Absolute Locating Ltd.

Absolute Locating Ltd. ABSOLUTE LOCATING LTD.

HAS SERVICED SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN, SOUTHWEST MANITOBA, AND NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA WITH DAMAGE PREVENTION AND LINE LOCATING SERVICES SINCE 2002, WITH CREWS BASED IN OXBOW, REGINA, AND ESTEVAN, SK; VIRDEN, MB; AND KENMARE, ND.

**The locate is only good for the area requested.**A locate is completed based on the scope and work area provided to th...
09/01/2026

**The locate is only good for the area requested.**

A locate is completed based on the scope and work area provided to the locator.

If the excavation area changes or expands, don't assume the surrounding area was also cleared just because utilities were marked nearby.

Underground infrastructure doesn't conveniently stop at the edge of the original work area. Facilities outside that area may not have been part of the locate at all.

At Absolute Locating, we include a **30-metre buffer around all areas of work** as part of our locate area.

But if the scope of work changes, the locates need to be updated to reflect the new scope and work area.

**If the work area changes, update the locate. Make sure the entire new work area, including the required 30-metre buffer, is covered before excavation begins.**

A few extra metres can mean an entirely different underground picture.

**What really happens before a line locate begins?**Many people think the job starts when the locator arrives on site.In...
08/17/2026

**What really happens before a line locate begins?**

Many people think the job starts when the locator arrives on site.

In reality, that's just one step in the process.

Before we head to the field, we've already:

* Reviewed the work request
* Checked for any applicable One Call tickets or locate requests
* Reviewed available records and drawings
* Checked historical locate data
* Reviewed GIS mapping and available documentation
* Reviewed client-specific information and requirements
* Planned the most effective approach for the site

Only then do we head into the field to locate, mark, document, and verify the information needed to help reduce the risk of damaging underground infrastructure.

A successful locate isn't just about the paint on the ground—it's the preparation, experience, and attention to detail that happens before anyone picks up a locator.

Because the better prepared we are before arriving on site, the better equipped we are to provide the most complete and accurate locate possible.

Can you see what's wrong with this picture?At first glance, it might look like a normal excavation site. But there's one...
08/04/2026

Can you see what's wrong with this picture?

At first glance, it might look like a normal excavation site. But there's one important thing missing...

There are no utility locate markings.

Before any excavation begins, underground utilities should be identified and the work area marked with paint, flags, or wooden stakes. These markings help crews understand where buried infrastructure may be located, allowing them to plan their excavation safely and reduce the risk of striking an underground utility.

It's also important to remember that locate markings indicate the approximate location of underground facilities—they do not expose them. When work is taking place near a marked utility, the safest practice is to daylight (expose) the facility using non-destructive methods, such as hydrovac excavation, to visually confirm its exact location before mechanical excavation continues.

Taking the time to locate and, where required, daylight underground utilities helps protect workers, prevent costly damage, reduce project delays, and keep essential services running.

Would you have noticed what was missing?

For the past week and a half, our UAV pilot has been on the road capturing aerial imagery and 360° photography of SaskEn...
07/15/2026

For the past week and a half, our UAV pilot has been on the road capturing aerial imagery and 360° photography of SaskEnergy booster stations across Saskatchewan.

Starting in the northwest near Flat Valley, St. Walburg, and Big River, the project has taken us through communities across the province—including Prince Albert, Nipawin, Melfort, Yorkton, Regina, and Moose Jaw—as we work our way back home.

In total, we're documenting more than 30 SaskEnergy facilities, providing high-resolution aerial imagery and immersive 360° photos that will help support planning, operations, and asset management.

Projects like this showcase how drone technology can safely and efficiently capture valuable data across large geographic areas, while minimizing disruption to day-to-day operations.

We're proud to support SaskEnergy and look forward to wrapping up another successful project.

Not Every Underground Utility Is Marked Through Sask First CallOne of the biggest misconceptions we encounter is that su...
07/06/2026

Not Every Underground Utility Is Marked Through Sask First Call

One of the biggest misconceptions we encounter is that submitting a Sask First Call request means every underground utility on a property will be identified and marked.

While Sask First Call is an essential part of safe excavation, not every underground facility is part of the Sask First Call system. Some utilities are privately owned, while others are owned or operated by organizations—including some oil and gas companies—that are not members of the Sask First Call program.

These facilities can include private power lines, water lines, gas lines, communication cables, irrigation systems, and other underground infrastructure.

Before any excavation begins, it's important to understand both where utilities are located and who owns them. Identifying infrastructure outside the Sask First Call system can be just as important as locating registered utilities.

A little planning before you dig can help prevent costly damage, project delays, and safety hazards.

