Services

Project name: Topside M&R Station Rebuild Project

Company/Client name: Enbridge 

Start date - End date: June 4, 2022 -September 30, 2022

Location: Knoxville, TN, USA

Scope of work: This project consists of commissioning and start-up activities of measurement and recording station; three metering skids, buildings and a gas chromatograph, main distribution panels and additional circuits, small UPS’s, analyzers, valve positioned set-up, transmitter calibrations, PSV and process piping.

Key people and roles: Brandon Andrews, project manager; Tony Scudder, electrical lead and Clinton Barter, instrumentation lead.

Safety statistics: No incidents 

By Mike Bowes

With the return to a ‘new normal,’ we must address the new fault lines in the project delivery world. The Sancon mission statement to generate “Better Project Outcomes” requires a focus on ensuring we continue to meet the resource requests of our client base – and to continue to develop, maintain, retain, value our greatest asset – our human resources.

The recent pause in activity due to the pandemic and the now expanding project pace have impacted the current paradigm. Departures from the workforce, the loss of skilled tradesmen to retirement, reluctance to travel, alternative employment, combined with pressure on rates and compensation by project owners and declining entry into the technical skilled trades have caused an ‘imperfect’ storm. An environment where the traditional strategies and rules do not meet the business climate. Projects are struggling to staff and resource at most levels and the pool of experienced, quality labor is diminishing.. One of the outcomes to come from an updated, tailored resource management plan is a risk reduction on the resource side.

Sancon is well-positioned to meet these challenges. Recognizing the emerging problem, building a resource plan, and acting with full understanding of the elements that drive ‘Better Project Outcomes’ are important steps in developing the strategy required.

Key elements:

• Integrated approach to Health, Safety and Wellness - continuing to foster a safety-first environment and building on systems that have allowed Sancon to have a zero lost-time to injury since start-up in 2006. Be known as a safe place to work. And building on that, be known as a ‘healthy’ place to work. Foster on the wellness and health of staff, not just safe practices, and systems.
• Compensation – make sure your rates and compensation are attractive and value the work performed. Be an employer of choice based on rates and allowances. This will mean tough conversations with clients at times, but you must recognize that to be competitive in the emerging environment you have to pay fairly. Further organization need to adjust and learn to pay to recruit and retain the best talent. Clients may be able to find a cheaper sticker price, but the key to Sancon’s business model is developing trust and partnership with clients that provides a return on investment for our clients.
• Development – factoring into retention and recruitment both is the competency development and career progression opportunities. Sancon has well-established, ISO-based processes and procedures that support the development of staff. Whether PMI training for leadership or technical cut sheets for field staff, Sancon strives to provide development streams for staff and is known for the resulting quality of its workforce.
• Retention – Sancon stresses employee retention and the use of preferred subcontractors. Sancon differentiates itself from its competitors by providing consistent and returning staffing to clients – we are not a ‘head shop.’ We provide bonus pools, ability to progress, repeatable client-based assignments, and incentives to retain staff at all levels, from field to leadership.

The changes in resource availability and the disappearance of the long-service trades people are already upon us. Team Sancon recognizes the importance of executing a consistent and coordinated strategy to meet this challenge. We will carry this out in cooperation with our key clients, staff, and stakeholders. We strive to drive “Better Project Outcomes’ – the path here is to build on the outstanding quality we have currently in-house and to recruit, develop and retain the necessary support we see going forward. We want to be an employer of choice – promoting wellness and safety, paying well, providing the opportunities to develop and progress in your career – all while being a fun place to work. We are building out our team – do not be afraid to submit your resume through www.sanconltd.com/careers

Calgary, AB (May 10, 2022)  – Sancon Commissioning is proud to announce its inaugural charity golf tournament on September 14, 2022 at Blue Devil golf course. This golf tournament is an opportunity for Sancon’s and its corporate partners to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area (BBBS), a youth mentorship program. 

“As industry leaders, Sancon needs to be a leader within the community we operate in,” said Heinz Inabnit, Chief Development Officer, Sancon. “We firmly believe in mentorship and investing in the next generation of leaders as a way to further innovate the energy sector.”

The golf tournament is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. with a full round of golf with various contest holes and wrapping up around 7:30 p.m. with dinner and awards. The main goal of this event is to raise funds for BBBS’s and its mentorship programs for young people facing adversity. 

Sancon invites all clients, vendors and corporate partners to participate in this event by registering a team or becoming a hole sponsor. 

For more information about the golf tournament, to register a team or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please click here.

About Sancon

With over 15 years of experience and commissioning expertise, Sancon specializes in developing commissioning workplans for pre-commissioning, commissioning and project start-up.  Since its inception, Sancon has been able to clearly demonstrate how effective its fully integrated and comprehensive commissioning solutions have made an impact on their clients’ bottom line.

