Denver, CO & Oklahoma City, OK – Jan. 15, 2013 – In its eighth acquisition in four years, Frontier Energy Group, LLC has purchased Oklahoma City-based Canary Wellhead as part of the company’s strategy to buy highly regarded oilfield service (OFS) brands that expand the company’s footprint and service offerings. Effective today, the Canary Wellhead will operate under the name Canary, LLC (www.canaryusa.com), headquartered in Denver.

The multi-million dollar agreement creates a $100 million revenue company with 26 locations across the United States, servicing customers in every major shale oil and gas region. Already the largest OFS provider in North Dakota’s Bakken, the transaction makes the new company one of the largest privately held OFS companies in the nation.

“Canary Wellhead enables Frontier to further its acquisition strategy to operate in all major plays and provides our customers with one-stop shopping and in-house design and build capabilities,” says Frontier CEO Dan Eberhart. “The new Canary will compete nationally with the biggest multinationals, while still providing the high level of care and attention that our customers have come to expect.”

The acquisition joins two long-standing companies with more than 50 years of industry expertise, and is expected to boost the new company’s profitability by 50 percent. Canary LLC’s customer base will approximate 900 customers of all sizes, including such brands as Hess, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips. CEO Dan Eberhart will lead Canary, LLC with Canary Wellhead officers, Lynn Blevins and Jim Chappell, joining the new team as vice presidents.

“This deal is a great win for our customers, who will benefit from the new Canary’s fully turnkey services, and we’re excited to be a part of the new company,” said Blevins. “Our combined expertise will help Canary maintain consistent and exceptional service, and we look forward to helping our customers have a successful 2013.”

About Canary, LLC

Based in Denver, Colo., Canary LLC provides comprehensive oilfield drilling and production services to oil & gas companies throughout the United States. Canary is one of the nation’s largest independently held oil field services (OFS) companies. With 26 locations, Canary operates in every major shale oil & gas region in the United States, including North Dakota’s Bakken, Colorado’s Niobrara, Oklahoma’s Woodford and Ohio’s Utica. Canary LLC offers turnkey services to its customers for all of their drilling & production needs.

Last week, a ribbon cutting was held at Frontier’s new accounting office, located at the former Bank of Colorado building, 201 S. Third Street. Joining Dan Eberhart, chief executive officer for Frontier, to celebrate the expanding of Sterling’s presence were Congressman Cory Gardner, Frontier staff, Luft Machine staff, clients and community leaders.

Frontier’s three new 2012 operation locations have spurred even more growth, and as a result, they’ve hired additional staff, more than doubling office staff in the area. To accommodate the growing staff, larger office space was necessary.

“We’ve found Sterling and Logan County just very welcoming to us,” Eberhart said. “We find this to be an area where there’s quality talent that we can get at affordable prices and there’s room to continue to expand an accounting office.”

Gardner expressed his excitement about Frontier’s growing presence in Sterling and it’s impact on northeastern Colorado.

“I’ve been fighting for jobs in eastern Colorado and economic opportunity, and when you have a chance to celebrate the opening of a business that’s creating jobs here and creating energy here, it’s a good day for Colorado,” he said.

Frontier employs approximately 175 people.

Gardner also spoke about the importance of relying less on other countries for energy.

“Creating energy, not just in Colorado, but energy in the western United States has led to these jobs,” he said.

Frontier completed light renovations to their new building before finishing the move-in on Monday, Dec. 3.

Less than a mile away from it’s shop, Frontier’s new 9,000 square foot location is a two-story building featuring two vaults and office space for approximately 30 employees.

The office phone number remains (970) 522-4761.

Frontier’s new office space means improved customer service, new amenities for employees and room for growth.

“Mike Kerker’s family founded Cable, Inc. on Front Street in the 1950s. Since then, Frontier has enjoyed success thus far in Sterling and looks forward to their future endeavors,” Eberhart said. “The new facility will help accommodate the company’s growth, which has been significant over the past few years. This move should help us improve internal and external communication, and most importantly our speed in responding to customers.”

Frontier believes Sterling is a great place for business and offers benefits that are difficult to replicate in other places. Sterling is an ideal location with Northeastern Junior College providing a well-trained workforce, the company said.

