining-contractor

Get Social with GOMCFor Environmental & Support Service Professionals

NEVERSAY NO


PAGE 20


PAGE 24


TM



contentsfeatures12 CONTRACTOR PROFILE: NEVER SAY NO Vac truck contractor anticipates customers needs and grows his business to meet demand. - Ken Wysocky 30 PRODUCT FOCUS: PUMPS, VALVES, INSTRUMENTATION & DRILLING EQUIPMENT - Craig Mandli 36 CASE STUDIES: PUMPS, VALVES, INSTRUMENTATION & DRILLING EQUIPMENT -Craig Mandli

42 WWETT SPOTLIGHT: IMPROVING VACUUM TANK ACCESS The Claw from Amthor International is designed to make locking rear-opening vacuum tanks safer and more efficient. - Craig Mandli

COMING IN OCTOBER 2014ISSUE FOCUS:

Support Trucks and Trailers

n Contractor Profile: CETCO Energy Services, Covington, La.

n Money Machines: Low-impact ATVs haul heavy loads across the tundra

departments8 EDITORS NOTEBOOK: PERCEPTION AND REALITY Not everyone can take a tour of the oilfields to learn about the industry firsthand, but there are still opportunities to educate the public. - Luke Laggis 10 @GOMCMAG.COM Clips and quotes from the best of our exclusive online content.

20 MONEY MACHINES: DIGGING THROUGH THE TUNDRA Hydroexcavation trucks help Alberta contractor improve productivity and boost customer satisfaction. - Ken Wysocky

24 BAKKEN EXTRA: TOURING THE OILFIELDS Vacation agency wants to give people a true representation of western North Dakota. - Cory Dellenbach

28 EYE ON THE INDUSTRY: EXPORT DOOR CRACKS OPEN Commerce Department ruling allows foreign sale of minimally processed ultralight oil. - Cory Dellenbach

38 ON THE MONEY: KNOW THE REAL COST Price is only one factor in determining how long it will take a new piece of equipment to return a profit. - Erik Gunn 44 GOM PIPELINES: SEVERAL COMPANIES LOOKING AT ADDING PIPELINES Group plans to explore enhanced oil recovery options. - Cory Dellenbach

46 PRODUCT NEWS Product Spotlight: Spread-axle trailer increases options. -Ed Wodalski 52 INDUSTRY NEWS 58 CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 2014

on the coverThe staff of Schlomkas Vac Truck Service includes (from left) Collin Gustafson, Nick Kehren, CEO Donny Schlom-ka, Randy Worthington and Jeff Brown. The company has stayed ahead of the curve by anticipating customers needs and adding services and equipment to meet those needs. (Photography by Brad Stauffer)

12

2030

www.facebook.com/GOMCmag

www.twitter.com/GOMCmag

www.plus.google.com

www.youtube.com/GOMCmag

www.linkedin.com/company/gas-oil-&-mining-contractor

Get Social with GOMCFor Environmental & Support Service Professionals

NEVERSAY NO


PAGE 20


PAGE 24


TM



Complete frac spread equipmentand support in every shale play.

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Advertiser Index SEPTEMBER 2014

Adman Enterprises............................................................................54

ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. ......................................18

American Clutch & Equipment Co. ......................................8

American Jetter .....................................................................................57

Armstrong Equipment, Inc. .......................................................60

BJM Pumps ...............................................................................................17

Canary, LLC ................................................................................................41

CK Power .....................................................................................................40

ClearSpan Fabric Structures ........................................................57

Comforts of Home Services, Inc. ...........................................50

Consolidated Fabricators ..............................................................40

Coxreels ...........................................................................................................6

Detroit ............................................................................................................51

Dragon Products Ltd. ..........................................................................7

Eclipse Wireline ......................................................................................22

Eldred Environmental & Export Co. LTD ...........................26

Fast-Vac Trucks & Accessories, LLC ........................................50

Firestone Building Products ........................................................25

Found It Now ..........................................................................................57

Fruitland Manufacturing. ..............................................................45

Gamajet, part of the Alfa Laval Group ...............................39

GapVax, Inc. ..................................................................................................3

Gorman-Rupp Company .............................................................11

Granite Seed and Erosion Control.........................................26

Insulation Snakes .................................................................................57

Jetstream of Houston ......................................................................15

JLG Industries, Inc.................................................................................21

Lee Supply Company ......................................................................55

Masport, Inc. ............................................................................................55

Master Pumps & Power .................................................................................39

Moro USA, Inc. ...........................................................................................5

NLB Corp. ...................................................................................................27

Northeast Industrial Mfg................................................................22

Pressure Lift Corporation ...............................................................50

Rhino Linings Corporation ..........................................................43

Safety Corporation of America ................................................26

Skycasters ...................................................................................................29

Snap-on Industrial Brands ............................................................37

TMW Systems .........................................................................................59

United Rentals ...........................................................................................9

Vactor Manufacturing ......................................................................23

Vacuum Sales, Inc. ...............................................................................49

Volvo Construction Equipment ..............................................19

Water Cannon, Inc. ...................................................................2 & 57For Environmental &

Support Service Professionals

Published monthly by:

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Three Lakes, WI 54562

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In U.S. or Canada call toll-free 800-257-7222

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SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: A one year (12 issue) subscription to GOMC in the United States or Canada is free to qualified subscribers. A qualified subscriber is any company or individual who maintains, services or supports land-based gas, oil or mining operations in North America. Non-qualified subscriptions are available at a cost of $60 per year in the United States and $120 per year outside of the United States. To qualify visit www.gomcmag.com/qualify or send company name, mailing address, phone number and check or money order (U.S. funds payable to COLE Publishing Inc.) to the address above. MasterCard, VISA and Discover are also accepted. Supply credit card information with your subscription order.

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DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Contact Tim at 800-994-7990 or [email protected]. Publisher reserves the right to reject advertising which in its opinion is misleading, unfair or incompatible with the character of the publication.

REPRINTS AND BACK ISSUES: Visit www.gomcmag.com for options and pricing. To order back issues, call Nicole at 800-257-7222 (715-546-3346) or email [email protected]. To order reprints, call Jeff Lane at 800-257-7222,

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ve learned a lot about this industry over the past couple years. And even though Im reading and writing about

it and talking to industry professionals on a daily basis, I still have plenty to learn. Ill still have plenty to learn 10 years from now, so it makes me wonder how people with no ties to the industry form their opinions on everything from fracking to pipeline construction.

