Todd Davies grew up in Kipling, where he came to begin working in the oil field in 1989. Eventually he would go through an automotive course with General Motors focusing on onboard computers and diagnostics. As the oilfield began to boom again he found himself based in Estevan with Shindle and Basin focusing on the service side of the patch.
Here he came to get a good understanding of establishing pump jacks and maintenance of equipment. Eventually he would take a position on the drilling side of operations as a roughneck where he spent nearly four years with Sedco Drilling, now Precision.
As life continued Davies found himself with General Motors once again and moved to British Columbia to work at a dealership there. By 1999 he returned to the oil industry and has been heavily involved in it ever since.
In 2004 he began a water hauling business, Davies Water Hauling, which is still in operation. With a partner in 2008 he helped establish Optimum Resources, but recently sold his shares in that company in order to get his hydrovac business running, which has been named Expose-All Hydrovac.
"I saw a need for hydrovac in the area and began to look at used units; but, I ended up going with a brand new system built in Illinois. I ordered the truck in April and it was delivered in the middle of June. We've had steady business ever since," Davies explained.
This is a great accomplishment as Davies says, "The oil patch is the hardest business to break into. Without the proper contacts it can be really tough. A lot of guys try and will have a hard time making it viable. It's helped I've been involved off and on for 20 years."
The truck is quite unique as it is a mid-size hydro excavator. It brings with it the capabilities of a big truck without the size and weight. This means Expose-All Hydrovac is able to get the job done in areas requiring tighter manoeuvres as well as allowing them to be in and out much quicker.
"The truck is able to dig as fast or faster than the big units," Davies said.
Currently the business has become a family affair as Davies' wife, Tammy, and nephew, Brok, are involved. Brok is currently the only driver with Expose-All Hydrovac; but, Davies sees a need to begin expanding and will look to Brok to eventually become the manager as they slowly build a fleet of trucks to keep up with demand.
"The hardest thing about this business is getting good, quality guys. I expect a lot and staffing in this area today is important. Good hands is the key to a successful business for sure," Davies explained.
"Tammy, she does invoices, the books, and puts up with my long hours. We also have a memorial stone business too, so it's busy seven days a week between all of those companies. She's a big part of the whole process," Davies said.
Diversification is key for the company, though, as Davies explained, "drilling programs can be booming one day and shut down the next. It's hard to hire people in a business like that where it goes strong for seven to eight months of the year and then slows. This is a little more steady. Drilling stops, but the production side is still active. Installing flow lines like fibre optics and natural gas or working with municipalities and towns is important and hydrovac-ing is a safe way to expose utilities."
"We have specific tools for replacing main curb valves. We can change them from above ground without needing to excavate very deep. It's not a huge environmental mess to clean up after. Mains are found about eight to nine feet below the surface. A hydrovac hole can go right down to change the rods and pins from the surface. It takes about an hour and is substantially cheaper for towns. There's no big hole to clean up and fill after," Davies continued.
Davies and his nephew, Brok, have worked on a diverse number of jobs on the oilfield and have also been involved in work around basements as well as steam cleaning oil off of walls in an environmentally friendly way.
So far they have covered the southeast with their truck having been hired for numerous jobs from south of Weyburn to the Manitoba border, and as far north as the Qu'Appelle Valley.
"It's covered a lot of ground. I don't like to turn down work, so we're slowly going to build our fleet," Davies said.
With winter coming, Davies explains this business will not slow, "because it is a steam unit and it excavates with high pressure steam water it cuts through the frost substantially quicker than say a track hoe. Business seems to be picking up now, I don't know if that is because my name is out there more or because of the weather."
Currently Expose-All Hydro is completing putting together its various safety programs, which are required by oil companies, it's just a matter of compiling the data and getting it all together.
"Safety is the number one player and is the reason hydrovac's are such a sought after piece because of the safe excavating procedures it can do," Davies said.
Currently the business is based out of Davies' home; but, with an expansion soon to come he will be looking to create an office based in Carlyle, which is currently where he is renting a shop.
"Carlyle is kind of central to where all of the work is," Davies explained.
Enjoying working and being busy Davies commented on his experiences thus far, "You can book something for 3 to 4 days down the road and think the truck won't be going out; but, then the phone will ring and something will be needed to be done. It's interesting."
Through the support of friends and family as well as oil companies including Crescent Point, Petrobakken, and Renogade to smaller companies and municipalities, Davies has found his business has been welcomed and needed in the area. This support has had Davies thinking of purchasing another truck soon in order to keep up with demand as other companies and people have begun approaching him for services already.
