Bluewater Thermal Solutions has announced its first production order of Hard-Corr™ tubing to a Texas-based energy producer. The order contains 12,000 feet of tubing and will be installed during well operations commencing this month.
The product is 2-7/8-inch diameter, 32-foot long, Grade L80 1% chromium steel production tubing treated with Bluewater’s proprietary Hard-Corr surface technology. The process imparts enhanced corrosion, wear, and erosion resistance to both the inner and outer surfaces of the tubing, making it ideal for annular and annulus production wells.
“Our customers have relied on boronized tubing for years to combat corrosion and wear inside wells. Hard-Corr builds on that success offering enhanced protection compared to untreated tubing, plus added benefits and flexibility, at a lower overall cost,” said Craig Zimmerman, technical director for Bluewater Thermal Solutions.
While boronized tubing remains the established premium standard for inner-surface protection, Hard-Corr™ is engineered as a complementary, lower-cost alternative that maintains the mechanical integrity and strength of L80-grade steel. This allows operators to deploy it as a full-string solution from bottom to top while also gaining additional protection for the exterior surfaces.
The company is the largest supplier of boronized products and services to oil and gas producers in the Bakken and Permian shale plays.
Press release is available in its original form here.
Bluewater Thermal Solutions showcased its contributions to innovation in the energy and industrial sectors, including Ultra-Fast Boriding at Argonne National Laboratory. U.S. Department of Energy’s Secretary, Chris Wright, engaged in a dialogue there on the future of transportation, manufacturing, and critical materials research.
Craig Zimmerman, Director-Technical at Bluewater, joined fellow leaders from national labs and industry at Argonne’s Materials Engineering Research Facility (MERF). Bluewater highlighted its collaborations with Argonne National Laboratory’s pioneering work in Ultra-Fast Boriding surface hardening technologies for down-hole oil production operations, which play a vital role in supporting domestic energy production.
“We’re deeply committed to advancing U.S. manufacturing through technical innovation,” said Zimmerman. “Participating in this event alongside Secretary Wright and our colleagues at Argonne highlights the successful development and transfer of new technology from Argonne to Bluewater Thermal Solutions.”
U.S. DOE Secretary surveys components at Argonne National Laboratory. Source: Bluewater Thermal Solutions
Argonne’s mission is to accelerate innovation from discovery to deployment, strengthen domestic supply chains for critical materials, and make the movement of people and goods more efficient and sustainable. Bluewater’s contributions help scale thermal technologies that bolster reliability.
Press release is available in its original form here.
Patrick McKenna has been appointed as chief executive officer and director of Bluewater Thermal Solutions, a portfolio company of Aterian Investment Partners, effective immediately.
Patrick McKenna CEO Bluewater Thermal Solutions
“I’m honored to join Bluewater Thermal Solutions at such a dynamic time for the industry,” said McKenna. “With a strong operational footprint, a dedicated team, and a reputation for technical excellence, Bluewater is well positioned for growth. I’m eager to work alongside our employees, customers, and partners to build on the company’s momentum and drive our capabilities forward.”
McKenna has more than 25 years of leadership and innovation experience in the thermal processing industry. He most recently served as president & CEO of Ipsen USA, a global provider of vacuum furnace technology for the thermal processing sector. He oversaw a team of more than 250 employees at Ipsen’s U.S. based Vacuum Center of Excellence, while driving success across international markets.
Prior to Ipsen, McKenna was most recently co-founder, board member, and vice president of Nevada Heat Treating/California Brazing. There, he helped transform the business from a traditional commercial heat treating operation into a Nadcap-accredited provider of turnkey manufacturing solutions serving major aerospace OEMs.
Brandon Bethea, co-founder and partner at Aterian, expressed strong confidence in the new leadership: “Patrick has excelled in every role he’s taken on. His deep industry expertise and sharp eye for commercial growth make him the ideal leader to guide Bluewater into its next phase. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team.”
Bluewater Thermal Solutions is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, and is one of North America’s largest providers of heat treating and brazing services. The company operates ten facilities across the U.S., offering thermal processing capabilities.
Press release is available in its original form here.
Beginnings and endings often come together. As we prepare to begin a new year next month, we want to pause to remember a few lives that came to an end. Although the following are by no means the only important endings,Heat Treat Todaywould like to honor the memory of the following individuals who left their mark in the heat treating world.
This article first appeared in Heat TreatToday’sDecember 2023 Medical and Energy print edition. Feel free to contact Bethany Leone at bethany@heattreattoday.com if you have a question, comment, or any editorial contribution you’d like to submit.