“We have a good record of stability here in terms of, we hire someone and we train them, they stay,” Eberhart said. “ It’s a really important thing for a business, because if you’re constantly hiring and training people that leave, it’s very frustrating.”

He said that’s something that happens to them a lot in North Dakota: People go medium and large companies for training and once they’re trained a small company snatches them away.

“The new office underscores our commitment to employees, vendors and regional businesses,” said Don Pfister, Frontier’s chief operating officer. “This project includes an investment in improved infrastructure for Frontier and allows us to provide better service for our customers.”

All of Frontier’s 20 locations are in the western U.S., including three in Sterling. Frontier Petroleum Services has a shop location for hydro-test and slickline services and another location for oil tools. Recently expanded Luft Machine, LLC, Frontier’s fabrication subsidiary, continues to thrive in Sterling as well.

“We were fortunate to find a great space so close to our current office. We worked hard to limit the impact the relocation could have on our customers and our employees,” Eberhart said. “The new location and enhanced facilities will help us continue to grow and evolve to keep pace with our customer’s needs.”

He pointed out that with the office already here, as well as the manufacturing and two other locations, “it’s kind of a critical mass and it’s easier to make it a bigger hub for us.”

“It’s close to Denver, it’s close to North Dakota, but we don’t have to deal with the externalities of being in North Dakota,” Eberhart said. “We just find it very welcoming.

“We want to continue on the success that we’ve had here. We intend to continue expanding here.”

Frontier provides comprehensive drilling and production services to oil and gas companies throughout the western U.S. Frontier Energy Group, LLC, is the parent company of Frontier Wellhead & Supply, LLC, with operational headquarters based in Watford City, N.D.

Together with Frontier Hot Oil, LLC, Frontier Pressure Testing, LLC, in Williston, N.D., as well as Frontier Petroleum Services, LLC, and Luft Machine, LLC, in Colorado, these companies provide a one-stop oilfield drilling and production service company.

Services include wellhead equipment sales and installation, frac equipment rental, wireline and sickline, pressure testing, fishing and rental tools, and oilfield fabrication.

Frontier is dedicated to the growing needs of its 500 plus customers, by growing both organically and via strategic acquisitions with service in North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, Utah and California, from 20 locations.

To learn more about the company, visit www.feg.net.

Callie Jones: (970) 526-9286; cjones@journal-advocate.com. Follow @CJones _JA on Twitter.

Frontier announces plans for a major expansion in Sterling, resulting in more than doubling office staff in the area.  Frontier recently purchased the 9,000 square foot location from the Bank of Colorado.  The 2-story building features two vaults and office space for approximately thirty employees.  The new address for Frontier is 201 S 3^rd St, Sterling, CO 80751, less than a mile away from its shop location.  The office phone number remains (970) 522-4761.  The new office space means improved customer service, new amenities for employees, and room for growth.

“Mike Kerker’s family founded Cable, Inc. on Front St. in the 1950s. Since then, Frontier has enjoyed success thus far in Sterling and looks forward to their future endeavors.  The new facility will help accommodate the company’s growth, which has been significant over the past few years,” explained Chief Executive Officer Dan Eberhart.  “The location on Front St. served Frontier well for many years and we hope to continue to use it as our shop space. This move should help us improve internal and external communication, and most importantly our speed in responding to customers’.”

The company believes Sterling is a great place for business and offers benefits that are difficult to replicate in other places. Sterling is an ideal location with Northeastern Junior College providing a well-trained workforce

“The new office underscores our commitment to employees, vendors, and regional businesses,” said Don Pfister, Frontier’s Chief Operating Officer.  “This project includes an investment in improved infrastructure for Frontier and allows us to provide better service for our customers.”

All of Frontier’s twenty locations are in the Western US, including three in Sterling.  Frontier Petroleum Services has a shop location for Hydro-test & Slickline services and another location for Oil Tools.  Recently expanded, Luft Machine, LLC, Frontier’s fabrication subsidiary, continues to thrive in Sterling as well.

“We were fortunate to find a great space so close to our current office.  We worked hard to limit the impact the relocation could have on our customers and our employees,” said Eberhart.  “The new location and enhanced facilities will help us continue to grow and evolve to keep pace with our customer’s needs.”