This months Bakken Extra feature, Touring the Oilfields, provides good insight into the perceptions outsiders have on the industry.

What you hear and what it really is are two different things, says Jake Kubela, who owns World Class Tours of Wahpeton, N.D., with his wife, Dawn. There are so many preconceived notions about what the oilfields are like. People think its the wild

west out there, they think that its just anarchy and that nothing is organized, but when you get them out there, very seldom is it what they thought it was.

On the companys first excursion, they took a mix of business owners and investors and general curiosity seekers for a three-day tour of western North Dakotas oilfields. Kubela says the people who took the tour had their eyes opened to what its really like out there.

Speakers, ranging from industry professionals to officials from cities within the Bakken, were able to answer questions and share the real stories of oilfield work and life.

One of the main topics on the tour was fracking and the issues surrounding it, including contamination of water sources. Thats a topic I read and hear about frequently, and it gets more press or at least more

attention than just about anything else related to the industry.

We have a short article, 5 Fracking Myths Debunked, at GOMCmag.com. The article is in reference to a book Just the Fracks, Maam by author Greg Kozera. The fact such a book is even necessary speaks volumes to the level of speculation and misinformation that surrounds hydraulic fracturing.

Kozera takes on several topics, including the notions that fracking is explosive, contaminates groundwater and causes earthquakes. Frankly, it would be easy to pick up a large daily newspaper on any given day, or do a quick Google search, and come to the same conclusions.

In fact, the top search result for fracking issues is dangersoffracking.com, a website that shows up prevalently in most searches related to the subject. The three in-depth articles listed under a much more benign search of hydraulic fracturing, from the New York Times, Vanity Fair and Scientific American, all paint a very bleak picture of the process and its effects. The top 10 results for fracking include five sites and one story with varying levels of anti-fracking slant, two impartial informational sites and two industry-related sites.

Thats a pretty brief and unscientific survey, but it demonstrates the volume of the collective anti-fracking voice. Oil companies touting the value of the process are never going to alleviate the fears of skeptics, but maybe good reporting, greater transparency about fracking fluid mixtures and other processes, and more impartial studies on the effects or lack thereof of fracking will help lead the industry forward with greater consensus.

Thats something everyone could benefit from.

Enjoy this months issue. GOMC

Editors Notebook

PERCEPTION AND REALITYNot everyone can take a tour of the oilfields to learn about the industry firsthand, but there are still opportunities to educate the public

By Luke Laggis

ILuke Laggis


2014 United Rentals, Inc.

UnitedRentals.com/gmc | 800.UR.RENTS

From safety/operator training and equipment management technologies, to custom solutions engineered to meet

specialized job requirements, United Rentals offers much more than just the worlds largest rental fl eet. It takes a lot

to get the job done right. Were here to help.

Aerial | Earthmoving | Material Handling | PumpsPower & HVAC | Trench Safety | Tools | Technology

Anytime, anywhere, on any deviceManage your rental eet with UR Control

UnitedRentals.com/URcontrol

14-URI-1204 GasOilMining September_r03.indd 1 8/21/14 2:27 PM

ve learned a lot about this industry over the past couple years. And even though Im reading and writing about

it and talking to industry professionals on a daily basis, I still have plenty to learn. Ill still have plenty to learn 10 years from now, so it makes me wonder how people with no ties to the industry form their opinions on everything from fracking to pipeline construction.

This months Bakken Extra feature, Touring the Oilfields, provides good insight into the perceptions outsiders have on the industry.

What you hear and what it really is are two different things, says Jake Kubela, who owns World Class Tours of Wahpeton, N.D., with his wife, Dawn. There are so many preconceived notions about what the oilfields are like. People think its the wild

west out there, they think that its just anarchy and that nothing is organized, but when you get them out there, very seldom is it what they thought it was.

On the companys first excursion, they took a mix of business owners and investors and general curiosity seekers for a three-day tour of western North Dakotas oilfields. Kubela says the people who took the tour had their eyes opened to what its really like out there.

Speakers, ranging from industry professionals to officials from cities within the Bakken, were able to answer questions and share the real stories of oilfield work and life.

One of the main topics on the tour was fracking and the issues surrounding it, including contamination of water sources. Thats a topic I read and hear about frequently, and it gets more press or at least more

attention than just about anything else related to the industry.

We have a short article, 5 Fracking Myths Debunked, at GOMCmag.com. The article is in reference to a book Just the Fracks, Maam by author Greg Kozera. The fact such a book is even necessary speaks volumes to the level of speculation and misinformation that surrounds hydraulic fracturing.

Kozera takes on several topics, including the notions that fracking is explosive, contaminates groundwater and causes earthquakes. Frankly, it would be easy to pick up a large daily newspaper on any given day, or do a quick Google search, and come to the same conclusions.

In fact, the top search result for fracking issues is dangersoffracking.com, a website that shows up prevalently in most searches related to the subject. The three in-depth articles listed under a much more benign search of hydraulic fracturing, from the New York Times, Vanity Fair and Scientific American, all paint a very bleak picture of the process and its effects. The top 10 results for fracking include five sites and one story with varying levels of anti-fracking slant, two impartial informational sites and two industry-related sites.

Thats a pretty brief and unscientific survey, but it demonstrates the volume of the collective anti-fracking voice. Oil companies touting the value of the process are never going to alleviate the fears of skeptics, but maybe good reporting, greater transparency about fracking fluid mixtures and other processes, and more impartial studies on the effects or lack thereof of fracking will help lead the industry forward with greater consensus.

Thats something everyone could benefit from.

Enjoy this months issue. GOMC

Editors Notebook

PERCEPTION AND REALITYNot everyone can take a tour of the oilfields to learn about the industry firsthand, but there are still opportunities to educate the public

By Luke Laggis

ILuke Laggis


@GOMCmag.comVisit the site daily for new, exclusive content. Read our blogs, find resources and get the most out of GOMC magazine.

