Petrotech’s History: Over Three Decades of Experience

Petrotech History1970s
Petrotech's compressor control knowledge is traceable to a 1960s era company called Compressor Automation Controls, which later was known as Baker CAC.  In 1978 Petrotech Incorporated was formed by a compressor group that came from Baker Oil tools. Originally the group produces pneumatic compressor controllers and wellhead safety systems. The group focuses primarily on the downstream Oil & Gas sector.

1980s
Petrotech begins to market its system to the midstream pipeline compressor market. The company becomes the exclusive anti-surge control supplier for Solar Turbines, Stewart & Stevenson, Nuovo Pignone and Demag Delaval. Petrotech also develops its solid-state, stand-alone compressor controller – the ASC-M2. Later, the ACS-M3 is released with more functionality.

In 1989 Petrotech forms two additional business units, I&E and System Integration. With these two new business units, the company now comprises four parts: Compressor Control, Wellhead Safety, I&E and System Integration.

1990s
The company sees its market share of pipeline compressor control retrofits grow to over 50%. Also, the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) begins to emerge as a viable controller. Petrotech leads the turbomachinery industry by adopting an open architecture approach to control system solutions. Petrotech forms its fifth business unit – EPC. Designated as an engineering and construction unit producing whole offshore modules, the EPC business is built around compressors and general I&E engineering work.

In 1995 Petrotech buys Unitech, a New York-based gas turbine/generator control systems supplier. Unitech brings extensive experience in General Electric gas turbines and integrated generators.

In 1997 Roper Industries purchases the five Petrotech business units, including Compressor & Gas Turbine Control, Wellhead Control, EPC, I&E and System Integration.

With the popularity of the PLC making sizable market share gains, the ASC-M2 and ASC-M3 standalone anti-surge controllers product lines are brought to a close in 1999.

2000s
Petrotech exits its Wellhead Control and EPC businesses. The company’s I&E and Petrotech System Integration business units are merged with the core Compressor & Gas Turbine Controls group, forming the Petrotech of today.
In 2003 Roper Industries sells the unified Petrotech company to a group of private investors.

Following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Petrotech in 2005 relocates its headquarters within New Orleans and expands its Houston facility to accommodate double-digit growth.

Recently, Petrotech introduces a series of new products to address existing stand-alone compressor control requirements in the marketplace. The Em-400, a comprehensive system complete with color touch-screen display, is designed to provide an upgrade path for the ASC-M2 & ASC-M3 systems, some of which are still in use 25 years after being installed.

Petrotech continues to pride itself on being a leader in turbomachinery controls, serving several major industries within the energy sector, including:

  • Oil & Gas Production
  • Pipeline & Gas Compression
  • Power Generation
  • Petrochemical & Refining