Published: April 26, 2015
Despite low oil and natural gas prices, companies throughout the oil patch are planning for the future and hoping prices rebound soon.
Tulsa-based Linde Process Plants Inc. is trying to make the most of the industry downturn as companies have slowed drilling plans and mothballed rigs and other equipment.
“Many companies have existing contracts for several years,” said Jason Stevens, Linde’s manager of proposal development.
The industry slowdown also creates opportunities, Stevens said.
“This is a time for some companies to do work. We’re seeing capacity increase,” he said. “The fact that this is happening is also freeing up capacity from our construction partners. They’re getting hungry and want to work with us more.”
The slower industry activity also allows companies to focus on improving their operations.
“We’re always looking for new technology,” said Jehna Ferster, Linde’s manager of systems engineering. “This slowdown is an opportunity to look at new technology and predict where the market is going. It’s given us an opportunity to do a little development work.”
Linde provides consulting and a variety of plant designs, including both new facilities and add-ons designed to make existing plants more efficient.
The company’s engineering office is in Tulsa, and its fabrication facility is at the Port of Catoosa.
With uncertainty throughout the industry, many potential customers are choosing to enhance their existing facilities, Ferster said.
“For some customers, instead of building a new plant, they’re going to look at the facility they currently have,” she said. “That’s something we can help with.”
The company’s products are designed to help companies process natural gas and natural gas liquids more efficiently.
One product is designed to strap onto an existing facility and capture and sell natural gas that otherwise would be burned off at the plant.
“We move the gas and instead of flaring, we help them get value for it,” Ferster said.
The company also sells a liquified natural gas facility that can be added to an existing natural gas liquids plant.
“It can give them another product stream and de-bottleneck the original play with increased capacity,” Stevens said.
Oklahoma companies focus on technology during oil industry slowdown | News OK
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