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BUSINESS MODEL

When (And How) ToAdd a New ServiceThinking about expanding your business services? Read these tips from Mike and Kelly Clark, who own a successful hydroexcavation business. Find out how a boots-on-the-ground approach and maybe a few slices of free pizza helped them succeed. gomcmag.com/featured

KEEP CALM, CARRY ON

How to Deal With Difficult CustomersSometimes, difficult customers might test your very last bit of patience. Take a deep breath and read these seven tips on how to handle angry calls, hot tempers and hefty complaints. You can do it. Just remember that by dealing with upset customers positively, youll build a stronger business. gomcmag.com/featured

OVERHEARD ONLINE

Inadequate housing situations

a socio-environmental issue are one of the three leading causes

of alcohol and substance abuse. - Can Worker Camps Reduce

Alcohol and Substance Abuse?gomcmag.com/featured

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Silica Sand Success StoryBeing a good neighbor is an essential part of business for Badger Mining. Learn how this successful sand mining operation has put down roots in its small Wisconsin community by providing scholarships, working with local food banks, and sponsoring all sorts of land stewardship programs. Nothing says, job well done, like having community support. gomcmag.com/featured


Cover Story

Vac truck contractor anticipates customers needs and grows his business to meet demand

By Ken Wysocky | Photography by Brad Stauffer

NEVERSAY NO

ome oil industry contractors strive to build a diverse customer base to mitigate the risk of over-reliance on one particular client. At Schlomkas Vac Truck Service Inc. in Hastings, Minn., co-owners Donny and Susan Schlomka take a different tack on diversity: The company offers a small core group of clients two oil refineries and two pipeline companies a

wide array of different services. As such, Schlomkas does work ranging from hazardous and nonhazardous

waste hauling, industrial vacuuming and hydroexcavating, to pressure washing, drainline cleaning and stormwater pumping. In short, the Schlomkas do pretty much everything but turn out the lights and lock the doors for the long-standing customers but if asked, theyd probably agree to do that, too.

I really care what people think about me and our company, says Donny Schlomka. I want to give them the best service possible.

Schlomka has good reason to be unusually passionate in his commitment to customer service; he and his family have been serving the refinery and pipeline companies for more than 40 years. Schlomka worked for his recently retired father, Hank, who ran a septic tank pumping and industrial vacuuming firm and started doing business with the refinery and pipeline operators in the late 1960s and early 70s. Schlomka worked for his father for years, and he and Susan bought the industrial cleaning arm of the company from him in 2000.

I worked for my mom and dad ever since I was 14 years old, Schlomka says, explaining his decision to buy the outfit from his father. Its what I know. I figured I better jump in with both feet and do it.

The business remains every bit a family affair, too. The Schlomkas oldest son, Justin, is a mechanic at the company; another son, Danny, runs a portable restroom business that spun off the septic pumping division; daughter Amber is the office manager; and her husband, Randy, works as a vacuum truck operator.

The refineries generate about 75 percent of the companys business; the work includes cleaning tanks and vessels and above-ground piping and sewer lines, as well as hydroexcavating to locate underground piping or fiber

optics. Providing vacuum truck support services for the pipeline operations accounts for the remaining 25 percent of the companys revenue.

Schlomka concedes that having all his proverbial eggs in one business basket carries a certain degree of risk. Ive been concerned about trying to diversify, but every time I try to

branch out, theres a chance my work at the refineries suffers. Its always in the back of your mind what if the refineries dont like me anymore?

On the other hand, every time I think I cant do anything more, they throw more work at me they like me and my equipment, he adds. They appreciate my knowledge Ive been working at one of the refineries since 1969 and my experience.

S

SCHLOMKAS VAC TRUCK SERVICE INC., HASTINGS, MINN.OWNERS: Donny and Susan Schlomka

FOUNDED: 2000

EMPLOYEES: 25

SPECIALTIES: Industrial cleaning services for refineries and pipeline companies

SERVICE AREA: 25-mile radius around Hastings

WEBSITE: www.svtsinc.com

I really care what people think

about me and our company.

I want to give them the

best service possible.

Donny Schlomka

> Driver/operators Nick Kehren and Randy Worthington use a 2010 Keith Huber Dominator wet vac truck to drain a roadside ditch.



A wise man once noted that people dont quit playing because they get old; they grow old because they quit playing. That bodes well for Hank Schlomka, who finds plenty of time for hobbies as the retired 74-year-old patriarch of a family of septic pumping, portable restroom and industrial cleaning businesses he helped establish decades ago in Hastings, Minn.

Schlomka still occasionally works with the boys, as he calls his son, Donny, who runs Schlomkas Vac Truck Service Inc.; nephew Larry, who operates Schlomka Services LLC; and grandson Danny, who owns Schlomkas Portable Restrooms & Mobile Pressure Washing LLC. But hes even busier restoring the more than 100 vintage cars, trucks and tractors he owns, as well as fashioning wooden bowls that he often hands out randomly to whoever looks like they need one at the annual Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International, now known as WWETT (Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport Show).

I still do a little advising here and there, but Im not in the trucks anymore, he says of his involvement in the family businesses. Been there, done that.

Instead, the good-humored and energetic Schlomka a self-described jack-of-all-trades and master of some says hes always busy with something, especially with the wooden bowls and vehicles. My dad and mom were the same way always go, go, go, Schlomka says, explaining the source of his boundless energy.

Schlomka started turning bowls on a lathe in 1990, when he made

about 25 for Christmas presents. To date, hes made more than 3,000, using everything from aromatic cedar to oak, maple and birch.

Everyone liked them so much that I just kept on making them, he says. Last year I made more than 300, now that I have more time. If I spend more than two hours making one, thats a long time. It usually takes longer to stain and varnish them than it does to actually make them.

Schlomka is just as passionate about his vehicles, stored in several buildings. One of his favorites is the 1931 Ford he bought when he and his wife, Carol, got married in 1957. I still have the same car and the same wife, and they both still run, he quips.

Most of the cars and trucks are still drivable. Schlomka says hes traveled as far as North Dakota, Missouri and Georgia to buy the vehicles, which he finds through tips from friends and family. Once you go take a look at one, you end up with it, he notes.

Schlomka says its hard to pick a favorite, but he really enjoys driving his 1957 Chevrolet 210 hardtop. He also just bought two rarities: a 1929 Whippet and a 1925 Star.

