Jacam Catalyst
Elevating Oilfield Operability With Customized Chemical Solutions

There is an undeniable culture in the oilfield services industry: “Get the job done, always.”

The evolution of specialty oilfield chemicals and tools reflects this focus. Producing these compounds involves complex, multi-step processes and requires sourcing intermediate chemical molecules from various suppliers to deliver the product. The procured formulations undergo testing and additional synthesis processes to create a more potent, eco-conscious product but inadvertently drive up the end product costs.

Jacam Catalyst, a leading oilfield chemicals manufacturer and service provider, breaks this cost spiral. The company manufactures most molecules in-house, enabling it to offer customized, top-quality chemical solutions that ensure smooth operations with minimum downtime, all at an attractive price point. Drawing insights from over three decades of industry experience, Jacam Catalyst navigates the high-stakes oilfield environment by combining in-house expertise and a carefully curated range of chemical products.

“Our responsiveness to customer issues and our ability to solve them in a timely and cost-effective manner give us a natural edge in time-sensitive oilfield operations,” says Vern Disney, president of Jacam Catalyst. “We are fully equipped to be our clients’ chemical and fluids partner—from the drill bit to the wellhead to the pipeline and everything in between.”

The company offers a complete range of oilfield chemical manufacturing, blending, formulating, analysis and R&D capabilities.

It operates multiple laboratories and warehouses nationwide equipped with state-of-the-art ICPs, GCs, scanning electron microscopes, dynamic scale loops, corrosion autoclaves and many other specialized analytical and product performance test equipment. These capabilities position Jacam Catalyst as the top choice for all oilfield chemical needs. This renowned customer satisfaction owes a great deal to its commitment to delivering innovative solutions.

Time-Tested Approach and Analytical Prowess for Quicker Problem-Solving

At the heart of its efforts is a carefully vetted approach to address a wide range of challenges—from the nuances of drilling fluid properties to issues of scale and corrosion buildup, as well as the obstructions that compromise flow assurance. Jacam Catalyst focuses on understanding the root causes behind operational issues alongside a thorough assessment of infrastructure and equipment conditions. These insights are instrumental in crafting custom chemical solutions that can unlock maximum production efficiency.

“Instead of just mitigating symptoms, we provide long-term solutions. Doing so while efficiently managing costs has reinforced our reputation and secured the trust and loyalty of our clients,” says Disney.

Ready for Any Challenge

Jacam Catalyst’s state-of-the-art lab facilities and team of tenured experts from diverse backgrounds are the two foundational pillars of its solution excellence. It follows a self-sufficient manufacturing model, producing the vast majority of the chemical molecules in-house. This approach allows for meticulous control over production costs, as Jacam Catalyst procures only essential raw materials and carries out the complex chemical reactions necessary to create the intermediate compounds integral to their final products. By perfecting the product formulation for every distinct oilfield scenario, the company sidesteps the costly errors that negatively impact many competitors.

The labs also play a vital role in analyzing samples such as water, oil and gas collected onsite. The insights give a clear picture of the existing conditions and potential issues that could arise in the field. Jacam Catalyst’s advanced testing equipment can recreate those same conditions and rigorously test the performance of chemical products within that simulated environment, ensuring the properties of the chemicals are delivered as designed.

Jacam Catalyst’s newly established 13,000-square-foot laboratory facility in Gardendale, supported by a team of 30 full-time staff, enables quicker resolution of customer problems—a crucial differentiator in an industry where every minute of uptime counts. With over 600 dedicated employees in the bustling Permian Basin, the company navigates one of the most active basins in the country. This vast pool of personnel, each equipped with diverse experiences, enables Jacam Catalyst to deploy the right expertise when needed.

Its customer-focused sales team is trained to provide multi-tiered support for clients facing time-critical scenarios. A dedicated technical team stands ready to troubleshoot specific cases, while a highly capable laboratory conducts extensive testing to understand prevailing conditions. Experienced managers are on standby to offer valuable guidance throughout the resolution process.

“We understand this is a people business, so we focus on developing and supporting our team to ensure they are satisfied and enjoy their careers with us. These efforts have led to high retention rates and successful recruitment even in tight labor markets. By putting our employees first, we drive overall success,” says Disney.

Tokens of Success

Jacam Catalyst’s solutions and industry expertise make it a top choice for oilfields that often deal with high equipment failure rates due to corrosion and scale buildup—issues most service providers overlook until they become apparent. Here, its root cause analysis and discovery processes are a lifesaver, enabling it to tailor and implement custom chemicals that tackle corrosion and similar issues.

A recent client success story illustrates Jacam Catalyst’s efficiency in resolving challenges. One of its oilfield customers couldn’t sell their oil because it exceeded pipeline standards for basic sediment and water (BS&W) levels. After analyzing the root cause, team Jacam Catalyst applied a custom chemical solution to lower the amount of BS&W in the oil. The result? The client resumed producing high-quality oil that met sales specifications.

Time and again, customers turn to Jacam Catalyst when they hit a roadblock—whether it’s gas treatment falling short or corrosion causing shutdowns. For example, another frequent problem involves natural gas contaminated with hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which needs to be treated to meet pipeline requirements. Jacam Catalyst supplies the required equipment and has the chemical expertise and application knowledge to effectively reduce H2S levels.

The company leaves no stone unturned to understand the precise timing, location and methods needed to treat the gas, helping operators get their gas production back on track and ready for sale.

It’s like a virtuous cycle—the more it prioritizes problem-solving and cost-effective solutions, the more customer satisfaction grows. This enables Jacam Catalyst to invest further in its capabilities and deliver even better chemical products, fueling operational success for clients in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Continuous Innovation is the Game Plan

Chemistry, after all, has a huge impact on wells’ performance. It is not an exaggeration to say that mastering the chemistry for well completions and production is becoming increasingly crucial. Operators are now pushing the boundaries by extending lateral lengths and moving into more challenging areas. These new regions often have more complex geology, greater depths and higher pressures and temperatures, making effective chemical solutions essential for success.

To align with these industry requirements, Jacam Catalyst is developing new products to tackle new and existing issues more cost-effectively. Its team is expanding rapidly, growing from around 800 employees two or three years ago to over 1,130 today. The company is also investing heavily in infrastructure, increasing manufacturing capabilities, expanding its footprint and upgrading its fleet and laboratory facilities. All these proactive efforts have aptly positioned Jacam Catalyst at the forefront of innovation and growth within the oil and gas industry.