For more information about Sancon and its service offerings, please visit its website at www.sancontld.com

Media Contact

Heinz Inabnit

HeinzInabnit@sanconltd.com

403-567-8826

One of Sancon’s best assets are its people, Sancon is invested in their training and personal growth to ensure our people are project ready and equipped with the skills to deliver #BetterProjectOutcomes.

“Our mandate has always been to be the best in the commissioning world, and staying up-to-date with training is a major component of that success,” said Heinz Inabnit, Chief Development Officer of Sancon. “Being project ready and delivering smart solutions to our clients has allowed us to become the commissioning specialists of choice.”

Here is a list of some of the training Sancon invests in:

• Intermediate Hands-On Training for the Application & Testing of Electro-Mechanical & Microprocessor Relay – Doble Certified 
• Protection Suite Training - Doble Certified
• Profibus PA Engineer 
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Commissioning and Quality Assurance and Control of Solar PV systems 
• Client Specific Battery storage systems
• Multiple Specialized Industry/client equipment commissioning and setup training 
• BSI Internal ISO 9001 Auditor 
• MS Project, Primavera P6 training
• Leadership for Safety Excellence
• Full suite of HSEQ Compliance

#TeamSancon also implements project specific training requirements to meet our clients needs and to ensure our boots on the ground are ready prior to mobilization.

Project Name: Yorktown Meter & Regulator Station Modification

Company: Enbridge completed construction with owner ConEdison

Start Date – End Date: September - March 2022

Scope of Work: Sancon provided all external vendor and operations coordination and support during start-up, and static and dynamic commissioning during the beginning stages of this project.

As Sancon's expertise was showcased during the early stages of execution, our team was asked to support construction quality control, re-drafting of redline documentation and punch list management.

Key people and roles: Sancon held positions for CSU Project Manager, Electrical and Instrumentation Leads, Quality Inspectors, and Electrical and Instrumentation Technicians.

Safety Statistics: Zero LTI and recordable injuries during the 169 days of project execution.

Back in 2015, the NRG Carbon XPRIZE was launched as a $20 million prize and one of the winners, one of the winners secured $10 million with its proposal of expanding its commercialization of CO2 utilization technology for the global concrete industry.

With this funding, an initial pilot project was launched with partners including InnoTech Alberta, and COSIA (Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance), an alliance of 13 oil sands producers, representing 90 percent of production from the Canadian oil sands. The project was piloted in at a Calgary based facility, Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre, with Sancon assigned as commissioning and operational support. During this pilot project, Sancon provided them a project manager on-site to support the daily operations and start-up of this facility. 

Thanks to this partnership, Sancon developed a close relationship with the organization who introduced our organization to a new technology in the carbon capture space. Sancon was able to navigate the complexity of working with public energy company, existing facility and working with an Alberta energy association to achieve better project outcomes. 

Since the completion of this project, Sancon has solidified itself as a leader in emerging technologies in the carbon capture space both in Alberta and globally.

About XPRIZE

Founded in 1995, XPRIZE is the leading organization solving the world’s Grand Challenges by creating and managing large-scale, high-profile, incentivized prizes in five areas: Learning; Exploration; Energy & Environment; Global Development; and Life Sciences. Active prizes include the $30M Google Lunar XPRIZE, the $15M Global Learning XPRIZE, the $10M Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, and the $7M Adult Literacy XPRIZE.

About COSIA

COSIA (Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance) is an alliance of 13 oil sands producers, representing 90 percent of production from the Canadian oil sands. COSIA’s vision is to enable responsible and sustainable development of Canada’s oil sands as a global energy source while delivering accelerated improvement in environmental performance through collaborative action and innovation in areas of greenhouse gases, land, tailings and water. Since COSIA’s inception in 2012, member companies have shared more than 777 environmental technologies worth over $950 million. Find out more at www.cosia.ca and follow on Twitter at @COSIA_ca.

February 17, 2022 (Calgary, AB) – Sancon, North America’s premier commissioning and start-up specialists, are expanding its efforts this week and opening its first Ontario based location in London. The office has officially opened for business today, on February 17, 2022, and will offer local customers access to world-class commissioning and start-up solutions for the energy sector.

Brian Douglas, Sancon CEO, expressed enthusiasm about today’s new launch stating, “Sancon is a consistent leader in the commissioning arena and has a major footprint in Alberta. The decision to open an Ontario-based office was firstly to support existing clients operating within the area and facilitate growth in this dynamic market.”

The new location will assist Sancon with developing stronger relationships and project customizations for local energy sector businesses in the London area.  Sancon has also opened new locations in Denver, CO, Houston, TX, and Grande Prairie, AB in the last two years.

Sancon London office contact information:

380 Wellington Street, Tower B, 6th Floor 

London, Ontario

N6A 5B5

Canada

(226) 271-6149

With over 15 years of experience and commissioning expertise as a corporation, Sancon specializes in developing and executing commissioning workplans for pre-commissioning, commissioning and project start-up building fit for purpose solutions to any project.  Since inception, Sancon has been able to clearly demonstrate how effective its fully integrated and comprehensive commissioning solutions have made an impact on their clients’ bottom line, achieving Better Project Outcomes. 