Frontier completed light renovations before completing the move-in on Monday, December 3.

The ribbon cutting brought together Frontier staff, Luft Machine staff, clients, and community leaders to celebrate Frontier’s expanded Sterling presence.

About Frontier Energy Group, LLC

Frontier provides comprehensive oilfield drilling & production services to oil & gas companies throughout the Western US. Frontier Energy Group, LLC is the parent company of Frontier Wellhead & Supply, LLC with operational headquarters based in Watford City, ND. Together with Frontier Hot Oil, LLC, Frontier Pressure Testing, LLC in Williston, ND as well as Frontier Petroleum Services, LLC and Luft Machine, LLC in Colorado, these companies provide a one-stop oilfield drilling & production service company. Services include: wellhead equipment sales & installation, frac equipment rental, wireline & slickline, pressure testing, fishing & rental tools, and oilfield fabrication. Frontier is dedicated to the growing needs of its 500 plus customers by growing both organically and via strategic acquisitions with service in ND, CO, WY, NE, MT, UT & CA from twenty locations.  To learn more about the company, please visit www.feg.net.

According to NJC President Jay Lee, enrollment was down six full-time equivalent (FTE) students in the summer and for fall 2012 it’s down 84.3 FTE students compared to last year at this time — an 11.8 percent drop.

For the spring 2013 semester, as of Monday NJC was down 88.1 FTE students compared to last year at this time. There are currently 389.7 FTE students registered.

“We’ve got a ways to go yet in the spring, but we also have a lot of registration still to happen,” Lee said.

He’s hopeful, based on past years, that between now and the start of the spring semester on Jan. 23, they will get about 200 more students enrolled.

Overall, NJC is long way from the 1,410 FTE students they built this year’s budget on. At this point, Lee said there looking at a 12 percent decline in enrollment, as opposed to the 4 percent decline they had expected.

“That’s a pretty significant impact in terms of the tuition revenue that we would be generating,” Lee said. “That’s why we’ve been having the conversations about new programs and new things or different things we could be doing to increase enrollment.”

In addition to new academic programs, NJC has been talking about adding women’s soccer to their athletic programs.

Lee explained that Stanton Gartin, vice president of academic services, in preparing the budget and working with the Perkins Fund, set aside funds with the idea of identifying a new or offshoot program, that will allow the college to bring in a new student body base.

The money would be available for them to put the infrastructure of the program in place in spring 2013 and actually start the program in fall 2013.

During the Advisory Council’s discussion, council member Carol Klein asked about the oil lease activity going on in this area and if companies coming in would be interested in partnering with NJC to develop a program.

Council member Rich O’Connell, former executive director of Logan County Economic Development Corporation, said there are a lot of oil facility companies hiring people to fill higher skilled positions.

He mentioned Frontier Energy Group, LLC. Lee said he met with the company and there wasn’t anything specific the company was looking for in terms of a program.

Bob Carpio asked about ethanol companies.

“We’re just not hearing anything that they need from an educational standpoint, at least at this point in time,” Lee said. “It certainly warrants further investigation, I think, on our part. It’s a little bit like Frontier in terms of, we know they’re there, but we’re not hearing from them and we’re not getting any indication that they need anything from an educational program perspective.”

He said he’s talked with O’Connell about an industrial maintenance program.

“We sense that there’s an interest and a need out there,” Lee said.

O’Connell suggested the college work with the governor’s office and the state. He pointed out that the state has identified 15 industry clusters, including manufacturing, and is actively recruiting industries that fall into those groups.

E-journalism was another topic that came up. Andy Long, dean of enrollment and student transition, said a social media journalism program could be an option considering the rise in professional bloggers, people that do Podcasts and so on.

Council member David Foy suggested looking at something related to healthcare.

“It’s exploding all over the place,” he said of the industry.

Foy pointed to the requirement that all medical records need to be electronic by 2014 and the need for people to do coding for that.

Mertens asked about a program teaching students how to start their own small business.

