inside

N E W S / O P I N I O N / E V E N T S / R E S O U R C E S A N D M O R E > > >

by Eduardo Manrique and Donovan Symonds
The merger of Norwest, Applied
Hydrology International, and Questa
Engineering Corporation has created a
powerful entity that is more than a sum
of its parts. Where
do our integrated
services intersect
and what will our
strategies be for us
and our clients in
the next ten years?
This question can
only be answered
by looking at one
issue at a time. Lets
start with carbon
dioxide.
The efect
of increasing
atmospheric carbon
dioxide (CO
2
) concentration
on global warming has been one of the
most important environmental debates of
the past decade. Because CO
2
emissions
are part of the value chain from coal
mining to CO
2
sequestration (Figure 1), its
importance to our companies and to our
clients cannot be overstated. Although
an important number of countries have
not ratifed the Kyoto agreement, some
of them, notably the United States, are
heavily involved in clean coal and CO
2
sequestration programs. CO
2
emissions
trading, carbon credits, and concepts
such as zero emission power generation
from coal (DOEs FutureGen) will have
an impact on the future business and
operations of our clients and us.
Many consider CO
2
sequestration
truly a win-win solution. It would
enable utilities to generate power from
indigenous, predictable and low cost coal
while drastically reducing atmospheric
CO
2
emissions. These efects are further
magnifed by the recent increases in gas
and oil prices and concerns related to
unstable Middle East oil supplies and
nuclear proliferation.
It is widely accepted that the most
important way to reduce CO
2
emissions
is through sequestration in geologic
formations, one of Questas strengths.
It can be implemented using two
strategies: frst, storing CO
2
in saline
formations, i.e., deep aquifers and
depleted oil/gas reservoirs; second, and
the most evaluated approach, injecting
CO
2
in wells to produce hydrocarbons,
known either as Enhanced Oil Recovery
(EOR) or Enhanced Coalbed Methane
(ECBM). The second strategy is preferred
because CO
2
fooding from natural
sources is a proven and an increasingly
used technology for boosting oil
production in mature oil felds.
More importantly, increased oil or
gas production represents an incentive
to generate the capital to fund these
kinds of projects and increase oil and
gas reserves.
However, it must be recognized
that the costs of purchasing CO
2
from
power plants will be higher than the
costs of CO
2
from natural sources
(Figure 1). CO
2
sequestration projects from
anthropogenic sources and especially in
ofshore felds require the development
of government incentives and policies
that promote investment in the CO
2

infrastructure. Continued high oil and
gas prices will tend to accelerate this
investment.
If we look at oil production trends in
the United States and only those coming
from CO
2
injection projects during the
last 20 years, the number of proposed or
ongoing initiatives of EOR-CO
2
injection
projects from international anthropogenic
sources (Table 1) shows that CO
2

sequestration in geologic formations
will play a key role in coal, gas, and oil
industries as well as in power generation
sectors in years to come.
Contd on Page 3
Just Another Day i n Paradi se > p2
Questa Cour ses > p3
Nor west s Successi on Pl anni ng > p3
Presi dent s Message > p4
Vancouver Doubl es > p4
Mozambi que > p5
From the Ri ddl e Master >p5
Ashl and Of f i ce Rel ocates >p6
CO
2

A Business
Opportunity
Figure 1: Schematic of integrated power generation with CO
2

