How does a relative newcomer into the oil and gas industry grow and build a reputation as a trusted, reliable partner? It knows the territory, and it relies on Caterpillar equipment.

Energy Contractors LLC, founded in 2004, provides a broad array of services to the oil and gas industry throughout the northeast. Headquartered in the central Appalachian town of Bridgeport, W.V., the company knows the challenges and rewards of Appalachia’s rugged terrain. The firm provides comprehensive services spanning the life cycle of a well, with fluid hauling, tank rentals, rig mobilization, excavation and well services.

Much of Energy Contractors’ capability has been added in the past year, with strategic acquisitions, delivery of purpose-built well servicing and mobilization equipment and opening or expanding yards to house equipment locally.

As new services have been added to meet clients’ needs, Energy Contractors has turned to Caterpillar and Cleveland Brothers for the array of powerful equipment and reliable support demanded. Cat earthmoving equipment gives Energy Contractors the power to tackle tough excavation jobs. The latest Cat engine packages power the entire well-servicing fleet consisting of six new SR80 double pole rigs, three new 4C double derrick rigs and the six new skid-mounted hydraulic power swivels delivered for the well service rig program.

“Caterpillar equipment is and always has been the staple of the oilfield,” said President R. Mark Hackett. “It makes our fleet much more attractive when we can say we have 100-percent Caterpillar.”

Caterpillar offers the choice of equipment needed to keep pace with a rapidly changing situation and hurdles found everyday in Appalachia mountainous terrain. Well sites are growing in size, the water pumped into the earth to fracture the shale and release the natural gas trapped inside can be stored in pits capable of holding up to four-million gallons, according to Energy Contractors.

“The Marcellus shale has truly changed the industry,” Hackett said. “We once considered a Caterpillar D6 adequate for location building. We now find ourselves building these huge 400-foot by 400-foot, multi-well-drilling locations with D7Rs, D8Ts and 330DLs.”

Because they know the territory, the people at Energy Contractors also know the best equipment for every job — making them that much more valuable to clients — and they know that Cleveland Brothers is behind them. Cleveland Brothers has a branch in most of Energy Contractors’ operating areas, which “creates additional value over and above the product itself,” Hackett said. Sales and tech support from the Murrysville and Bridgeport branches have been dependable, providing everything “from the smallest part to a new D8T.”

Energy Contractors has concentrated on relationship-building to fuel its growth, catering to clients’ needs while cultivating strong ties to its own coterie of reliable service and equipment providers.

“Our customers dictate that we provide value and performance, on time, every time,” Hackett said. “With Caterpillar and Cleveland Brothers, we can make those commitments.”

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