Media Contact 

Heinz Inabnit

heinzinabnit@sanconltd.com

403-567-8826

Sancon is a multi-discipline commissioning and testing company based in Calgary, AB with offices located in Denver, CO, Houston, TX, Grand Prairie, AB and Belledune, NB.  Since its inception Sancon has been a leader in the commissioning sector, being the first ISO 9001:2008 (2015) registered commissioning firm in Canada. Our dynamic, multi-disciplinary and experienced team can help your next turnaround and maintenance project achieve ‘Better Project Outcomes’.

Turnaround projects are critical to any industrial plant and refinery. They often come with tight schedules and a hefty price tag. With Sancon’s experience and comprehensive approach to planning, testing and troubleshooting, turnaround clients can feel confident in starting smart with our team assisting from strategic planning to closeout. Our team works with each of our clients to optimize their turnaround schedule and budget to maintenance issues resolved and improving facility efficiency.

Sancon has experience in turnaround and maintenance experience with a full range of Technicians, covering the following but are not limited to:

Electrical

Protection and Controls - Relay testing 

UPS Testing & battery discharge testing

Transformer testing and commissioning

LV HV Cable insulation testing (VLF)

HV switch yard & substation testing

Electrical Preventative Maintenance 

VFD testing 

LV/MV/HV Motor testing

LV/MV/HV Distribution testing 

MCC/SWGR Testing

Generation & ATS electrical testing 

Heat Trace programming, testing & repair

Energization Procedure Development and testing 

LOTO implementation and management 

Instrumentation/Automation/ControlsInstrument calibrations and setup

I/O Loop checking and PLC/DCS verifications

Valve calibrations and setup

Shutdown key testing

Analyzer setup and testing

Telecoms, Scada, testing 

ABSA certified for instrument tubing fabrication & repair 

Mechanical/Millwrights 

Rotating Equipment tear downs and repairs 

Mechanical seal replacements 

Lube oil console flushing 

Alignments & pipe strain checks

Vibration analysis

Accumulator checks and charging

IA checks and Desiccant replacement

Equipment runs and analysis

HVAC and Cooler Fan checks

Process

Procedure development and reviews

Gross Air leak checks 

N2 purging and service testing

Vessel & Boiler inspections 

Unloaded and loaded equipment runs

Startup of equipment or process 

Permit to Work 

LOTO implementation and management 

This past winter, Sancon enrolled its entire electrical department in the Solar Alberta’s commissioning training course to aid in providing out clients the latest solutions in future renewable projects.

“With the province’s continued investment and expansion to diversify Alberta’s energy sector to include renewables such as solar power, Sancon made an effort to join the natural evolution of the industry and invest in educating our employees,” stated Heinz Inabnit, Chief Development Officer.

Sancon is defining itself as a leader in all forms of energy including green. With upcoming projects such as the 3,300 acres solar farm in Lomond, Alberta called the Traver Solar Project, Sancon understands the importance of having highly trained employees to work on projects of this size and scope. 

“With our employees existing experience and technical background, the additional investment on training them in solar was an easy decision for our operations team,” said Jonathan Evans, Chief Operations Officer. “We want our electrical department to be seen as experts and provide our clients solutions to their upcoming solar farm projects.”

The course completed by Sancon’s electrical department including topics such as grid-interactive Solar PV Systems Commissioning, project specific standards and specifications, performance tests, testing and troubleshooting procedures as well was recording and interpreting test data.

To learn more about Sancon’s services and expertise, please check out this page: https://sanconltd.com/our-services/

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Project Name: Fort Hills Project

Company: Joint Venture between Suncor, Teck, and Total. Operated by Suncor Energy

Start Date – End Date: Jan 2016 – May 2018

 Scope of work: Sancon provided Commissioning and Start up Leadership for the Utilities planning and execution portion of the Fort Hills Project. 

The start-up of the Utilities area was an essential part of the Fort Hills Commissioning and Start-up plan. The Utilities area supplies utility commodities for the Fort Hills Site.

Sancon also created all commissioning procedures for Utilities and Secondary Extraction. This equated to 350 procedures for Utilities and 310 for Secondary Extraction. 

Key people and roles:

- Sancon held positions for procedure writers, E/I Coordinator, Mechanical Coordinator, and CSU Manager.

- The Fort Hills project was recognized with an Award of Merit in the Power/Industrial category for its complexity and integrated nature. The annual Global Best Projects competition, sponsored by the Engineering News Record, honours construction and design excellence during the previous year around the globe, and weighs criteria that includes safety, innovation, contribution to the global community, aesthetic quality and workmanship, with special emphasis on the global diversity of the project team.

- The Fort Hills project produces some of North America's best incremental oil sands supply from a carbon intensity perspective, and is the first project that met and exceeded its design capacity within weeks of startup.

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