I spend a lot of time restoring vehicles in winter, he says. I try to restore one car a year, but I did three last winter.

So when does Schlomka plan to stop? Not any time soon, by the sound of it. I got more projects going than I got years left, he says. I hate to even buy green bananas at my age. But I plan to keep going and give er hell every day.

STAYING ACTIVE KEEPS FAMILY PATRIARCH YOUNG

Jeff Brown (left) and Collin Gustafson clean up at a job site after locating and exposing fiber optic lines for a client.

LARGE EQUIPMENT FLEETSo far, the reverse-diversification strategy is

working; Schlomka estimates his revenue has at least quadrupled since he bought the company in 2000. The company fleet has grown too, with around $5 million worth of equipment, including six hydroexcavating trucks: three Guzzlers and two HXX units, all made by Vactor Manufacturing Inc., and one King Vac model made by Keith Huber Corp.

The company also relies on 21 wet-vacuum trucks made by Keith Huber and Presvac Systems Ltd. Tank sizes range from 2,000 to 3,000 gallons and the trucks use pumps made by Demag Wittig (Gardner Denver), Pearson Industries (now LMT Inc.) and National Vacuum Equipment Inc.

We buy at least one new vacuum truck every year, Schlomka says. This year we hired six new guys, so we had to buy six trucks. Weve been buying used trucks because we cant afford to wait nine months for new trucks.

I saw thered be a need. I know the

refinery and how it works. It was a

gamble on my part, but I knew what they

were going to need before they knew

what they were going to need.

Donny Schlomka

The Schlomkas Vac Truck Service fleet at the company shop in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. The company is run by Donny Schlomka.

Schlomkas Vac Truck Service CEO Donny Schlomka climbs aboard his 2012 Guzzler Ace Liquid Ring vac truck, which can handle flammable liquids.



A wise man once noted that people dont quit playing because they get old; they grow old because they quit playing. That bodes well for Hank Schlomka, who finds plenty of time for hobbies as the retired 74-year-old patriarch of a family of septic pumping, portable restroom and industrial cleaning businesses he helped establish decades ago in Hastings, Minn.

Schlomka still occasionally works with the boys, as he calls his son, Donny, who runs Schlomkas Vac Truck Service Inc.; nephew Larry, who operates Schlomka Services LLC; and grandson Danny, who owns Schlomkas Portable Restrooms & Mobile Pressure Washing LLC. But hes even busier restoring the more than 100 vintage cars, trucks and tractors he owns, as well as fashioning wooden bowls that he often hands out randomly to whoever looks like they need one at the annual Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International, now known as WWETT (Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport Show).

I still do a little advising here and there, but Im not in the trucks anymore, he says of his involvement in the family businesses. Been there, done that.

Instead, the good-humored and energetic Schlomka a self-described jack-of-all-trades and master of some says hes always busy with something, especially with the wooden bowls and vehicles. My dad and mom were the same way always go, go, go, Schlomka says, explaining the source of his boundless energy.

Schlomka started turning bowls on a lathe in 1990, when he made

about 25 for Christmas presents. To date, hes made more than 3,000, using everything from aromatic cedar to oak, maple and birch.

Everyone liked them so much that I just kept on making them, he says. Last year I made more than 300, now that I have more time. If I spend more than two hours making one, thats a long time. It usually takes longer to stain and varnish them than it does to actually make them.

Schlomka is just as passionate about his vehicles, stored in several buildings. One of his favorites is the 1931 Ford he bought when he and his wife, Carol, got married in 1957. I still have the same car and the same wife, and they both still run, he quips.

Most of the cars and trucks are still drivable. Schlomka says hes traveled as far as North Dakota, Missouri and Georgia to buy the vehicles, which he finds through tips from friends and family. Once you go take a look at one, you end up with it, he notes.

Schlomka says its hard to pick a favorite, but he really enjoys driving his 1957 Chevrolet 210 hardtop. He also just bought two rarities: a 1929 Whippet and a 1925 Star.

I spend a lot of time restoring vehicles in winter, he says. I try to restore one car a year, but I did three last winter.

So when does Schlomka plan to stop? Not any time soon, by the sound of it. I got more projects going than I got years left, he says. I hate to even buy green bananas at my age. But I plan to keep going and give er hell every day.

STAYING ACTIVE KEEPS FAMILY PATRIARCH YOUNG

Jeff Brown (left) and Collin Gustafson clean up at a job site after locating and exposing fiber optic lines for a client.

LARGE EQUIPMENT FLEETSo far, the reverse-diversification strategy is

working; Schlomka estimates his revenue has at least quadrupled since he bought the company in 2000. The company fleet has grown too, with around $5 million worth of equipment, including six hydroexcavating trucks: three Guzzlers and two HXX units, all made by Vactor Manufacturing Inc., and one King Vac model made by Keith Huber Corp.

The company also relies on 21 wet-vacuum trucks made by Keith Huber and Presvac Systems Ltd. Tank sizes range from 2,000 to 3,000 gallons and the trucks use pumps made by Demag Wittig (Gardner Denver), Pearson Industries (now LMT Inc.) and National Vacuum Equipment Inc.

We buy at least one new vacuum truck every year, Schlomka says. This year we hired six new guys, so we had to buy six trucks. Weve been buying used trucks because we cant afford to wait nine months for new trucks.

I saw thered be a need. I know the

refinery and how it works. It was a

gamble on my part, but I knew what they

were going to need before they knew

what they were going to need.

Donny Schlomka

The Schlomkas Vac Truck Service fleet at the company shop in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. The company is run by Donny Schlomka.

Schlomkas Vac Truck Service CEO Donny Schlomka climbs aboard his 2012 Guzzler Ace Liquid Ring vac truck, which can handle flammable liquids.

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We also pay cash for just about everything, he adds. I dont like to stick my neck out on anything, so I dont buy something until I know I can afford it. The only time I ever borrowed money was for the last vacuum truck purchases. Our accountant said the company needed to establish some credit, so we paid cash for half of the six trucks and took a loan out for the other three. But I plan to pay them off quickly.