Foy noted NJC already has that to a degree with the Back to College program, which was offered again this year. El Pomar granted NJC another round of funding that is allowing 19 people to take a two-credit hour small business management course this semester. Those students will then create a business plan and be judged on them in January.

“I think that one could grow,” said Cyndi Vandenbark, who is in charge of the program.

NJC also offers an entrepreneurship emphasis as part of their business program.

Other topics that came up included a barbering program, a small engine repair program and another renewable energy program, in addition to the wind technician program.

Mertens suggested that in addition to new programs, the college should be looking at other ways to attract new students, such as having current students encourage friends and people they know to enroll at NJC.

Lee said they do see that with athletic students.

He made it clear that before NJC starts any program, they will do extensive research on student demand, employment demand, wages, gainful employment and so on.

Lee said some of the programs they’ve looked at aren’t options because there isn’t necessarily gainful employment for people that may go through them. Also, some programs, such as veterinary technician or dental hygiene, would be very expensive to start.

Callie Jones: (970) 526-9286; cjones@journal-advocate.com. Follow @CJones _JA on Twitter.

Williston, ND, November, 12 2012 – As the economy continues to boom in the Bakken, Frontier Energy Group, LLC CEO Dan Eberhart says that newcomers need to be aware of the region’s unique challenges.
“We’ve known about the Bakken for close to 50 years now, but due to a combination of factors – such as improved knowledge of the area, better infrastructure, and new developments in extraction technology –the area has exploded in the last two decades,” Eberhart says.

In recent years, the amount of rigs in the Bakken has increased dramatically, and the area has been drawing a steady mix of newcomers as well as companies who left the Bakken during the ‘80s and ‘90s but are now looking for a way back in. While the boom of the past 20 years has been good for the economy in North Dakota – particularly in Williston, which is strategically located in the center of the Bakken formation – the renewed interest in the Bakken has also created some unique challenges.

Worker Housing: Plan Early

One of the most pressing challenges in the Williston Basin, Eberhart says, is worker recruitment and housing.

“Due to the recent activity in the Bakken, the city of Williston has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country – and that’s a good thing. A great thing, really,” says Eberhart. “The challenge is that there aren’t enough available workers living in Williston. Each rig requires around 80 workers, which means that a lot of companies are bringing workers in from out of state. And this leads to another challenge: Once you get the workers here, where are they going to live?”
Recently, Williston has gained national media attention due to its housing shortage, brought on by a sudden influx of workers from other parts of the country. Eberhart says that anyone thinking of recruiting out-of-state workers needs to have a housing plan well before they start hiring new people.

“It’s critical that you plan for housing as early as possible,” Eberhart says. “If you don’t get your housing ready, your crew could end up in motels. I’m not exaggerating. I’ve heard stories about guys sleeping in their pick-ups out there. That’s not necessarily the best way to inspire employee morale, or keep a trained workforce.”

To ensure that new recruits have a warm, comfortable place to stay, Eberhart recommends investing in portable housing (such as well-insulated mobile homes) or buying out entire hotels or motels.

Drilling Methods: Don’t Blaze New Trails

Another challenge area in the Bakken is the method of drilling, Eberhart says. Many newcomers to the area try to come up with new ways of dealing with the area’s unique drilling challenges. This is unnecessary, says Eberhart. Instead, he says, it’s better to learn by example:

“Don’t start from square one. Learn from the crews that have been doing this for the last decade. Talk to the guys that have been drilling for the last decade − they know what works,” he says. “You’re not walking into unexplored territory, so there’s no need to try to trailblaze. Use the knowledge and resources that are there, or you’ll spend months trying to rediscover the techniques that everyone else is already using.”
For those new to the Bakken, Eberhart recommends the following resources as a starting point:

• Join the North Dakota Petroleum Council.
• Attend the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference
• Visit the North Dakota Industrial Commission, Department of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Division. This site is an excellent source of information, such as well data; case files; production and injection volumes; and whitepapers on a variety of topics.

About Frontier Energy Group, LLC

Frontier provides comprehensive oilfield drilling and production services to oil and gas companies throughout the Western United States. Frontier Energy Group, LLC, is the parent company of Frontier Wellhead & Supply, LLC, with operational headquarters based in Watford City, North Dakota. Together with Frontier Hot Oil, LLC; Frontier Pressure Testing, LLC in Williston, North Dakota; as well as Cable, LLC and Luft Machine, LLC in Colorado; Frontier provides a one-stop oilfield drilling and production service company. To learn more about the company, visit www.feg.net.

