In February, Midland-based Catalyst Energy Services (Catalyst) unveiled its newest innovative product, VortexPrime™, a first-of-its-kind fracturing fleet that utilizes direct-drive turbine technology, powered by natural gas.
Catalyst is dedicated to building technology that results in a cleaner future for hydraulic fracturing, as well as the communities in which they serve. VortexPrime™ improves safety, optimizes production, decreases footprint and reduces waste and emissions.
“Catalyst brought together experts who have innovated a clear path to a cleaner future,” said Bobby Chapman, president and CEO of Catalyst. “I have spent more than four decades studying and innovating pressure pumping, and developing VortexPrime™, which will dramatically and literally change the frac landscape, is my proudest professional achievement.”
Catalyst’s top priority is fostering a commitment to safety. VortexPrime™ uses fewer pieces of equipment – decreasing a standard footprint from roughly 20 pumps to about eight—and automated software in order to reduce risk. For many pads, this can lead to a reduction in site footprint of up to 55%. The smaller fleet allows for faster set-up time – in hours versus days – and the implementation of fracturing technology in tight and remote spaces that have been previously presented a challenge for standard fleets. Additionally, VortexPrime™ is self-contained; no outside power source is required.
The new fleet technology enables optimized production. VortexPrime™ minimizes downtime and fuel burn while idle through its unique shut-down and restart technology; this reduces up/down time to three-to-five minutes to get back online versus the hours it takes other technologies.
A VortexPrime™ fleet can reduce 40% of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions over Tier 4 frac fleets. Additionally, this technology reduces the waste stream by 25,000 gallons and more than 16,000 pounds per year.
“We strive, every day, to innovate products that are faster, leaner and better,” said Seth Moore, chief operating officer and co-founder of Catalyst. “We have an incredible team that is focused on transforming the energy industry. VortexPrime™ is a testament to the depth of their knowledge and their ongoing commitment to the people, technologies and industries that work to better preserve our world’s resources.”
About Catalyst Energy Services
While some might say that Catalyst Energy Services is a relatively new stimulation service company specializing in hydraulic fracturing treatment, having emerged on the industry scene in 2018, recent performance statistics as of the end of 2021 indicate significant experience in a short period of time: more than 9,000 stages and 18,000 pumping hours completed. The energy sector leadership that came together to form Catalyst Energy Services includes 40-year veteran Bobby Chapman and 35-year veteran Seth Moore, in addition to others, who boast years of hands-on experience in the field, engineering and business management. They term the launch of VortexPrime™ as “only the beginning” of the company’s focus on innovation and new technology designed and built specifically to positively impact the face of hydraulic fracturing – both in terms of lowering overall systems costs and in reducing emissions.
