Suppliers news (July 10, 2006)

Sander adds aircraft

Ottawa-based Sander Geophysics has added two survey aircraft to its fleet.

With the new additions, Sander now offers 11 airplanes and one helicopter for airborne geophysical surveys.

The two new aircraft include a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan — SGL’s seventh such aircraft — and a Diamond Aircraft DA-42 Twin Star, a composite twin-engine plane that has a low magnetic signature — ideal for high-resolution magnetic surveys.

The DA-42 is powered by twin diesel engines designed to use jet fuel, which is more readily available than traditional piston engine aviation gasoline in many countries.

Sander is preparing both the aircraft for surveying.

Founded in 1956, the company flies airborne geophysical surveys using its proprietary AIRGRav airborne gravimeter.

More Finning trucks in oilsands

Vancouver-based Finning International (ftt-t, fingf-o) has sold $264 million worth of heavy equipment to Canadian Natural Resources (cnq-t, cnq-n) or the Horizon oilsands project, north of Fort McMurray, Alta.

The deal includes 23 new Caterpillar 797B mining trucks, scheduled for delivery in 2008. The transaction also includes a multi-year product support agreement.

“We are pleased to be working with Canadian Natural as it prepares to move to the production phase at its new Horizon project,” says Ian Reid, president of Finning’s Canadian operations. “The 797 haul truck is widely recognized as among the best in the world for this type of application.”

Canadian Natural’s Horizon oilsands project will be mined by open-pit methods during its three phases of development. Production of synthetic crude oil is expected to begin during the second half of 2008, ramping up to a rate of 110,000 barrels per day. The second phase is expected in 2010, with production increasing to 45,000 barrels. The third phase of development, slated for 2012, would bring total production to 232,000 barrels per day.

Finning International is the world’s largest Caterpillar equipment dealer. The company sells, rents, finances and provides customer support for Caterpillar equipment and engines in West- ern Canada, the U.K., and South America.

Cabo division to drill Sudbury basin

Cabo Drilling (cbe-v, cbeef-o) says its Kirkland Lake, Ont.-based Heath & Sherwood Drilling division has been awarded a drilling contract by Wallbridge Mining (wm-t, wlbmf-o) to carry out deep-hole diamond drilling on a number of its properties in the Sudbury basin.

The project calls for a minimum of 2,700 metres of core drilling in the Sudbury basin, with holes ranging in depth from 300 to 1,200 metres.

The equipment was moved into the drilling area using a D-6 tractor, as the road was not suitable for trucks.

Heath & Sherwood’s contract with Wallbridge could be extended at the junior’s request.

Cabo Drilling is headquartered in North Vancouver, B.C., and has satellite operations throughout Canada.