About Sharptail Energy
Sharptail Energy Inc. is a Calgary-based oil and gas company with well and facility operations across Alberta, including the Lethbridge area.
About the Role
Sharptail Energy Inc. is seeking an experienced Contract Operator to act as an on-site supervisor for our wells and facilities in the Lethbridge area. This is an independent contractor position, typically structured through your own incorporated company, offering the autonomy of running your own operating area while working closely with an established Company team. You'll be responsible for the day-to-day operation, maintenance, and reporting on assigned wells and facilities, ensuring safe, compliant, and reliable production.
Key Qualifications
- 3+ years of hands-on experience operating oil and gas wells and surface facilities, or equivalent field operations experience
- Strong mechanical aptitude with surface pumping, rotating equipment, and general field maintenance
- Solid working knowledge of safe operating practices and regulatory requirements (OH&S, AER, AENV)
- Valid Alberta Class 5 driver's license with a clean driving record
- Comfortable working independently with minimal supervision and available for occasional after-hours callouts
- Strong communication skills for coordinating with Company representatives, suppliers, and area residents
- Operates through an incorporated company - this is a contract-for-services position, not direct employment
What You'll Do
Operating & Reporting
- Complete routine gauge and production reports daily
- Inspect oil wells and facilities daily; inspect gas wells via SCADA daily and visually at least every third day (monthly if shut-in)
- Change gas charts and record results as required
- Track and report downtime, causes, and test results
- Blow down wells as required and coordinate fluid hauling to maximize tank space utilization
- Maintain chemical usage records and, where applicable, water injection rates/pressures
- Accept gas nominations on behalf of the Company and monitor production against nominations/allowables
- Review and comply with the Company's Safety Manual; participate in safety meetings, ERP training, and annual ERP exercises
- Report all incidents and near misses immediately, including any release requirements
Routine Maintenance & Servicing
- Conduct or supervise general maintenance and housekeeping on wells and facilities
- Make minor repairs and adjustments to equipment
- Coordinate road maintenance and snow removal to maintain site access
- Gather samples for analysis and coordinate metering/measurement calibration
- Maintain surface pumping and rotating equipment, including stuffing boxes, engine and glycol system oil/filters, belts, ignition components, and chemical pumps
- Keep well sites clean and free of debris/weeds; report worn or inoperative equipment
- Pig pipelines and maintain pigging records
- Perform and document operations checks (Presco checks, shut-in well inspections, safety equipment checks, etc.)
- Comply with preventative maintenance and safety programs, including WHMIS, POMM, and PEIM
General Responsibilities
- Place orders with suppliers/service providers and sign off on field tickets and work orders (approval of work performed, not financial signing authority)
- Maintain positive relationships with area residents and government representatives
- Ensure all required training is complete and documented
- Uphold company ethics and standards of conduct
What You Need to Provide
- Comprehensive general liability insurance ($2,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence, including bodily injury, pollution, contractual, tortious, contractor's protective, completed operations, and property damage coverage)
- Active WCB account in good standing, with proof of compliance provided before work begins and at each contract renewal
- A reliable, competent vehicle and fuel
- A complete set of tools required to perform operations work
- A phone
- Full personal protective equipment: hard hat, steel-toed footwear, gloves, fire-retardant clothing, safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.
- A personal gas monitor compatible with the Company's calibration and bump-testing equipment
- A 20 lb ABC fire extinguisher, maintained and stored in your truck
- Current safety certifications, at minimum: First Aid/CPR, Gas Detection, Ground Disturbance 201, H2S Alive, and Confined Space Entry Level 1
Note: safety training costs are the contractor's responsibility.
What Sharptail Energy Provides
- Access to the personal gas monitor bump test and calibration station
Schedule & Availability
- Primarily daytime hours based on daily site inspection and reporting routines
- Availability for after-hours and weekend callouts as operational needs arise, including travel time
- Occasional extended hours during abnormal operating conditions or high-activity periods
Contract Details
- Type: Independent contractor / corporate services agreement (not an employee position)
- Term: Ongoing, with terms reviewed annually each June; either party may terminate with 14 days' written notice (immediate termination applies for breach of Company ethics/standards or failure to maintain required documentation such as safety training, WCB, or insurance)
- Confidentiality: Contract terms and Company operational/production/development information must be kept strictly confidential