In addition, the company owns: 16 portable diesel pumps made by Godwin; three truck-mounted water jetters (60 gpm at 2,000 psi); a Hitachi mini-excavator; a Case IH tracked skid-steer; a Chevrolet dump truck with a 12-cubic-yard dump body; a 60-foot boom crane made by National Crane,

mounted on a Ford truck; a Chevrolet flatbed truck; and four tanker trailers from Polar Corp, ranging in size from 5,500 to 8,000 gallons. Two of the trailers feature stainless steel tanks and are used as temporary holding tanks; one hauls water for the companys hydroexcavators and one is used to transfer acids, Schlomka says.

FOCUSED ON CUSTOMER NEEDS

At times, Schlomka will buy or build equipment dedicated specifically to fulfilling a customer demand, like the vacuum truck he had his father build just for carbon injection in a bio-basin in one of the refineries; in the basin, microorganisms eat oil in dirty water discharged from refinery processes. The unit features a 3,000-gallon stainless steel tank and a Hibon (Ingersoll Rand) 1,400 cfm blower.

That truck works four hours a day at this refinery, seven days a week, Schlomka notes.

Schlomka also tries to anticipate customer needs, like the time he bought a vacuum truck with a stainless steel tank in 2005 after he heard that one of the refineries was closing down an acid plant across the street. I figured theyd bring it [the acid plant] into the refinery. At that time, no one out here had stainless steel trucks that could carry acid, he recalls. I saw thered be a need. I know the refinery and how it works. It was a gamble on my part, but I knew what they were going to need before they knew what they were going to need.

Its critical that we have the right equipment to do the job, Schlomka adds. We do a lot of scheduled maintenance work during facility shutdowns, so we need equipment thats reliable and will work when you need it. We work

I like to see what the industry has to offer who can build

and customize trucks to the specs we need. Its important

to invest in new technology because a good safety

record equals getting more work.

Donny Schlomka

Nick Kehren (left) and Randy Worthington feed the hose from their wet-vac truck to a ditch they were called out to drain.

24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I cant remember a day when we havent been out there working.

Rapid growth created demand for more than just a lot of equipment. The company recently built a new 12,500-square-foot shop that features two offices, a break room, a locker room, a shower room, two 10,000-pound hoists, a pit for changing oil and under-truck service, four drive-in maintenance bays, a fabrication bay, a wash bay and two drive-thru maintenance bays for semi-tankers.

We employ two full-time mechanics, Schlomka points out. Something breaks down every day, and its more cost-effective and efficient for us to do the work ourselves.

TRACKING NEW TECHNOLOGY

Refineries and pipelines are high-risk work areas, so Schlomka says hes always scrutinizing new technology that keeps his employees safer and increases efficiency for customers. As such, he attends the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International (now known as WWETT) annually to check out the latest advancements.

I like to see what the industry has to offer who can build and customize trucks to the specs we need, he says. Its important to invest in new technology because a good safety record equals getting more work.

A good example is the King Vac hydroexcavator Schlomka bought from Keith Huber in 2003. Instead of a vane pump, it utilizes water-ring technology, which creates vacuum power by swirling water at high speed; Schlomka says its similar to swirling cream into a cup of coffee with a spoon.

We bought the unit to clean contaminated soil, which gives off flammable vapors, he explains. We couldnt dig the soil with a regular hydroexcavator because a vane pump might create a spark. That was my first big purchase. It cost $265,000 and that was a lot of money then for a greenhorn like me.

FINDING A HAPPY MEDIUM

Like many contractors, Schlomka struggles with the issue of how big is too big for his company. When he started out with six vacuum trucks and four employees, he never imagined the company would grow so large and so quickly. Hiring more employees equates to more pressure to sustain enough work to keep them employed.

I dont always like having so many people relying on me. If I do something

wrong, it affects everyones livelihoods, Schlomka says. But Ive learned not to think about it too much. Weve gotten to the point where we have a lot of good employees, which helps a lot.

On the other hand, Schlomka is always reluctant to turn down work. Out here if you dont get bigger, you step aside because theyll find someone else to do the work. One thing Ive learned over the years is that you never say no. Why give that work and profit to somebody else? I always say, Yes, then figure out how well do it later. GOMC

Gardner Denver217/222-5400www.gardnerdenverproducts.com

Godwin, a Xylem brand800/247-8674www.godwinpumps.com

Hibon Inc. (a division of Ingersoll Rand)888/704-4266www.hibon.com

Hitachi866/973-0394www.hitachiconstruction.com

Keith Huber Corporation800/334-8237www.keithhuber.com

LMT - VAXTEEL800/545-0174www.vaxteel.com

Manitowoc Cranes866/355-5438www.manitowoccranes.com

National Vacuum Equipment800/253-5500www.natvac.com

Polar Tank Trailer, LLC800/826-6589www.polartank.com

Presvac Systems, Ltd.800/387-7763www.presvac.com

Vactor Manufacturing800/627-3171www.vactor.com(See ad on page 23)

more info

Donny Schlomka talks to his driver/operators (from left) Jeff Brown, Randy Worthington and Nick Kehren every morning about their responsibilities for the day.


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We also pay cash for just about everything, he adds. I dont like to stick my neck out on anything, so I dont buy something until I know I can afford it. The only time I ever borrowed money was for the last vacuum truck purchases. Our accountant said the company needed to establish some credit, so we paid cash for half of the six trucks and took a loan out for the other three. But I plan to pay them off quickly.

In addition, the company owns: 16 portable diesel pumps made by Godwin; three truck-mounted water jetters (60 gpm at 2,000 psi); a Hitachi mini-excavator; a Case IH tracked skid-steer; a Chevrolet dump truck with a 12-cubic-yard dump body; a 60-foot boom crane made by National Crane,

mounted on a Ford truck; a Chevrolet flatbed truck; and four tanker trailers from Polar Corp, ranging in size from 5,500 to 8,000 gallons. Two of the trailers feature stainless steel tanks and are used as temporary holding tanks; one hauls water for the companys hydroexcavators and one is used to transfer acids, Schlomka says.

FOCUSED ON CUSTOMER NEEDS

At times, Schlomka will buy or build equipment dedicated specifically to fulfilling a customer demand, like the vacuum truck he had his father build just for carbon injection in a bio-basin in one of the refineries; in the basin, microorganisms eat oil in dirty water discharged from refinery processes. The unit features a 3,000-gallon stainless steel tank and a Hibon (Ingersoll Rand) 1,400 cfm blower.

