Estevan – In a month when oil crested US$70 per barrel for WTI, AECOM, which was the last in a line of companies which had bought out the assets and operations of what was once Carson Energy Services, has closed its doors in Estevan and in Virden, Man.
A sign posted in the door of its Estevan shop on Supreme Street, just off Shand Road, said, “AECOM has ceased all day to day operation out of this location as of May 8, 2018. For all inquiries, please call 306-634-5233.”
A call to that number on May 14 got AECOM’s answering service in Regina. An AECOM spokesman from New York who preferred he not be named replied by phone with this statement, “The decision to close any field office is not an easy one, however, we must respond to market conditions. We remain committed to our clients and to providing oil and gas services where we see long-term opportunities.”
In October 2011, Carson Energy Services sold to Flint Energy Services. It subsequently sold to URS, which was then sold to AECOM in 2014. At the time of the Flint deal, Pipeline Newswrote, “Carson has 17 locations, 13 in Saskatchewan, three in Alberta, and one in Manitoba. There are over 1,300 employees and over 1,800 pieces of equipment. The company’s existing services include midstream pipeline and facilities construction, pipeline integrity services, site prep and civil work, trucking and pickers, environmental, directional drilling, fabrication in the field and in-shop, roustabout and maintenance services, and safety sales and services.”
Whereas Carson Energy had operated out of locations in almost every oil community in southeast Saskatchewan as well as oil communities in western Saskatchewan, AECOM had dramatically reduced its footprint since it acquired URS. This included closing the Lampman location, formerly the headquarters for Carson Energy. During the years of the downturn, much of their equipment assets were sold off.
As AECOM has withdrawn, a new company, Canadian Plains Energy, made up largely of former Carson employees, has filled the spaces, quite literally, vacated by AECOM. Since firing up in early 2017, Canadian Plains has occupied former Carson shops in Carlyle and Alida, and will soon be opening in Halbrite. It also has locations in Virden, North Battleford and Lloydminster. Its Regina operation will open June. 1.
AECOM’s website said the company had approximately US$18.2 billion of revenue during the 2017 fiscal year, and that it was “Named one of Fortune magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” for the fourth consecutive year.”
The company is based in Los Angeles and has operations in more than 150 countries. Its 2016 fact sheet said it had 90,000 employees on seven continents.