“This new building will give us three times more space than we have in our current location,” says Dan Eberhart, Chief Executive Officer at Frontier. “More space means that we’ll have more room for wellhead components and frac-trees on-site – which means that we’ll be able to serve our customers more efficiently.”

Frontier Energy Group, LLC has been expanding rapidly in the past year, Eberhart says.

“We’re getting ready to wrap up renovations on an expanded facility in Sterling, Colorado, and we’re also planning a new location in Casper, Wyoming,” he says. “On top of that, we’re working on rebuilding a Hot Oil facility in Sydney, Montana. It’s going to be a busy year for us.”

About Frontier Energy Group, LLC

Frontier provides comprehensive oilfield drilling and production services to oil and gas companies throughout the Western United States. Frontier Energy Group, LLC, is the parent company of Frontier Wellhead & Supply, LLC, with operational headquarters based in Watford City, North Dakota. Together with Frontier Hot Oil, LLC; Frontier Pressure Testing, LLC in Williston, North Dakota; as well as Cable, LLC and Luft Machine, LLC in Colorado; Frontier provides a one-stop oilfield drilling and production service company. To learn more about the company, visit www.feg.net.

Denver, CO, October 29, 2012 – As debates continue about federal regulations on hydraulic fracturing – better known as “fracking” – North Dakota & Colorado-focused Frontier Energy Group, LLC CEO resident Dan Eberhart recently wrote an editorial in support of state-level regulations.

The editorial, outlines Eberhart’s support for fracking regulations on a state level, rather than a federal level.

“Increased government regulations could also increase our dependence on foreign energy sources and cost state and federal governments billions of dollars in tax revenues,” Eberhart writes.  “Adding unnecessary federal regulations presupposes that the states do not care or are incapable of regulating their own fracking operations.  This assumption is simply untrue.”

Eberhart says he wrote the editorial because he wanted to address the commonly held assumption that opposition to federal regulation was the same as opposing all regulation.

“There’s a misconception out there that this comes down to a choice between federal regulation or no regulation at all,” Eberhart says.  “The common perception is that if you’re not in favor of the EPA, you must be advocating for a free-for-all, where oil & gas companies lay waste to the environment, with no regard for the long-term consequences.  This is just not the case.”

Eberhart points to Colorado – which passed its own extensive fracking regulations slated to go into effect in 2013 – as an example of effective state-level regulations.

“States are better equipped and more qualified to regulate fracking in their own backyards than a one-size-fits all solution,” Eberhart says.

About Frontier Energy Group, LLC

Frontier provides comprehensive oilfield drilling and production services to oil and gas companies throughout the Western United States.  Frontier Energy Group, LLC, is the parent company of Frontier Wellhead & Supply, LLC, with operational headquarters based in Watford City, North Dakota.  Together with Frontier Hot Oil, LLC; Frontier Pressure Testing, LLC in Williston, North Dakota; as well as Cable, LLC and Luft Machine, LLC in Colorado; Frontier provides a one-stop oilfield drilling and production service company.  To learn more about the company, visit www.feg.net.

“We are thrilled to be a recipient of this year’s Energy Circle award,” said Dan K. Eberhart, Chief Executive Officer at Frontier.  “The Energy Epicenter helps shape Colorado’s oil & gas industry, and this year’s event was no different. This award really means a lot to all of us at Frontier.”

The Energy Epicenter conference is sponsored by COGA, and it is one of the longest-running conferences of its kind in the United States.  The theme of this year’s Energy Epicenter was “Join the Energy Revolution: Technology, Economy and the Public.”  The conference, which took place from August 13-16, featured networking opportunities, panel discussions, and executive forums with a focus on topics related to technology, public information, and economic concerns in the oil and gas industry.

Keynote speakers at the event included Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson.

As we have since moving to Denver, we will continue to make important contributions for Colorado’s oil & gas industry.  Frontier is already planning on attending the 2013 Energy Epicenter conference.