sequestration.
N E W S / O P I N I O N / E V E N T S / R E S O U R C E S A N D M O R E
October 2005
Just Another
day in Paradise!
by David Wright
In July 2001 we were approached
by AXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd.,
of Calgary for assistance with a proposal
for Caves of Barbados, one of their
repeat clients.
The work would
be to produce
an integrated
development
program for
Harrisons Cave and
its associated sites
and would involve
such people as
cave specialists,
environmentalists,
land use planners,
engineers and
economists. Specifcally AXYS was looking
for expertise in emergency response
planning and underground mine rescue;
a task ideally suited to David Wright from
the Calgary ofce.
Harrisons Cave, located in the
centre of Barbados, is a series of natural
underground caverns that was developed
as a show cave during the 1970s. At the
opening ceremony, it was estimated
that 100,000 people would visit the cave
annually. However, by 1997 over 190,000
persons per year toured the cave and it is
presently one of the most popular land-
based attractions in Barbados.
AXYS were awarded the job in early
September 2001, a few days before the
events that were to become collectively
known as 9/11. The aftermath of those
events decimated the tourism industry
and, as time passed, the idea of a mining
job in Barbados faded; that was until
December 2003 when we received a call
announcing that the Barbados job was a
go, and how soon could we be ready.
Working with Charles Yonge,
the owner and operator of Canmore
Caverns Ltd. and a recognized cave expert,
a hazard assessment was completed; a risk
matrix then prepared and an Emergency
Response Plan developed. The intent
was to provide a plan together with a
recommended list of rescue and safety
equipment which would allow fexibility
without compromising safety.
The very high humidity in the cave
environment really gave us a challenge
when it came to using our standard gas
detectors and mine ventilation measuring
devices. However we were able to apply
some special calibration that allowed the
instruments to function adequately. We
found that ventilation air quantities and
oxygen content were very low and while it
would have been easy to recommend the
installation of large fans, we had to remain
sympathetic to the many cave features
that would be afected detrimentally by
even the smallest amount of drying out.
Emergency access to the cave system,
in the event of the main entrance being
blocked, would be by natural cave routes
which can be very difcult to negotiate by
untrained personnel, efectively classifying
the cave system as a confned space.
To counter this worst case situation we
developed conceptual designs for the
construction of a vertical escape shaft
that would also be equipped with high
pressure and high fow fans capable of
rapidly exhausting contaminated air from
the cave system in the case of a fre or
similar emergency. The shaft would then
be used to send in rescue workers and
evacuate visitors and staf.
This was one of those projects where
it was necessary to think outside the box
and while it was sometimes a challenge
working within such a diverse team it
was nevertheless a very
rewarding experience.
Thanks to Jef Green,
AXYS; Charles Yonge,
Karen Rollin, and
Chesterfeld Mayors,
Barbados Fire Chief
for their commitment,
foresight and guidance.
While all of this
work was taking place
we were able to spend
a few days on the island
of Barbados, often called
Little England by the
locals. Very friendly people, beautiful
beaches and scenery, ideal weather
and afordability make this a wonderful
place to vacation, let alone work.
When you do go to Barbados
be sure to visit Harrisons Cave, drive
the west coast, and visit Bridgetown
and St. Lawrence Gap. You wont be
disappointed. If you are interested in
caving and live in, or visit, the Calgary
area, visit Canmore Caverns where you
can take in a wild cave tour. Again, you
will not be disappointed.
Useful links:
http://canadianrockies.net/wildcavetours/
http://harrisonscave.com
> Cont ac t Davi d Wr i ght , Seni or Pr oj ec t Manager and
Manager, Saf et y, Heal t h and Envi r onment
Nor wes t Cor por at i on, Cal gar y
Tel : 403-237-7763 or dwr i ght @nor wes t cor p. com
2 O C T 2 0 0 5 N E W S / O P I N I O N / E V E N T S / R E S O U R C E S A N D M O R E
Norwests Succession Planning
CO
2
A Business Opportunity (contd from Page 1)
Project Countr y
Buracica and Rio Pojunca Oil Fields Brazil
Weyburn Project Canada
Ivanic Oil Field Croatia
Sleipner Norway
Recopol CO
2
-ECBM Poland
Forest Reser ve & Oropouche Oil Fields Trinidad
West Pearl Queen Field, CO
2
-ECBM
Allison Unit and CO2 Injection in Saline
Aquifer (Frio Formation)
United States
CO2 for EOR North Sea (CENS) North Sea
2000-mile CO2 Capture and Distribution in
Gulf of Mexico (Kinder Morgan)
USA/Mexico
The issues are:
What are the optimum methods for
separating and concentrating CO
2
from the fue gas stream?
What are the best formations to
store the gas?
Where are these formations?
How much of the gas, if any, will leak
from the strata either back into the
atmosphere or into adjoining strata?
What efects will such leaks have on the
environment, particularly sub surface
hydrology? And lastly,
What will this all this cost and can some
of the costs be ofset against enhanced
oil or gas recovery?
Norwests combination of oil and
gas and CO
2
modeling expertise (Questa),
our historical knowledge of geology
and the coal industry and know-how
in predicting liquid fows (Applied
Hydrology) enable us to ofer unique
expertise to research and industrial groups
looking into sequestration applications.
Current environmental trends
and the level of activity related to CO
2

