CETCO says diversity and customer service differentiate it in the oilfield services industry.

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CETCO Oilfield Services Company (CETCO) offers a range of patented technologies and products for many oilfield applications, including water treatment, produced water and flow-back application, pipeline services, well testing and equipment rentals, as well as nitrogen and reeled tubing services.

As the variety of services that CETCO offers has grown, the company has continued its commitment to solving problems, not just providing products. “As much of our industry has grown, many larger service providers seem to overlook a key component that led to their strong growth – intimate customer service,” Vice President Greg Norman explains. “The challenge as you grow is to keep a small-company feel, both internally and externally, to help ensure you can deliver what has been promised.”

CETCO began as CETCO Offshore, a division of Colloid Environmental Technologies Co., providing offshore filtration services by isolating acid returns and completion fluids through a patented process. The backbone of this technology was CrudeSorb, a proprietary media based on a modified bentonite clay technology to remove dispersed and partially soluble oil and grease from the returns. “Being able to isolate these fluids completely through our process provided unique solutions to many operators and formed the basis for how our business expanded into the produced water and pipeline hydrotest marketplace,” Norman recalls.

In 2003, CETCO Offshore became a separately incorporated entity and took the name CETCO Oilfield Services Company. Since then, CETCO has developed other patented innovations, such as CrudeSorb MR, CrudeSep, Hi-Flow and PitDry.

The marketplace drives CETCO’s R&D, Norman states. “Most of these technologies were specifically developed due to the requests from our clients. By offering many of these solutions as a rental option, it also has a positive impact on unplanned issues and limited or no capital dollars. These rental fleets are another part of what sets CETCO apart in the industry.”

Perfect Assets, Perfect Timing
CETCO has acquired several companies over the last four years that fit perfectly with its extended vision, Norman notes. “We look at synergies with existing offerings and the chemistry between the companies for integration,” he says.

As an example, earlier this year, the company purchased the assets of Premium Reel Tubing LLC, a coiled tubing services firm.

The acquisition complements CETCO’s existing nitrogen, rental tools and well testing businesses, while adding coiled tubing services for both onshore and offshore applications.

The company’s first acquisition was made in 2004 with the purchase of Lafayette Well Testing Inc., which transitioned CETCO from a unique water treatment provider into an oilfield service company. Well testing operations began on the shelf in the Gulf of Mexico and on land in East Texas.

“It was perfect [the] perfect timing,” Norman states. “The Barnett Shale gathered momentum for deep gas in North Texas and we were able to expand with it in both our North and East Texas locations.”

In 2006, CETCO acquired two more companies: Unique Rentals LLC and the assets of Nitrogen Specialty Company LLC, adding both rental tools and nitrogen services to the mix.

In 2007, it purchased the assets of Pointe Coupee Energy Inc., which enhanced its onshore well testing operations.

Aiming for Smart Growth
CETCO says it will continue to expand internationally over the next several years. As its clients’ demographics change, it continues to change with them.

However, CETCO will be selective in its international offerings to preserve its niche of providing technologically advanced solutions with solid local customer service, Norman says.

Norman advises the newcomers to be prepared. “The industry is going through a great cycle at this time and it may feel easy,” he states, “but this is a dynamic business with many outside forces that cannot be controlled; do not get complacent ... treat your customers and prospects well and do not take anything for granted. “That has always been the best formula in good times and bad.”