The Gas Compression Podcast

On this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast, host Michael Haning welcomes Chris Holcomb, General Manager at 7Compression, a gas compression company specializing in production enhancement with the latest technology and top-level service.

Chris talks about his early career in the industry and the winding path that led to his current position. A common thread throughout his career was his constant search to “find a better way” to do things. This focus on maximum efficiency continues today with the company’s Titan Compressor, which collects large amounts of data that he and his team can analyze to make proactive decisions resulting in improved efficiency.

The company has seen rapid growth since Chris came aboard, adding over 100 units to the 15 that were in place when he started. He and his team are deliberate about being small and nimble by focusing on small wellhead compression.

Their units are turnkey with state-of-the-art technology, allowing Chris and his team to make adjustments remotely in real-time based on analysis of the data being fed to the cloud. They are on the cutting edge in the industry.

We recondition and repair gas compressor cylinders and all their component parts as well as rotary screw compressors. If you are looking for a top-notch partner for your natural gas compression cylinder repair, then give us a call at 806-274-2214 or visit us online at Disco-Inc.com.

On this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast, host Michael Haning welcomes David Rutherford, Senior Engineer of Compression and Rotating Equipment at Crestwood Midstream Partners LP for an interesting discussion about the state of the industry today, and David’s philosophy on ways to maximize efficiency in their operations.

David’s career path has led him to a variety of positions in the industry, which he says has allowed him to learn the ins and outs of many aspects of the business through hands-on experience. He thinks that it is important for newcomers to the gas compression industry to step out of their comfort zone for the sake of continuing professional development.

His focus at Crestwood Midstream Partners is to get all their operations running as efficiently as possible, which saves gas and, in turn, saves money. He says that most operators have the false belief that running at slower speeds is more efficient, and David goes into some detail about why that simply isn’t true.

Those details that he and Michael dive into make this a fascinating interview that any industry professional will appreciate.

We recondition and repair gas compressor cylinders and all their component parts as well as rotary screw compressors. If you are looking for a top-notch partner for your natural gas compression cylinder repair, then give us a call at 806-274-2214 or visit us online at Disco-Inc.com.

On this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast, host Michael Haning welcomes Curtis Roys of Patton Divider Block Systems. Curtis has been in the gas compression industry since the late 70s, and he spends much of his time these days fixing common problems in gas compression, and training technicians so they can troubleshoot those problems in the future.

The biggest problem Curtis sees in the industry is that people don’t truly understand divider block systems, and they overlook the importance of proper lubrication in those systems. Many of the problems technicians face in the field have simple fixes, but they have never been trained on what those fixes are.

Curtis does his training in person, and he doesn’t offer online courses. He believes in the power of physically handling the parts, both new and worn, and being able to see how the parts work together to function properly.

He gives countless examples of ways compressor failures could be avoided with simple and inexpensive solutions like adding pressure gauges and valves, or eliminating air from lines. Anyone who is in the industry can learn a thing or two from this legend.

We recondition and repair gas compressor cylinders and all their component parts as well as rotary screw compressors. If you are looking for a top-notch partner for your natural gas compression cylinder repair, then give us a call at 806-274-2214 or visit us online at Disco-Inc.com

On this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast, host Michael Haning welcomes Brian Green, Chief Operating Officer at TOPS LLC, an oilfield equipment rental company specializing in the natural gas compression market.

Brian talks about his decision to join TOPS (which was founded by his father) in 2006, not long after he graduated from Baylor University with a degree in economics. Since he has been there, the company has experienced tremendous growth in the highly competitive market of the Permian Basin.

Brian has overseen a push to have a rental fleet of state-of-the-art electric-driven gas compressors. The company is now 92% electric-driven.

He also talks about how he sees the industry innovating, for instance with solar power, or capturing natural gas that is currently flared at night to generate power.

He also describes the challenges his business faces with the disruption of the supply chain since the Covid crisis began, how he feels the gas industry is mischaracterized by politicians and the media, and the difficulty many in the industry have finding skilled workers.

Listen to this and more on this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast. You can see the show notes and all the resources mentioned in this episode at GasCompressionPodcast.com.

We recondition and repair gas compressor cylinders and all their component parts as well as rotary screw compressors. If you are looking for a top-notch partner for your natural gas compression cylinder repair, then give us a call at 806-274-2214 or visit us online at Disco-Inc.com

On this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast, Brent Haight, CEO and Founder at Third Coast Publishing which publishes Gas Compression Magazine, joins host Michael Haning to talk about his career of more than 22 years covering the gas compression industry.

With his education and background in journalism, Brent was lucky enough to answer a want ad that led to his long career in the industry. It has allowed him to travel the world and experience places and adventures he never could have imagined.

Brent talks about how he and his team at Third Coast Publishing used the Covid break from travel to evaluate their concrete plans for how to move forward.

Brent considers that the gas compression industry is stronger than ever and that some technologies that were initially considered scary—like LNG—are actually great for the industry.

