New program at Portage College fills niche

Seventeen months of collaboration between Portage College and Devon Canada has resulted in the creation of the first Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage Operator program. The program begins this fall at the Lac La Biche campus. The SAGD Operator program produces fourth class power engineers who are specially trained to work in oil and gas water processing and treatment facilities. “Since no industrial water treatment course existed we decided to address the need directly,” said Cal Watson, Vice President Thermal Heavy Oil Operations for Devon Canada, in a news release. Devon’s $600,000 investment was a combination of financial funding, intellectual knowledge and contribution of technical staff time. Portage College invested an additional $225,000 to make the training available to the public. The 10-month training program includes entry level potable and wastewater systems management training, combined with water and process treatment and power engineering certification.