“We wouldn’t miss it,” he says.  “This is one of our favorite conferences – it’s really a must for anyone in the industry.  We’ll definitely be back.”

“We’re extremely proud of this award,” said Dan K. Eberhart, Chief Executive Officer of Frontier.  “There were thousands of exhibitors at this event, and we feel honored to be chosen as this year’s winner.  I couldn’t ask for a better ending to a really great event.”

The Energy Exposition and Symposium is the largest energy trade show in the Rocky Mountain region.  The three-day expo – which took place at The Wyoming Center in Gillette, Wyoming – drew participants from more than 250 energy-related companies in 32 states and 2 provinces.  The event also attracted around 4,500 attendees.  The expo is composed of energy-related panel discussions, vendor presentations, and speeches by leaders in the oil and gas industry.

This year’s event culminated in a talk by keynote speaker Liz Cheney, the daughter of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.

This is the first time that Frontier has attended the Expo.  Eberhart says the company is already making plans for a booth at next year’s event.

“This is an outstanding event, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Expo,” said Eberhart.  “We’ll definitely be back again next year.  It’s a great opportunity for anyone in the oil and gas industry.”

To learn more about the upcoming 2013 Energy Exposition and Symposium, visit  www.energyexposition.com.

About Frontier Energy Group, LLC

Frontier provides comprehensive oilfield drilling and production services to oil and gas companies throughout the Western United States.  Frontier Energy Group, LLC, is the parent company of Frontier Wellhead & Supply, LLC, with operational headquarters based in Watford City, North Dakota.  Together with Frontier Hot Oil, LLC; Frontier Pressure Testing, LLC in Williston, North Dakota; as well as Cable, LLC and Luft Machine, LLC in Colorado; Frontier provides a one-stop oilfield drilling and production service company.  To learn more about the company, visit www.feg.net.

Denver, CO, May 17, 2012 – Frontier Energy Group, LLC was one of more than 215 exhibitors participating in the 3rd annual Developing Unconventional Oil (DUO) Reservoirs Conference & Exhibition.

The three-day event, which is organized by Hart Energy, took place at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.  The theme of this year’s DUO conference was “Geology, Technology, and Economics of Oil Resource Plays.”  There was a special emphasis on issues related to the Niobara and Bakken shale plays.

“This is one of the most important conferences of the year, and we are very glad that we participated,” says David Vigil, Bakken Regional Manager at Frontier.  “I learned a lot, and I had a great time.  I’d highly recommend it to anyone in the industry.”

Frontier was proud to host the keynote speaker, Former U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum.  Senator Rick Santorum discussed unleashing America’s energy.  Santorum explained, “We need to expand domestic innovations and energy resources.”

DUO kicked off on May 14th and included panel discussions, demonstrations, and vendor booths.  The event drew a diverse mix of participants and attendees, including operators, geoscientists, and economists.  Keynote speakers included Joel Walls, a noted geophysicist and founder of Petrophysical Services, Inc.; Lee K. Boothby, chairman, president, and CEO of Newfield Exploration Co.; James J. Volker, chairman and CEO of Whiting Petroleum Corp.; and special guest speaker Gale A. Norton, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Event organizers estimated that this year’s DUO conference drew more than 2,500 attendees and more than 30 speakers from the energy industry.

For more information about the event, visit www.dugbakken.com.

About Hart Energy

Houston-based Hart Energy is one of the largest energy publishers in the world.  The company is known for publishing several respected magazines, including Oil and Gas Investor; E & P; Midstream Business; and FUEL.   For more information, visit www.hartenergy.com.

About Frontier Energy Group, LLC

Frontier provides comprehensive oilfield drilling and production services to oil and gas companies throughout the Western United States.  Frontier Energy Group, LLC, is the parent company of Frontier Wellhead & Supply, LLC, with operational headquarters based in Watford City, North Dakota.  Together with Frontier Hot Oil, LLC; Frontier Pressure Testing, LLC in Williston, North Dakota; as well as Cable, LLC and Luft Machine, LLC in Colorado; Frontier provides a one-stop oilfield drilling and production service company.  To learn more about the company, visit www.feg.net.