Brent talks about how the industry itself is reaching out to the next generation of talent, despite the pull from more visible industries. He also shares which trade shows and conferences he is looking forward to attending now that the world has normalized a bit.

Watch or listen to this and more on this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast. You can see the show notes and all of the resources mentioned in this episode at: GasCompressionPodcast.com.

We recondition and repair gas compressor cylinders and all their component parts as well as rotary screw compressors. If you are looking for a top-notch partner for your natural gas compression cylinder repair, then give us a call at 806-274-2214 or visit us online at Disco-Inc.com

Louis (Bunky) Dussetschleger, Field Technician at K&R Operating LLC, has been in the gas compression industry for over 27 years. He joins host Michael Haning on this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast to discuss the history of the gas industry as seen from Bunky’s eyes out in the field, what the future looks like in the gas industry, and what employers should know about finding, training, and keeping new talent in the industry.

Bunky started in the industry as a young man and, with his background as a mechanic, he was quickly put in a service truck and “booted out in the field,” where he quickly learned he had to prove himself without the help of any of the veterans.

After years of being out in the field, he eventually settled into his current role in the rental compression business, where he turns his hand to any type of work you can think of, from rebuilds to overhauls, on all types of equipment from old school to the most modern.

His experience gives Bunky a clear insight into how the industry works, and how the industry might work better moving forward.

Watch or listen to this and more on this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast. You can see the show notes and all of the resources mentioned in this episode at GasCompressionPodcast.com.

We recondition and repair gas compressor cylinders and all their component parts as well as rotary screw compressors. If you are looking for a top-notch partner for your natural gas compression cylinder repair, then give us a call at 806-274-2214 or visit us online at Disco-inc.com

W. Norman Shade, Jr., PE Sr. Consultant & President Emeritus, ACI Services Inc. has been a respected voice in the gas industry for decades. He joins host Michael Haning on part two of this two-part episode of The Gas Compression Podcast. In part two, they discuss the state of the industry, and where Norm sees the industry headed in the future.

He says that one of the biggest challenges the industry faces is the current public perception of the industry, which is not exactly stellar, and how that affects the regulatory landscape. He acknowledges that there are certainly problems in the gas industry, and he spells out some of his ideas on ways these problems can be solved.

Norm also takes a deep dive into emerging technologies, including renewable energy, and takes a balanced look at the pros and cons of these emerging energy solutions, weighing the current challenges with them and discussing with Michael how the problems can be solved.

Watch or listen to this and more on this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast. You can see the show notes and all of the resources mentioned in this episode at GasCompressionPodcast.com.

Looking for an expert partner in gas compression repair?

We recondition and repair gas compressor cylinders and all their component parts as well as rotary screw compressors. If you are looking for a top-notch partner for your natural gas compression cylinder repair, then give us a call at 806-274-2214 or visit us online at Disco-Inc.com

W. Norman Shade, Jr., PE Sr. Consultant & President Emeritus, ACI Services Inc. is one of the most respected and experienced voices in the gas industry. He joins host Michael Haning on part one of this two-part episode of The Gas Compression Podcast. They discuss the history of the gas industry, both in the U.S. and globally, the state of the industry today, and what the future looks like.

Norm starts at the beginning with the discovery of natural gas, which was considered a waste product at the time until engineers of the day figured out how to harness the energy present to power industrial boilers.

Norm continues through the history of the industry including the ongoing construction of the pipeline system that is vital to the industry in the U.S., the steady increase in gas production and delivery through much of the 20th century, and how the industry nearly died a slow death beginning in the 1970s.

Fortunately, the industry didn’t die, thanks to advancements in hydraulic fracturing, and Norm closes part one by discussing energy projections moving forward including the decline of coal, how natural gas is the safety net for the rise of renewable energy, and the causes and potential solutions to the rolling blackouts occurring recently in states like Texas and California.

Watch or listen to this and more on this episode of The Gas Compression Podcast. You can see the show notes and all of the resources mentioned in this episode at GasCompressionPodcast.com.

We recondition and repair gas compressor cylinders and all their component parts as well as rotary screw compressors. If you are looking for a top-notch partner for your natural gas compression cylinder repair, then give us a call at 806-274-2214 or visit us online at Disco-Inc.com

Welcome to the Gas Compression Podcast!

This inaugural episode of the Gas Compression Podcast features host Michael Haning, President of Diversified Industrial Service Company (DISCO), who started this podcast to serve professionals and leaders in the gas compression industry. The Gas Compression Podcast will feature interviews with leaders in the industry who will discuss the industry’s latest trends, share stories, best practices and explore what the future holds.

This will be a weekly podcast where Michael will be interviewing a different leader for approximately 30 minutes.

The Gas Compression Podcast is brought to you by DISCO, an industry leader in reconditioning and repairing natural gas compression cylinders and all their components parts. You can reach us at 806-274-2214, or on our website at disco-inc.com.