Keep Pumping!

North American frac crews have become experts in pumping most hours in a year, even in the extreme cold of last week. That’s keeping our heaters on.

During the dead of winter, efficient frac crews can keep pumping to keep water moving to prevent it from freezing. That makes them efficient and my argument circular.

Earlier this week I visited Liberty’s Independence crew in northern Colorado. They pumped 90% of the previous day, almost 1,300 minutes. They did it with average temperatures of about 13 degrees Fahrenheit. Earlier last summer they managed 679 hours a month (that’s 88% of the time in that month) on a pad that required well swaps between every stage.

Our industry is steadily increasing pumping efficiencies, adding a few percentage points every year. The industry surpassed 50% pump time of all time for the first time in 2023.

It takes teamwork between the oil & gas operator, third parties and the frac crew to put all winterizing equipment to work and to keep pumping.

Thank you to Independence crew and all other ~200 North American crews who brave the cold to keep 375 million Americans and Canadians warm.