Businessweek

Calfrac Well Services Ltd. provides specialized oilfield services, including fracturing, coiled tubing, cementing and other well stimulation services in western Canada, the United States, Russia, Mexico, and Argentina. Fracturing Services The company engages in the provision of hydraulic fracturing services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. It provides both conventional hydraulic fracturing and unconventional fracturing to produce natural gas found in coal, also known as CBM fracturing. The company provides services in the deeper, more technical areas of northern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, western Colorado and Arkansas by offering equipment, technology solutions and trained personnel to execute projects. As of December 31, 2008, the company had 16 Canadian fracturing spreads dispersed amongst five facilities located in Grand Prairie, Red Deer, Strathmore, Medicine Hat and Edson, Alberta, five United States spreads operating from three facilities located in Platteville and Grand Junction, Colorado and Beebe, Arkansas, two Mexican spreads from a facility located in Reynosa, Mexico and three Russian spreads from two facilities located in Noyabrsk and Khanty-Mansiysk. The company provides conventional hydraulic fracturing by pumping a viscous fluid with suspended proppant (grains of quartz sand or ceramic material) through the wellbore and into the reservoir zone being stimulated. Coiled Tubing Services The company provides coiled tubing services by injecting coiled tubing into wells to perform various well servicing operations. As of December 31, 2008, the company's shallow and deep natural gas coiled tubing operations were being conducted in Canada with 13 units and in Russia with five units. Cementing Services Through its subsidiary, Ram Cementers Inc., the company performs cementing services in Argentina. As of December 31, 2008, the company operated 11 cementing units stationed throughout Alberta, Canada, five cementing units in Beebe, Arkansas and two single cementing units out of its operating base in Catriel, Argentina. Competition The company’s competitors include Schlumberger, Ltd.; Halliburton Company; BJ Services Company; and Trican Well Services, Ltd. History Calfrac Well Services, Ltd. was founded in 1999.