sequestration from power generation
plants and many other industries
suggest that the Norwest companies
and our clients have potential business
opportunities by joining all of our
expertise in the chain of value from coal
mining to CO
2
sequestration using EOR,
ECBM, and other economic strategies.
Short Courses
During the past ffteen years, Questa has
ofered successful industry short courses in
the United States and throughout the world.
Its professionals are leaders in the oil and
gas industry and course instructors come
from its senior engineering staf. In addition
to the very popular Oil Field 101 course
for nontechnical people held twice a year,
Questa ofers multiple coalbed methane short
courses, including an Introduction, Reservoir
Analysis, Completions and Development, and
the Infuence of Geology on Coalbed Methane
Plays. Other ongoing short courses ofered are
Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes, Successfully
Awakening Mature Oil Fields, and Applied Oil
and Gas Property Evaluation. All short courses
can be customized and presented in-house to
provide cost-efective training.
In-House Courses
In addition to its extensive list of short
courses that can be tailored to a frms needs
and given in-house, Questa now ofers a
fve-day overview course in coalbed methane
and a three-week detailed coalbed methane
course from exploration to production
that includes feld trips to more than fve
facilities and one day fully devoted to water
management.
For more information :
www.questa.com or call 303-277-1629
This past year has marked a record baby boom for the Norwest Group. There have
been nine new little ones join the ranks over the course of the year. Due to careful
resource planning, the children seem to be equally spread over the departments:
Geology, Engineering, Geotechnical, Hydrology, Administration, and Accounting
are all represented. Perhaps these kids will be working for you in 20 years...
Fr om t op Lef t t o Ri ght : De nay a B o e s e, Ma t e o C a ni z a l e z ( Zul ua ga), Br y n Wi l s o n,
Abi ga i l Ko s , Ar a nt z a Pe r e i r a a nd J a c o b Mc E nt i r e .
Cent r e Lef t t o Ri ght : T he T hr e e Mus k a t e e r s Ama nda L e e, Rhe t t S awy e r ,
a nd Te y a h Br a i t hwa i t e .
Questa Courses
> Cont ac t Eduar do Manr i que, Seni or Res er voi r Engi neer
Ques t a Engi neer i ng Cor por at i on (Gol den)
Tel : 303-277-1629 or emanr i que@ques t a. com
OR
Donovan Symonds , Chai r man
Nor wes t Cor por at i on (Sal t L ake Ci t y)
Tel : 801-539- 004 4 or ds ymonds @nor wes t cor p. com
3 E N E R G Y , M I N I N G , A N D E N V I R O N M E N T A L C O N S U L T A N T S
Presidents
Message