Scott Hoensheid, Commercial Steel Treating Corp. (c. 1959–2022)
Scott Hoensheid retired as the president of Commercial Steel Corp., a commercial heat treater based in Highland, MI. As president of Commercial Steel Corp. since 1979, he served the heat treating industry diligently for over 40 years. He leaves behind his wife, Anne, and two children, Allison (John) VanHaverbeke and Katherine Hoensheid.
(Source: dignitymemorial.com)
John “Jack” Marino, Hauck Manufacturing and Denton Corporation (c. 1938–2023)
Well-known as a capable educator through several online IHEA courses, Jack Marino was an industry expert with more than 40 years of experience in the heat treating industry. Jack became the president of not one, but two companies: Denton Corporation and Hauck Manufacturing. Throughout his career, he obtained six U.S. patents in combustion technology and was the author of Ok, You’re a New Executive. Now What? Jack leaves behind his wife, Jean, and six children.
Clint Ooten was an incredible resource to Bluewater Thermal Solutions where he used his background in human resources for skillful team building and management. Included in Clint’s impressive background were four years as an HR director at GE. He began his time at Bluewater Thermal Solutions as the director of HR, and later went on to become the President — Industrials. Surviving Clint are his three daughters.
(Source: cannonbyrd.com)
Ross Pritchard, VAC AERO (c. 1929–2023)
Ross Pritchard began his career in the heat treating industry with a metallurgical engineering degree. In 1959, Ross founded VAC AERO International, Inc., a provider of vacuum furnaces and a source of excellent technical content for those in the industry. Ross led the company through building new plants, expanding the workforce from two employees to 200+, and continually keeping up with the changing technology of the industry. He is survived by his three daughters.
(Source: Tribute Archive.com)
David Pye, Pye Metallurgical International Consulting (c. 1939–2023)
David Pye was the founder of Pye Metallurgical International Consulting, a company he began after years of practical experience in the heat treating industry, both in commercial and in-house environments. At the end of his life, David had amassed over 45 years of metallurgical consulting, and therefore helped countless clients and friends throughout the industry, both in the U.S. and in the U.K. David was skilled not only in technical sales but also in metallurgical laboratory processes. He passed away on June 12, 2023, in Virginia.
(Source: Industrial Heating.com)
William Edward Terlop, Sr., Jackson Transformer (c. 1938–2023)
William (Bill) Terlop was part of the induction heating industry for over 68 years. Bill became both a friend and mentor to many others in the industry, always willing to share knowledge and advice on transformers and magnetics. His career in the industry began when he was a young man working for a company; through his R&D, Bill grew their magnetics products division. He later purchased this division in 1986, creating Jackson Transformer Company. Everyone at the company is proud to honor Bill by carrying on his legacy.
(Source: trinitymemorial.com)
James Joseph Van Etten, Alhern-Martin Industrial Furnace Company (c. 1944–2023)
The owner of Alhern-Martin Industrial Furnace Company for over 40 years, James Van Etten was dedicated to the heat treating industry and leveraged his knowledge and expertise to help clients with their equipment needs. His dedication grew the business to be the dynamic company it is today. James is survived by his wife, Sandra, and his children, Julie and James. His son is currently the vice president of Alhern-Martin Industrial Furnace Company.
(Source: detroitnews.com)
Find Heat Treating Products and Services When You Search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.com
A 28” wide, 4 zone mesh belt annealing and brazing furnace has been commissioned for Bluewater Thermal Solutions, a U.S. based commercial heat treater.
The furnace from Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systemsis installed in Bluewater’s annealing and brazing facility in Coldwater, MI. The mesh belt furnace is designed with a maximum operating temperature of 2100℉ with a capacity of 1,600 lbs/hr, and utilizes a blend of nitrogen and hydrogen atmospheres. The system incorporates an Allen-Bradley PLC and integrated dewpoint meter to ensure precise process control for consistent and reliable part quality. This is the fifth such Gasbarre furnace at this location.
Find heat treating products and services when you search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.com
When there is a need to provide a uniform, pearlitic structure at a microscopic level, many heat treaters turn to normalizing to increase or restore metal strength, but experts at Bluewater Thermal Solutions note the need to assess all aspects of the material before choosing this process.
“It is possible with given alloys and metals that the process may also cause a decrease in overall strength.”
A 28” wide, 4 zone mesh belt annealing and brazing furnace has been commissioned for Bluewater Thermal Solutions, a U.S. based commercial heat treater.
