Frontier Services Inc: Top Texas Oilfield Services
For companies operating in the Texas oilfield service industry, standing out from a market saturated with competitors is imperative. Frontier Services Inc. strives to do just that by providing the highest level of experience and dependability to oil production companies throughout the state. The company may be average in size, but its commitment to ongoing customer service sets it apart from the competitors.
“We’re a service company, and good service is all about finding good hands,” plant manager Carl McQuarrie says. “There are many different outfits out there that provide the same services we do, but customers are going to use the ones that are reliable and do a good, quality job.
“This is our goal in every project, and that’s how we earn repeat business.”
‘A Small World’
The Alice, Texas-based company has earned a reputation for success in BOP testing and flowback services, stack lifts, test pumps, torque-turn and steam cleaning services.
From its six offices in Texas, Frontier Services Inc. serves customers throughout the state, as well as northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas, southern Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Since its inception in the mid-1990s, the company has maintained an emphasis on developing a large portfolio of repeat customers. In fact, only approximately 20 percent of its projects are for new clients.
“The oilfield industry is a small world sometimes, and people get to know you over the years,” McQuarrie explains. “Oil and gas consultants move around from company to company, and we always try to keep up with where our customers are going, which helps us keep our contacts up-to-date. We have service agreements with many companies, and try to maintain good relationships with our customers.”
24/7 Service
One of the biggest challenges Frontier Services faces on a daily basis is dealing with the demands of the industry while meeting the needs of its customers.
“Our company is in a 24-hour business,” McQuarrie stresses. “Rigs run all night and day, and when a customer is ready for us, they’re ready. If we’re not ready when they need us, they’ll call somebody else who is.
“We work night and day, and there are no holidays or weekends in the oilfields.”
Weather-related challenges are always an obstacle for Frontier Services, but its dedicated employees are ready to confront the issue. However, finding employees who can work well under these conditions is not easy.
“Employees sometimes come and go, because this is a hard way to make a living,” McQuarrie says. “It’s important to try and keep your staff happy, and keep a good worker when you find one. It’s a great way for someone with little education to make a decent living, but they do sacrifice a lot.
“There are no eight-hour days, and our workers are only a phone call away from going to work at all times.”
Good Services, Good People
The type of work environment offered by Frontier Services may not appeal to everyone, but the company is proud to have developed a dedicated crew with a number of long-term employees. It is true that most laborers tend to stay with the company for only a short time due to the demands of the job, but other workers actually thrive on the pressure.
“We have some employees who have been here about 10 years, and that’s not easy to find,” McQuarrie says. “If a worker lasts a few months, you know you’ve found a good one, because some people don’t even last two weeks in some of these jobs.”
However, McQuarrie says Frontier Services’ employees deserve a lot of the credit for the company’s ability to maintain a long list of repeat customers.
“Our service and salespeople are responsible for our reputation for strong customer service,” he says. “I’ve seen good salespeople working for bad outfits, but if you have good salespeople and a quality product to sell like ours, that is the key. We’re very proud to provide a good service from good people.”