Closure Interview, Terry Eckel, CEO, Eckel Manufacturing Co. Inc.

Please describe your role within Eckel Manufacturing and your responsibilities. 

I am chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Eckel International, the largest global providers of innovative and high performance hydraulic power tongs for the oil and gas industry. I am a second-generation family member involved in manufacturing of tongs. In 1993, as Eckel’s president, I launched an initiative to further reach out to Russia’s oil & gas needs. Today, I am directly responsible for the overall operations of the company, sales, and new market initiatives.

Since 1958 Eckel has been supplying power tongs to the worlds O&G industries– but how long have you been doing business in Russia and what specific solutions do you offer to the region?

Eckel has been conducting business in Russia since the 1978. In 1993, Eckel established an ongoing presence in Russia with CETCO as our local business partner. CETCO further extended our business across Russia & CIS as our local agent. We have observed strength in the Russia and CIS market, with solutions for drill pipe and casing operations.

Eckel specializes in the development of hydraulic power tongs for make-up and break-out of tubulars, with over 60 years of tubular connection experience. Our industry leading technology advancements are in some respects, a reflection on the industry requirements and their needs. Eckel has been in the process of designing tongs that required very high torques, advanced safety features, and automation.

Eckel in-house heating provides quality tempered steel while observing strict industry standards. This process assures high quality and rugged durable parts within Eckel power tongs. Eckel has won a world-wide reputation of providing first-class products that deliver years of trouble free service. Our tongs have operated trouble free in the harsh cold conditions of Western and Eastern Siberia and in the Far Northern Regions. Eckel’s hydraulic power units have a proven track record in some of the harshest surroundings in Russia such as the extreme hot and cold conditions of Russian and offshore environments.

Can you tell us about any projects where your equipment is currently improving drilling operations in Russia?

Eckel has provided more than 500 Hydraulic Power Tongs to oil and gas companies and drilling contractors in Russia. In Russia, as well as in many other countries, the use of Corrosion Resistant Alloys (CRA) chrome tubulars are becoming more popular. Eckel is an industry leader in this specialized field tubular connections offering a line CHROMEBOSS^® tongs along with Eckel Non-Marking True Grit^® dies. True Grit^® Dies utilize Tungsten Carbide grit coating which provides many more points of contact on the surface of the tubular than standard Pyramid Fine Tooth dies provide. Penetration depth less than half the depth that is permissible by the American Petroleum Institute (API). Eckel’s True Grit^® dies use a dense Tungsten Carbide coating that is a metal like substance which does not flake or sheer off the face of the die. Operational on-site tests have shown that the life time of Eckel True Grit^® wrap-around dies is three times longer than competing abrasive powder coated dies. The above equipment and components have been working in Russia several years and proved its advantages.

The hydraulic power tong market is very competitive in Russia, with both local and international suppliers competing for business. Why should a drilling contractor or operator consider using Eckel equipment?

Eckel has over 60 years of experience in this area, and is known for quality and reliability. Many of these tong manufacturers use the old Foster and Hillman Kelly that are 30-year-old designs. Eckel is at the forefront of this industry designing tongs that can handle today’s premium high torque connections. Our tong designs evolved to incorporate additional safety features, automation, and performance. Our new 7.25 HSHT-80 Drill Pipe / Casing and 9-7/8 HS-60 Casing tongs incorporates many of these features.

Eckel has been the leader in development of tubular gripping such as the development of larger wrap-around type dies for many of its tong models. Depending on the application, Eckel offers a coarse tooth, pyramid fine tooth, and our proprietary True Grit dies. Dies are available as rig die style and for thinner wall tubulars where point loading is a concern we offer wrap-around dies. All Eckel equipment is produced at our Odessa, Texas USA manufacturing facilities (ISO 9001:2008 certified) that encompasses 140,663 square feet (13068 square meters) ensures the highest quality.

Eckel equipment is popular world-wide as having shipped to over 100 countries. Eckel is best known for its value in reducing costs, safer tubular connection, reduced maintenance, and mitigated downtime.

Do you have any plans for further market expansion across the CIS – Azerbaijan or Kazakhstan for instance? 

Coralina Engineering and Capital Equipment and Trading Corporation (CETCO) has operations in Azerbaijan, and their specialists are intensely involved in this territory. CETCO specialist are successfully making inroads in the Azerbaijan territory offering Eckel power tongs and power units. Additionally, CETCO provides training, classes, assistance, and local experience in all practical aspects of tong operation and maintenance. CETCO is very optimistic for doing business in Kazakhstan region. We are actively working in this region at improving our relationships with existing and new customers.

Do you have any new technology developments or power tong advances in the process of being developed?

Eckel continues to improve tong designs, reliability, functionality, and reduce operational costs to comply with today’s oil and gas industry requirements, and anticipate tomorrows industry requirement. A few examples are:

• One of the latest design of a new backup with Wedge Drive Type Tri-Grip which is used on the most of tong models. The WD Tri-Grip is a high-performance backup with no compromises that is available for specific applications. The Wedge Drive Tri-Grip handles the most demanding torques that larger casing and drill pipes demand.

• A new 7.25 HS HT-80 tong, that was introduced in the last half of 2016 for drill pipes and high torque casing pipes. We believe the 7.25 HS HT-80 tong is an extremely needed product for the Russian market. We anticipate the specifications of the tong will be of great interest and welcome surprise for our customers.

• In 2017, Eckel will release a couple of new product designs. The new 9-7/8 HS-60 Casing Tong available the 1st Quarter of 2017 offers efficient and reliable high rotational performance for torque turn jobs. With these high torque ratings, the 9-7/8 HS-60 Casing Tong is capable of properly handling all premium grade tubulars within its size range.

Available in the 2nd Quarter of 2017, a new tong positioner “Tong Handler” that is permanently mounted within the rig which provides a cost effective, safer, and reduced labor-intensive method of maneuvering tongs to the rotary table area on the rig floor.

How do you see the Russian market developing for Eckel in the coming years?

Russian is a very large and great country with lots of attention dedicated to the oil and gas industries onshore and offshore. Today’s challenge is to have equipment that meets the needs and requirements of oil and gas companies and drilling contractors. Since our first tong delivery in 1978 and now with the assistance of Capital Equipment and Trading Corporation and Coralina Engineering, we have developed a good relationship with many Russian customers and a growing list of new customers. Oil production is not so easy however; we believe that we can solve the most difficult problems facing the oil and gas industries. I have enjoyed visiting Russia many times for work and pleasure.