Rolls-Royce and Weir combine in fracking deal

WEIR Oil & Gas and the Rolls-Royce Power Systems company MTU are joining forces to form a fracking venture that they hope will become a market leader in helping source new supplies of gas.

The two British engineering firms plan to combine their skills. Picture: Contributed

The two British engineering firms plan to combine their skills to apply world-leading technology and expertise to the new process of extracting shale oil and gas from rock.

Weir manufactures hydraulic fracturing pumps, and MTU is a market leader in heavy-duty industrial diesel engines. The system being developed will be used for hydraulic fracking operations. The deal was signed yesterday at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas.

Steve Noon, Weir Oil & Gas divisional managing director, said: “Our teams are working to develop fully integrated purpose-built power systems for fracking,” He said it would fill an industry demand for a “complete package”.

Michael Haidinger, chief sales officer for Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said: “Together we are taking a completely integrated approach to designing a pumping power system that addresses the challenges faced by frack site operators. We’ve brought our best engineering minds together. It is a new approach that offers customers one efficient supplier.”

• Optimus, the Aberdeen-based engineering consultancy, has 
formed a partnership with Highlands fabrication company JGC to offer the oil & gas and nuclear industries a full design and build capability.