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Big Country's History

Big Country was founded in 2000 by Leonard R. Torgerson and a small group of individuals, who assembled an experienced team of pipeline construction personnel, many of whom had operated in the shallow natural gas region of Southeast Alberta for over 20 years. Big Country opened a location in Brooks, Alberta and initially focused operations in Southern Alberta, where its senior executives had pre-existing relationships with a number of customers including PanCanadian Energy Corporation (‘‘PanCanadian’’), a leading E&P company in the region and a founding shareholder of Big Country. PanCanadian merged with Alberta Energy Company Ltd. to form EnCana in 2002. Shortly after the merger, EnCana sold its interest in Big Country to the other founders and existing management of Big Country. Through an ongoing program of internal growth and strategic acquisitions, Big Country expanded its geographic footprint in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, increased its revenues and expanded its customer base.

In the latter part of 2003, Big Country attracted additional experienced pipeline construction personnel in the shallow natural gas region of southeast Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan, enabling Big Country to expand from its original office in Brooks, Alberta to add offices in Medicine Hat, Alberta and Swift Current, Saskatchewan. As a result of this growth in 2003, Big Country became the largest pipeline construction contractor in this region.

On October 31, 2004, Big Country completed the acquisition of Ener-Con Construction Ltd. (‘‘EnerCon’’), a pipeline construction contractor located in Ponoka, Alberta. Big Country worked closely with the operational and field level management of EnerCon to integrate the business and improve major aspects of its operation.

On November 30, 2005, Big Country completed the acquisition of Patch Point, a pipeline construction contractor in Fort St. John, British Columbia. As part of its integration and optimization strategy, Big Country has added personnel and equipment to those acquired through this transaction. Big Country has relocated some personnel and equipment from other regions to supplement capacity during peak business periods in this region.

In November and December of 2005, Big Country recruited a number of experienced pipeline construction personnel who had worked together in Whitecourt, Alberta. At the same time, Big Country acquired a significant amount of equipment to enable this group to commence operations.

In 2009 Big Country began operations in Slave Lake, Alberta and Estevan, Saskatchewan, allowing it to service clients pursuing the emerging Bakken and Cardium plays in those regions. With the addition of these two divisions, Big Country is now able to service clients throughout the entire Western Canadian Basin.

In 2010, Big Country added the Midstream Construction LP division. With focus on pipe ranging from 10" to 24", Big Country will now be able to provide our customers a wider range of services.

In January of 2011 Big Country Energy Services LLC commenced operations in the United States, opening construction offices in Powell, Wyoming and Williston, North Dakota. These two operating divisions are supported by the sales and administrative head office located in Denver, Colorado. Big Country is excited to now offer clients the same high quality of service and professionalism in the United States as we have in Canada for the past ten years.