At Absolute Locating, we're committed to helping our clients make informed decisions before breaking ground.

On Friday, June 12, I flew out to Calgary and made a quick trip up to Red Deer County to attend the AIRINS MetScan and S...
06/25/2026

On Friday, June 12, I flew out to Calgary and made a quick trip up to Red Deer County to attend the AIRINS MetScan and Sniffer4D demonstration hosted by Remote Robotic Systems.

The demo was held at Crossroads Gas Co-op Ltd., where they had a controlled below-ground gas leak test set up. It was a great opportunity to see the sensor operate in a real-world field-style environment, review live readings, and see how the data can be processed into usable outputs.

At Absolute Locating, we are always evaluating new sensors, software, and UAV workflows that may help improve methane screening, pipeline inspection, and client deliverables.

AIRINS, formerly Soarability, has some very interesting technology in this space, and it was really cool to see the system perform outside of a controlled sales presentation.

Big thanks to Ian Scott and the Remote Robotic Systems team for the invite, and to Crossroads Gas Co-op Ltd. for hosting and setting up the controlled leak test.

I met a lot of great people, learned a lot of new information, and really appreciated the chance to see where this technology is heading.

Not all locate environments are simple.Some areas contain multiple utilities running close together, crossing paths, or ...
06/15/2026

Not all locate environments are simple.
Some areas contain multiple utilities running close together, crossing paths, or creating overlapping signal responses.
Add in older infrastructure, undocumented installations, interference, and changing site conditions, and the complexity increases quickly.
That’s why experience matters in utility locating.
Founded in 2002, Absolute Locating has been serving the area for 24 years, and most of our locators have been with us for more than 10 years.
That kind of experience says a lot.
It speaks to the knowledge our team brings into the field, and to the kind of family owned company people want to stay with.
Our newer locators are trained directly by that experienced team, carrying that same standard forward.
Operating the equipment is only part of the process.
Understanding how signals behave in real world conditions is what helps turn field data into accurate interpretations.
Every site tells a different story.

🚧 The booth is set up and we’re ready for the show!Absolute Locating Ltd. is proud to be exhibiting at the 2026 Saskatch...
06/02/2026

🚧 The booth is set up and we’re ready for the show!

Absolute Locating Ltd. is proud to be exhibiting at the 2026 Saskatchewan Oil & Gas Show in Weyburn. Stop by Booth #007 to meet our team and learn more about the services we provide across Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Our services include:

📍 Underground Facility Locating
📍 Damage Prevention Programs
📍 Asset Integrity Support
📍 GPS Mapping & GIS Solutions
📍 AbsoMap Web Mapping Platform
📍 Specialty Locating Services
📍 Rodder Services
📍 UAV Inspection & Mapping Solutions
📍 Methane Leak Detection

Whether you’re looking for reliable locating services, GIS support, asset management solutions, or innovative UAV technology, we’d be happy to discuss how we can help.

If you’re attending the show, stop by Booth #007 and say hello!

📍 We're Heading to the Saskatchewan Oil & Gas Show!The team at Absolute Locating Ltd. is excited to be attending the Sas...
06/01/2026

📍 We're Heading to the Saskatchewan Oil & Gas Show!

The team at Absolute Locating Ltd. is excited to be attending the Saskatchewan Oil & Gas Show in Weyburn on June 3 and 4.

Since 2002, we've been helping Saskatchewan's energy industry, contractors, municipalities, and landowners safely manage underground infrastructure through professional line locating, utility mapping, damage prevention, and field support services.

If you're attending the show, stop by Booth #007 and say hello. We'd be happy to discuss your upcoming projects, answer questions about our services, and connect with others who share our commitment to safety and accuracy in the field.

Learn more about the show at:
https://www.oilshow.ca/

📅 June 3 & 4, 2026
📍 Weyburn, Saskatchewan
📍 Booth #007

See you at the show!

How do “unknown” underground utilities happen?Not every buried line was installed with the foresight to fully document i...
06/01/2026

How do “unknown” underground utilities happen?

Not every buried line was installed with the foresight to fully document it.

Back in the day, many utilities were installed long before modern GPS mapping, GIS systems, and digital recordkeeping became standard practice.

Over time, companies change hands, records get lost, tracer wires fail, infrastructure gets modified, and in some cases the only record was the knowledge of someone who is no longer around.

Some older utilities may never have been properly mapped to begin with.

That’s why locating is about more than just reviewing records.

Field sweeps are critical for identifying utilities that may not appear on drawings or GIS data.

The maps and records in this image represent the “knowns.”

The locating equipment represents the search for everything else.

The map tells part of the story.

The field tells the rest.

Address

101 Coldridge Road
Oxbow, SK
S0C2B0

Telephone

+13064832194

Website

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