That truck works four hours a day at this refinery, seven days a week, Schlomka notes.

Schlomka also tries to anticipate customer needs, like the time he bought a vacuum truck with a stainless steel tank in 2005 after he heard that one of the refineries was closing down an acid plant across the street. I figured theyd bring it [the acid plant] into the refinery. At that time, no one out here had stainless steel trucks that could carry acid, he recalls. I saw thered be a need. I know the refinery and how it works. It was a gamble on my part, but I knew what they were going to need before they knew what they were going to need.

Its critical that we have the right equipment to do the job, Schlomka adds. We do a lot of scheduled maintenance work during facility shutdowns, so we need equipment thats reliable and will work when you need it. We work

I like to see what the industry has to offer who can build

and customize trucks to the specs we need. Its important

to invest in new technology because a good safety

record equals getting more work.

Donny Schlomka

Nick Kehren (left) and Randy Worthington feed the hose from their wet-vac truck to a ditch they were called out to drain.

24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I cant remember a day when we havent been out there working.

Rapid growth created demand for more than just a lot of equipment. The company recently built a new 12,500-square-foot shop that features two offices, a break room, a locker room, a shower room, two 10,000-pound hoists, a pit for changing oil and under-truck service, four drive-in maintenance bays, a fabrication bay, a wash bay and two drive-thru maintenance bays for semi-tankers.

We employ two full-time mechanics, Schlomka points out. Something breaks down every day, and its more cost-effective and efficient for us to do the work ourselves.

TRACKING NEW TECHNOLOGY

Refineries and pipelines are high-risk work areas, so Schlomka says hes always scrutinizing new technology that keeps his employees safer and increases efficiency for customers. As such, he attends the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International (now known as WWETT) annually to check out the latest advancements.

I like to see what the industry has to offer who can build and customize trucks to the specs we need, he says. Its important to invest in new technology because a good safety record equals getting more work.

A good example is the King Vac hydroexcavator Schlomka bought from Keith Huber in 2003. Instead of a vane pump, it utilizes water-ring technology, which creates vacuum power by swirling water at high speed; Schlomka says its similar to swirling cream into a cup of coffee with a spoon.

We bought the unit to clean contaminated soil, which gives off flammable vapors, he explains. We couldnt dig the soil with a regular hydroexcavator because a vane pump might create a spark. That was my first big purchase. It cost $265,000 and that was a lot of money then for a greenhorn like me.

FINDING A HAPPY MEDIUM

Like many contractors, Schlomka struggles with the issue of how big is too big for his company. When he started out with six vacuum trucks and four employees, he never imagined the company would grow so large and so quickly. Hiring more employees equates to more pressure to sustain enough work to keep them employed.

I dont always like having so many people relying on me. If I do something

wrong, it affects everyones livelihoods, Schlomka says. But Ive learned not to think about it too much. Weve gotten to the point where we have a lot of good employees, which helps a lot.

On the other hand, Schlomka is always reluctant to turn down work. Out here if you dont get bigger, you step aside because theyll find someone else to do the work. One thing Ive learned over the years is that you never say no. Why give that work and profit to somebody else? I always say, Yes, then figure out how well do it later. GOMC

Gardner Denver217/222-5400www.gardnerdenverproducts.com

Godwin, a Xylem brand800/247-8674www.godwinpumps.com

Hibon Inc. (a division of Ingersoll Rand)888/704-4266www.hibon.com

Hitachi866/973-0394www.hitachiconstruction.com

Keith Huber Corporation800/334-8237www.keithhuber.com

LMT - VAXTEEL800/545-0174www.vaxteel.com

Manitowoc Cranes866/355-5438www.manitowoccranes.com

National Vacuum Equipment800/253-5500www.natvac.com

Polar Tank Trailer, LLC800/826-6589www.polartank.com

Presvac Systems, Ltd.800/387-7763www.presvac.com

Vactor Manufacturing800/627-3171www.vactor.com(See ad on page 23)

more info

Donny Schlomka talks to his driver/operators (from left) Jeff Brown, Randy Worthington and Nick Kehren every morning about their responsibilities for the day.


50 YEARS OF BUILDING FUTURES MEANS

YearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYears19642

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While power and precision are important, your equipment is only as good as its dealer support. From quick turnarounds to short notices, only Volvo and your local Volvo dealer have the right equipment to help you get the job done on time. Thats minimizing your risk with complete confidence and support, day in and day out. Find out how easy we are to work with at volvoce.com/smartpipeline.

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You partner with a dealer that has your back no matter where the jobs take you.


Money Machines

hen Dwaine Ruckman decided to take the plunge into hydroexcavating in 2003, he sought three things in a hydrovac truck: reliability, ease of operation and technology that would

maximize productivity. He found exactly what he was looking for in Tornado F4 trucks, made by Tornado Hydrovacs.

The F4s are very operator-friendly, which enables us to train operators quickly, says Ruckman, the owner of DR Hydrovac in Rosebud, Alberta. The company primarily does hydroexcavation work for pipeline companies, exposing underground utility lines for pipeline repairs or installation of new infrastructure. The trucks design is very simple only two air switches in the entire rig-up and the hydraulic system is high-tech without being overkill, so there are less things that can fail. Theres no need to get fancy when simplicity works well enough. These trucks are designed less for show and more for go.

Ruckman currently owns four trucks, all made by Tornado (which is a part of Petrofield Industries, a division of Empire Iron Works Ltd.). In all, he says, hes purchased nine Tornados in the past 11 years; he typically sells them after six years and says the units retain solid resale value.

Each truck features a 12-yard debris tank; a blower with vacuum power of 4,000 cfm at 27 degree Hg (one manufactured by Hibon Inc., an Ingersoll-Rand company, and the other by Roots Systems Ltd.); a 2,100-gallon water tank; a 980,000 Btu boiler for hot-water excavating; a Model 3560 triplex water pump made by Cat Pumps (25 gpm at 3,000 psi); a Peterbilt chassis; a Fuller transmission from Eaton; rear tri-axle configuration; and a 26-foot-long boom that can reach 23 feet down vertically and swing 340 degrees.

