PROVINCE'S GEOLOGICAL LAB EXPANDED

The provincial government's Subsurface Geological Laboratory, a major support for Saskatchewan's oil and gas industry, is celebrating its grand re-opening today in Regina.

Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline will cut a ribbon at 5:30 p.m. to re-open the expanded facility at 201 Dewdney Avenue East. The ceremony will be attended by delegates to the Williston Basin Horizontal Well and Petroleum Conference, an international gathering of industry experts currently taking place in the city.

"Expansion of this lab increases the province's research capacity and our ability to serve our vital oil and gas industry," Cline said. "Good research infrastructure is critical to the growth and sustainability of our oil and gas resources, which are driving our economy and creating jobs and benefits for Saskatchewan people."

The 45 year-old Subsurface Geological Laboratory is a combination research, storage and examination facility, as well as a "library" of core and drill cutting samples submitted by petroleum companies.

The lab was the first facility of its kind in North America and has served as a model for many other jurisdictions. Staff at the lab analyse geoscience data and provide geoscience information to petroleum and potash companies.

The lab houses core samples from almost 20,000 wells. If these samples were lined up end to end, they would stretch approximately 520 kilometres, from Regina to Winnipeg.

Renovations to the facility cost $300,000. Industry and Resources also has hired three more geologists and two information technologists to work at the lab.

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For More Information, Contact:

Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306) 787-8277