Thistles and tangled foxtail are often associated with oilfield sites but increasing scrutiny of the industry is forcing better weed control.
Contractor Herb Plain works on weed control for mid-sized oil and gas companies. His firm sprays about 10,000 wells, 150 compressor sites and 5,150 kilometres of rights of way each year.
He said it is good business to keep weeds in check.
“Vegetation can basically shut down industrial operations,” Plain told the North American Invasive Weeds meeting in Calgary recently.
Control may range from stripping a well site to the bare soil and covering it with gravel to removing plants such as foxtail barley from a site. Foxtail can break off and be sucked into compressors, causing the machinery to overheat and shut down.
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The unintentional transport of weeds around the province on oilfield equipment is a growing problem. Many companies store equipment at Nisku, Alta., where scentless chamomile is common.
This weed is now showing up in other areas and has been difficult to control.
All industrial sites need weed control for fire prevention, easy access to buildings, visibility and snow control, as well as keeping weeds out of nearby farms.
Companies such as Plain’s may also be hired to remove foxtail growing between railroad tracks. Out-of-control weeds can break the rails, resulting in a derailment.
Foxtail barley, kochia, common groundsel, downy brome, perennial sow thistle and Russian thistle are all common and hard to keep out of adjacent farmland.
Weed control companies develop plans for each customer and certain environmental steps must be followed. Companies must maintain weed inventory records and files of what control method was used.
Costs increase only when the wrong herbicides are used or the work is sloppy.
Some companies previously used soil sterilizers and left bare patches ringed with weeds. The landscape was scarred and subject to soil erosion, which washed herbicides to the wrong place along with water.
Municipalities, landowners and Alberta Environment have greater expectations of how vegetation is managed.
“If they are not doing what they are supposed to do, now is the time to touch base with them and suggest they get hold of somebody who can give them a vegetation management plan,” Plain said.
“Their weeds become everyone’s weeds.”