Ruckman says he prefers larger debris and water tanks, which maximize productivity by reducing the number of back-and-forth trips for disposal and

reducing the need to haul water to remote locations. I also spec three drive axles in the back, rather than tandem axles,

because they allow us to carry more weight, he explains. They also provide more traction on soft ground and minimize soil compaction. We often work on private farmland right-of-ways, so we want to leave the ground as undisturbed as possible.

The 26-foot-long boom enables crews to reach locations in tight spots where the truck cant get close to an excavation site. The boom rotates from the drivers side of the cab to the passenger side, which gives us a lot of flexibility in the field, Ruckman notes. You cant always park the truck and work off the back, so that versatility comes in handy.

Ruckman also lauds the Tornados unique debris-removal system. Instead of employing a conventional hydraulic hoist for gravity dumping, the F4 utilizes a mechanical sweep to push dirt and water through a 48-by-52-inch rear door. The sweep provides 50,000 pounds of force and typically empties the debris

W DR Hydrovac, Rosebud, AlbertaMACHINES: 4 Tornado F4 hydroexcavating trucks made by Tornado Hydrovacs

FUNCTION: Safe excavation of underground utility lines

FEATURES: 12-yard debris tank; 4,000 cfm blower at 27 degree Hg; 2,100-gallon water tank; 980,000 Btu boiler; triplex water pump (25 gpm at 3,000 psi); Peterbilt chassis; rear tri-axle configuration; 26-foot boom with 340-degree swing capability

COST: Around $500,000

DIGGING THROUGH THE TUNDRAHydroexcavation trucks help Alberta contractor improve productivity and boost customer satisfaction

By Ken Wysocky

tank in two passes. To aid debris removal, the floor of the tank slopes down toward the rear. Moreover, this design eliminates the weight added by a hoist, vacuum piping and a subframe under the truck, which allows more payload capacity.

It doesnt take any time at all to unload and get back to work, Ruckman says of the mechanical-sweep system.

The Tornado F4 also increases efficiency because its design eliminates the need to attach hoses or extra dig tubes for hydroexcavating, which reduces job setup time, Ruckman says.

The peak season for DR Hydrovac runs from September through March. As such, the hot-water boiler is a must. The frost zone usually extends down about 8 feet in southern Alberta, where most of the companys work is concentrated. But the boiler heats water to 160 degrees, allowing crews to keep working in frigid conditions.

When hydrovac trucks break down, the revenue loss is significant, Ruckman points out, plus it can damage customer relations. Thats why he prefers the Tornados, which he says are very reliable. He also likes the fact that, aside from improvement tweaks here and there, Tornado doesnt radically change the trucks design from year to year, so drivers dont need retraining every time the company buys a new unit.

I build relationships with people I can trust and that can back me up when I make promises to my customers, Ruckman says. Tornado builds the equipment and provides the support I need to achieve that. We pride ourselves on being strong, efficient, safe and on time, and we can do all that because of our Tornado hydrovac trucks. GOMC

Theres no need to get fancy when

simplicity works well enough. These

trucks are designed less for

show and more for go.

Dwaine Ruckman

> A 980,000 Btu boiler on each of these hydroexcavators from Tornado Hydrovacs enables DR Hydrovac of Rosebud, Alberta, to work during harsh Canadian winters. (Photos courtesy of Dwaine Ruckman)


By Ken Wysocky


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Money Machines

hen Dwaine Ruckman decided to take the plunge into hydroexcavating in 2003, he sought three things in a hydrovac truck: reliability, ease of operation and technology that would

maximize productivity. He found exactly what he was looking for in Tornado F4 trucks, made by Tornado Hydrovacs.

The F4s are very operator-friendly, which enables us to train operators quickly, says Ruckman, the owner of DR Hydrovac in Rosebud, Alberta. The company primarily does hydroexcavation work for pipeline companies, exposing underground utility lines for pipeline repairs or installation of new infrastructure. The trucks design is very simple only two air switches in the entire rig-up and the hydraulic system is high-tech without being overkill, so there are less things that can fail. Theres no need to get fancy when simplicity works well enough. These trucks are designed less for show and more for go.

Ruckman currently owns four trucks, all made by Tornado (which is a part of Petrofield Industries, a division of Empire Iron Works Ltd.). In all, he says, hes purchased nine Tornados in the past 11 years; he typically sells them after six years and says the units retain solid resale value.

Each truck features a 12-yard debris tank; a blower with vacuum power of 4,000 cfm at 27 degree Hg (one manufactured by Hibon Inc., an Ingersoll-Rand company, and the other by Roots Systems Ltd.); a 2,100-gallon water tank; a 980,000 Btu boiler for hot-water excavating; a Model 3560 triplex water pump made by Cat Pumps (25 gpm at 3,000 psi); a Peterbilt chassis; a Fuller transmission from Eaton; rear tri-axle configuration; and a 26-foot-long boom that can reach 23 feet down vertically and swing 340 degrees.

Ruckman says he prefers larger debris and water tanks, which maximize productivity by reducing the number of back-and-forth trips for disposal and

reducing the need to haul water to remote locations. I also spec three drive axles in the back, rather than tandem axles,

because they allow us to carry more weight, he explains. They also provide more traction on soft ground and minimize soil compaction. We often work on private farmland right-of-ways, so we want to leave the ground as undisturbed as possible.

The 26-foot-long boom enables crews to reach locations in tight spots where the truck cant get close to an excavation site. The boom rotates from the drivers side of the cab to the passenger side, which gives us a lot of flexibility in the field, Ruckman notes. You cant always park the truck and work off the back, so that versatility comes in handy.

Ruckman also lauds the Tornados unique debris-removal system. Instead of employing a conventional hydraulic hoist for gravity dumping, the F4 utilizes a mechanical sweep to push dirt and water through a 48-by-52-inch rear door. The sweep provides 50,000 pounds of force and typically empties the debris

W DR Hydrovac, Rosebud, AlbertaMACHINES: 4 Tornado F4 hydroexcavating trucks made by Tornado Hydrovacs

FUNCTION: Safe excavation of underground utility lines

FEATURES: 12-yard debris tank; 4,000 cfm blower at 27 degree Hg; 2,100-gallon water tank; 980,000 Btu boiler; triplex water pump (25 gpm at 3,000 psi); Peterbilt chassis; rear tri-axle configuration; 26-foot boom with 340-degree swing capability

COST: Around $500,000


By Ken Wysocky

tank in two passes. To aid debris removal, the floor of the tank slopes down toward the rear. Moreover, this design eliminates the weight added by a hoist, vacuum piping and a subframe under the truck, which allows more payload capacity.