Norwests mergers with Questa
Engineering and Applied Hydrology were
justifed on the basis of the whole being
greater than the sum of the parts. We were
convinced that 2+1+1 was greater than 4
and we are now pleased to confrm that it is
closer to 7!
Questa Engineering merged with
Norwest in 2002 and Applied Hydrology
joined us in 2004. The idea was that by
joining forces we would be much stronger
and grow much faster than we each would
on our own. Im pleased to announce our
success. Sales and profts for the combined
company are at record levels and we are
well ahead of our own projections for
2005. We are currently completing over
US$2.5 million worth of consulting and
engineering assignments each month.
While most of the work is in North America,
we are performing an increasing amount
of work in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia and
South America. Our original, somewhat
ambitious, growth target of 20% per year is
looking rather conservative.
Each business unit is securing work in
areas where they had little or no involvement
before. Questa is working through our
Australian ofce on coal mine methane
reservoir modeling for one of Australias
main coal producers; Applied Hydrology
was recently awarded a large contract for
hydrological work in the Athabasca oil sands.
This broke new ground for them and our
already very busy Canadian business unit.
Our Salt Lake City ofce is heavily involved in
a number of green feld exploration projects
in Mongolia and Mozambique; some of the
initial introductions came through our Calgary
and Vancouver ofces.
We now have over 160 full time staf,
plus another 50 associates and our most
challenging issue is fnding additional good
people. All of our ofces are hiring, so let us
know if you are aware of a good geologist,
mining engineer, reservoir engineer,
hydrologist, environmental engineer or
technical support person who wants to join
a progressive team.
The increased diversity provided by the
oil and gas group, combined with a team
of hydrological specialists, has enabled us
to collectively seek out and secure larger
and more diverse projects in areas that
Norwest would not have considered before.
In addition, Norwests network of contacts
throughout the world has enabled Questa
and Applied to provide valuable services in
regions and countries where they had not
competed before. Obviously the increases
in energy, energy minerals and metals prices
have created an expanding market for us. But
our larger and more diverse pool of specialists
has enabled us to latch onto the snowball and
see it dramatically increase in size as it rolls
down the hill.
The eforts of our existing staf have
carried us thus far. It is especially gratifying
to see the younger professionals take on
additional responsibility. There are a lot
of extra hours being worked throughout
the company and we would like to thank
everyone for all of your extra efort, time and
commitment to quality.
These are exciting as well as changing
times. The challenges ahead are to maintain
the growth, to continue to provide top quality
services to our clients and to retain the
pleasant and satisfying working environment
for all of our employees.
The recent mergers have successfully
opened many new doors for the combined
company and added two teams of highly
qualifed and dedicated professionals. We
have a tremendous team, well equipped to
serve an expanding energy minerals business
world wide. As we work together to solve
the equation, were proving that 2+1+1
really does equal 7.
Norwest Vancouver
doubles in size
It was over a year ago (July 2004) that the
Norwest Vancouver folks moved to their new
ofce at Oceanic Plaza, 1066 Hastings Street. Since
moving, the number of personnel has doubled and
were still looking to add a few more. This photo
was taken on the plaza adjacent to the ofce.
Featured from left to right: Gord McKenna,
Kevin Lin, Jay Horton, Jocelyn Bissett, Calvin Boese,
Richard Dawson, Tim Peterson, Michael Graham,
Erin Olauson, Sean Ennis, Peter Ershov, Colin Boese,
and Chris Wattam.
2 + 1 + 1 = 7
> Donovan Symonds , Chai r man, Nor wes t Cor por at i on
J oe Ai el l o, Pr es i dent , Nor wes t Cor por at i on, Canada
Bob Evans , Pr es i dent , Nor wes t Cor por at i on, USA
J ohn Wr i ght , Pr es i dent , Ques t a Engi neer i ng, USA
Mi ke Day, Pr es i dent , Appl i ed Hydr ol ogy I nt er nat i onal , USA
4
Congratulations to all the participants and winners who
demonstrated their abilities in problem solving and having
fun with last issues monthly riddle. A job well done!
from the
riddlemaster
Recently, Compahania Vale do
Rio Doce (CVRD) won the right to
explore coal in Mozambique. CVRD has
retained Norwest to provide review and
oversight services for this ambitious
undertaking. Bob (Mac) McCurdy, semi-
retired Norwester and Terry Gulliver,
Sr. Hydrogeologist of AHI have made
several visits to the Moatize project site,
one of several coal deposits in northern
Mozambique, located near the Zambezi
River. The area has a long history of both
surface and underground mining that
dates back to the days of Portuguese
colonial rule. Recently, Macs role was
expanded to full time geological advisor
along with addition of John Trygstad,
Manager, Coal Processing & Utility of
Norwest is now providing review and
oversight services for the development
of the coal processing and handling
complex. Both Bob and John will be
making frequent trips to Mozambique
and South Africa over the next year
joined every few months by Terry.
Wherever one goes in the world,
some things never change. As the
photographs show, people always
gather around a work site. In this case,
an exploration hole is being drilled in a
While exploring a deserted island in the middle of the pacifc, our band of
rough and tumble, not to mention bloodthirsty, consultants comes upon a chest
containing one hundred gold coins. Our consultants, in order of seniority are Steve,
Sue, Sean, Don and Mary Lou. The dilemma: how to divide the spoils? Being a
fair-minded and reasonable group, they agree on the following process. The most
