The maximum gas flow in the safest conditions: That’s the commitment Kodiak Gas Services makes to its customers, and that’s why this Texas-based operation uses Cat® engines, including the G3516J.
“We separate ourselves from rental compression by taking a partnership approach with our customers,” says Kathy Norris, director of business development for Kodiak. “We offer full-service contract compression services, including 24/7 first-call coverage, parts and maintenance. If a customer’s unit shuts down, our satellite alarm notifies us immediately, and we get it operating regardless of whose problem it is. For us, it’s all about the customer’s bottom line.”
The company’s fleet, which is 98% Caterpillar, maintains more than 99% mechanical availability. A key factor in achieving that level of uptime is Caterpillar’s support of Kodiak through its dealer network.
“What we find with Caterpillar and the Cat dealer network is that they are a partner with us,” Norris says. “Between warranty coverage, responsiveness and finding creative solutions to an ever-changing market, there’s not another company out there we trust more.”
Kodiak operates a wide range of Cat engines, predominately focused on the G3500 and G3600 series. The company set its first G3516 engine in January 2012 and currently has more than 600 G3516s in its fleet. The majority of those engines are G3516J models, which feature water-cooled exhaust manifolds that significantly lower surface temperatures without sacrificing horsepower or emissions.
“The G3516J models are operationally flexible, easily installed and produce reliable runtime for Kodiak’s customers,” Norris says. “They are capable of achieving current emissions standards, and Kodiak’s experience has shown that the G3516J is the most reliable and efficiently operated engine in its horsepower class.”
Based on Caterpillar’s continued effort to improve its best-in-class product, Kodiak is currently converting all of its legacy G3516s to the J series, utilizing upgrade kits available through Cat dealers.
“We’ve been very happy with the way the legacy G3516s run,” Norris says, “but we strive to utilize what Caterpillar considers its latest and greatest product.”