It doesnt take any time at all to unload and get back to work, Ruckman says of the mechanical-sweep system.

The Tornado F4 also increases efficiency because its design eliminates the need to attach hoses or extra dig tubes for hydroexcavating, which reduces job setup time, Ruckman says.

The peak season for DR Hydrovac runs from September through March. As such, the hot-water boiler is a must. The frost zone usually extends down about 8 feet in southern Alberta, where most of the companys work is concentrated. But the boiler heats water to 160 degrees, allowing crews to keep working in frigid conditions.

When hydrovac trucks break down, the revenue loss is significant, Ruckman points out, plus it can damage customer relations. Thats why he prefers the Tornados, which he says are very reliable. He also likes the fact that, aside from improvement tweaks here and there, Tornado doesnt radically change the trucks design from year to year, so drivers dont need retraining every time the company buys a new unit.

I build relationships with people I can trust and that can back me up when I make promises to my customers, Ruckman says. Tornado builds the equipment and provides the support I need to achieve that. We pride ourselves on being strong, efficient, safe and on time, and we can do all that because of our Tornado hydrovac trucks. GOMC

Theres no need to get fancy when

simplicity works well enough. These

trucks are designed less for

show and more for go.

Dwaine Ruckman

> A 980,000 Btu boiler on each of these hydroexcavators from Tornado Hydrovacs enables DR Hydrovac of Rosebud, Alberta, to work during harsh Canadian winters. (Photos courtesy of Dwaine Ruckman)


By Ken Wysocky


At Northeast Industrial Manufacturing, We Make Them Tougher.

1-800-879-6464www.northeastind.com

TOUGH BOXES FOR A TOUGH INDUSTRY

Features: 1/4" Rolled Sheet 3/16" 4"x3" Rolled Tubing 1" Plate Hinge Sliding Fittings per Specication

ROLLED STEELTOUGHER, STRONGER AND LIGHTER

No Hydro-Excavator keeps you moving like a Vactor HXX. When you need earth-moving performance no matter how tough the conditions, try the vacuum excavator that

started the trend. Built to keep working in extreme weather and the toughest soils, the Vactor HXX is backed by 24/7 responsiveness, and it doesnt stop until the jobs done. Whether youre hydro-excavating or cleaning up drilling mud, the Vactor HXX is ready to move heaven and earth or at least all the earth you need it to move.

Meet our rugged lineup of equipment for the gas and oil industry at machinesthatwontquit.com, or call to request a live demo: 815.672.3171 x297

2014 Vactor Manufacturing


No Hydro-Excavator keeps you moving like a Vactor HXX. When you need earth-moving performance no matter how tough the conditions, try the vacuum excavator that

started the trend. Built to keep working in extreme weather and the toughest soils, the Vactor HXX is backed by 24/7 responsiveness, and it doesnt stop until the jobs done. Whether youre hydro-excavating or cleaning up drilling mud, the Vactor HXX is ready to move heaven and earth or at least all the earth you need it to move.

Meet our rugged lineup of equipment for the gas and oil industry at machinesthatwontquit.com, or call to request a live demo: 815.672.3171 x297

2014 Vactor Manufacturing


ake Kubela and his wife, Dawn, were born and raised in North Dakota and have roots in western North Dakota.

A former oilfield trucker, Jake Kubela has extensive knowledge of the landscape and workings of the Bakken oil patch.

What you hear and what it really is are two different things, says Kubela. There are so many preconceived notions about what the oilfields are like. People think its the wild west out there, they think that its just anarchy and that nothing is organized, but when you get them out there, very

seldom is it what they thought it was. Kubela and his wife began operating

World Class Tours of Wahpeton, N.D., in February 2013 and are doing their part to give people a view of what the oilfields are really like.

In June, their company offered its first tour of nearby oilfields. The tour consisted of three days of traveling throughout the oilfields of western North Dakota, staying one night at a crew camp, visiting an active drill site and hearing from many speakers throughout the trip.

We decided this was an avenue we wanted to try, and bring some people into North Dakota and show them the Bakken, Kubela says. We wanted to give them a real, factual, up-to-date representation of whats really happening, whats going on and what its really like. We are proud of our state, and we wanted to show that off.

Kubela wasnt sure what to expect for the first tour held June 3-5 as his company was marketing it toward business investors, business owners and others looking for opportunities out in the Bakken.

We expected that market to fill our bus, but what ended up happening was the Fargo Forum, the local media, caught wind of this and put an article in the paper and we ended up with a half-and-half crowd, Kubela says. We ended up with some city managers, economic development people, business owners, but then we also had the general curiosity seekers and retirees wanting to see the oilfields, but didnt want to drive or come up with their own hotel room.

World Class Tours provides the transportation as long as those on the tour can get themselves to a bus pickup location along the route, Kubela says. The $599 per person double occupancy fee also includes all three meals per day, two overnight stays, speaker fees and any attractions that may be included in a stop.

Kubela says the 13 speakers on the first tour ranged from those who work in the oilfields to city managers whose cities are located in the Bakken. They can get up and tell their story, and they can answer the questions the way they want to answer them and they can tell the stories they want to tell instead of having it misinterpreted through the media.

Kubela noted one common topic on the first trip was fracking and the issues that are in the news with that, including contamination of water sources.

We had Dave Glatt with the North Dakota Department of Health come and

Bakken Extra

TOURING THE OILFIELDSVacation agency wants to give people a true representation of western North Dakota

By Cory Dellenbach

J

STO

CK

PH

OTO

Few people outside the Bakken region have a true understanding of what its like in North Dakotas oilfields, but World Class Tours is offering business owners, investors and others the opportunity to tour the oilfields and learn firsthand from people who live and work there.

give us a very scientific presentation based on fracking and how he personally believes it is not affecting our water source and why, Kubela says. The tour was very educational. We have no agenda

september 2014

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