senior consultant (Steve) proposes a solution and then everyone votes on the
proposed solution. Provided that at least half of the consultants vote in favor of the
proposed split, then the coins are divided in accordance with the proposal.
If the proposal is not accepted by at least half of the group, then the senior
consultant (Steve) is dispatched (killed) and they start over. The most senior
(surviving) consultant (Sue) proposes her plan for dividing the coins, and then they
vote on the proposal by the same rules and either divide the coins or eliminate the
Sue as the case may be. The process continues until one plan is accepted.
Suppose that you are in Steves shoes. What division do you propose? All of
these consultants are extremely logical and greedy (uncharacteristically) and all
relish the thought of living to a ripe old age.
Gold on the Island
Be one of the next
fve lucky winners:
Five winners will be drawn from all those with correct
responses submitted to Theresa Murphy by March 31, 2005
Congratulations to all the participants and winners who
demonstrated their abilities in problem solving and having
fun with last issues monthly riddle. A job well done!
Carl Spangler, Denver, CO, USA;
Luc Savoie, Calgary, AB, CANADA;
Aruna Sood, Calgary, AB, CANADA
The previous winners from last
issues riddle were:
S o l u t i o n t o Ma r c h s 2 0 0 5
R o o m a t t h e e n d o f t h e h a l l
Chris assigns the numbers 1, 2 and 3 to
the switches. He turns switch 1 on and
the other two of. He waits 10 minutes,
then turns switch 1 of and switch 2 on.
Chris immediately goes to the room
for the solution. If the light is on, then
switch number 2 controls the light. If it
is of, but the bulb is warm, then switch
number one is the controlling switch.
If the light is of and cool, then switch 3
controls the light.
riddle solution
l a s t i s s u e s
neighborhood in the town of Moatize.
The man on the left is Norwests
Bob McCurdy. The kids, with little
brothers and sisters in tow, perch
themselves on the edge of a large
tree to watch the show!
Moatize, Mozambique
by John Trygstad
> John Tr ygstad, Manager, Coal Processi ng
& Uti l i t y, Nor west Cor por ati on, Sal t Lake Ci t y
Tel : 801-539- 0044 OR
j tr ygstad@nor westcor p. com
E N E R G Y , M I N I N G , A N D E N V I R O N M E N T A L C O N S U L T A N T S 5
for more information on:
Theresa Murphy
Tel : 403 237 7763
Emai l : t mur phy@nor wes t cor p. com
David Wright
Fax: 403 263 4086
Emai l : dwr i ght @nor wes t cor p. com
visit us on the internet @ www.norwestcorp.com
is a publication for the
employees, clients and friends
of Norwest Corporation.
EDITORS
Printed in Canada on Recycled and Recyclable Paper.
Norwests Board of Directors recently
approved the move of our Eastern
U.S. ofce, now being led by the very
capable industry veteran Paul Goad,
from Ashland, Kentucky to Charleston,
West Virginia. The goal for this ofce is to
expand similar to the growth experienced
by our Vancouver ofce. Charleston,
the capital city of West Virginia, is the
business, legal, and fnancial center of
the area. It is located in Kanawha County,
which has a population base four times
that of Boyd County where Ashland is
located. A Charleston location also allows
access to mining professionals from the
surrounding areas.
Norwest will be more
conveniently located for both our existing
and potential clients by relocating to
Charleston. The Eastern U.S. headquarters
ofces of both Arch and Peabody are
here, along with a Foundation Coal
regional ofce. ICG is presently in
the process of relocating their main
headquarters from Ashland to the Teays
Valley area just west of Charleston.
Several land companies have ofces in
the vicinity. Also, Charleston is home to a
large number of the major fnancial and
legal groups that work within the mining
industry. A fnal reason in support of the
move is the improvement in air travel
access, again allowing us to better serve
our clients. The nearest airport to Ashland
is at Huntington, West Virginia, which
ofers service to only two cities. The
Charleston airport provides access to six
carriers and nine cities.
The Ashland ofce was established
in 2000 by Don Arrowsmith, former
Senior Vice President and Director, who
lived in Ashland at the time. Don did an
outstanding job in starting the ofce and
enhancing Norwests presence in the
Eastern U.S., and we congratulate him
and wish him the best in his new position
as President and COO of Triad Mining.
We leave Ashland with fond memories,
but the time has come to advance to
the next stage in our development. We
look forward to continuing improvement
in servicing our clients by growing our
business in Charleston, and adding to the
Norwest family!
Aerial view of Charlestons city centre situated in the heart of the Kanawha River Valley.
Arrow indicates new ofce location at the Kanawha Valley Building.
Ashland, Kentucky Office to Relocate
by Kevin Whipkey
> Cont ac t Kevi n Whi pkey, Sr. Pr oj ec t Manager
Nor wes t Cor por at i on, As hl and
Tel : 801-539- 004 4 or k whi pkey@nor wes t cor p. com
OFFICES
CANADA
Calgary, Alberta
Tel : 403 237 7763 Fax : 403 263 4086
Emai l : c al gar y@nor wes t cor p. com
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tel : 604 602 8992 Fax : 604 602 8951
Emai l : vancouver @nor wes t cor p. com
USA
Salt Lake City
Tel : 801 539 0044 Fax : 801 539 0055
Emai l : s l c @nor wes t cor p. com
Golden, Colorado, USA
Ques t a Engi neer i ng Cor por at i on
Tel : 303 277 1629 Fax : 303 277 0119
Emai l : ques t a@nor wes t cor p. com
Denver, Colorado, USA
Appl i ed Hydr ol ogy I nt er nat i onal
Tel : 303 782 0164
Emai l : appl i edhydr ol ogy@nor wes t cor p. com

Ashland, Kentucky, USA
Tel : 606 920 9833 Fax : 606 920 9664
Emai l : ashl and@nor wes t cor p. com
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Tel : 724 255 9905 Fax : 724 225 9903
Emai l : pi t t s bur gh@nor wes t cor p. com
INTERNATIONAL
Beijing, China
Tel : +86 10 6466 4848 Fax : +86 10 6466 7489
Emai l : guoj i uhong@nor wes t cor p. com. c n
Newcastle, NSW
Tel : + 61 02 4975 5228 Fax : + 61 02 4975 5220
Emai l : aus t r al i a@nor wes t cor p. com
6