OK: Borets-Weatherford US, Inc. Breaks Ground on Expanded Tulsa Facility

Borets-Weatherford U.S., Inc., held a ground-breaking ceremony Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 to officially recognize the expansion of their US Headquarters at 1600 N. Garnett Road in Tulsa. Construction of a new 15,000 square foot Research & Development Lab is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. Borets purchased their existing facility and moved 26 employees to the site in October 2010. Since that time, Borets has consolidated the Global Engineering staff at the Tulsa Technology & Training Center and expanded their US Headquarters employee base in Tulsa to more than 90 employees.

President & CEO, Kim Arnold said, “We are eager to get this state-of-the-art R&D Lab completed as part of our long-term strategy to be the leader in bringing new equipment and technology to the electric submersible pumping system market. Our current array of Borets products includes the Permanent Magnet Motor (PMM) technology that, while new to the North American market, has provided significant energy savings and run time benefits based on more than 2500 PMM installations since its 2005 introduction in the Russian market. The new R&D facility will allow us to be a more effective partner with our Borets Russian Engineering counterparts and continue our leadership in developing and promoting new technologies that result in power efficiencies, well production maximization and intelligent wells for our customers.”

The new Lab is a continuing investment in R&D that will provide the capability for full scope and automated testing of pumps, motors and motor seals. The additional capabilities provided by this expansion are expected to allow Borets to add approximately 100 employees in the next two years including 30 Tulsa based employees and another 70 employees in the Company’s regional operations, including Midland, Breckenridge, Longview and Conroe, TX; Casper, WY, as well as 2 other Oklahoma operations in Oklahoma City and Pauls Valley.

This state-of-the-art Borets research and development laboratory will include vertical test wells and configurable power systems providing the capabilities to perform full ESP string testing of more than 200’ in length with flow rates of 150 to 85,000 barrels per day. Pump testing capabilities will include horizontal testing of tandem pumps, multi-phase pumps, full dynamometer and endurance testing of motors of more than 1000 horsepower, shroud/recirculation systems, testing for motor cooling and, motors at elevated temperatures.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett stated: “We congratulate Borets-Weatherford on its continued success and growth in the Tulsa region. Tulsa continues to establish itself as a leader in attracting and growing companies related to our thriving energy sector, and supporting oil and gas and related industries is of paramount importance to my efforts as mayor and to the future of the entire region.”

Mike Neal, Tulsa Regional Chamber president and CEO, said: “Borets-Weatherford is an industry leader, and the research and development center the company has announced is exciting news not only for the company but also for the entire Tulsa region. This will further solidify northeast Oklahoma’s standing as the thriving hub for the energy industry and research and development.”

Borets is a participant in the Oklahoma Quality Jobs incentive program with the opportunity to receive payroll tax rebates in exchange for adding up to 100 jobs in Oklahoma.