NG Innovations, Inc., of Cross Lanes is Winner in Shale Gas Innovation Contest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
West Virginia Company Among Four Winners In 2014 Shale Gas Innovation Contest
CHARLESTON, WV – NG Innovations of Cross Lanes, West Virginia was among four companies selected as winners in the 3rd Annual Shale Gas Innovation Contest.
The contest, which was held on May 15 in Southpointe, PA, provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs and early-stage companies in southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia to submit business ideas and technology innovations connected to the region’s shale industry. Those ideas are reviewed by a judging panel, and then finalists are given an opportunity to provide pitch presentations.
NG Innovations, Inc. (http://www.nginnovations.com) won a $25,000 award for its “C-FIT” unit that identifies the density and amount of fluid being transported from drill sites, and identifies the loading/unloading points, tracking and date/time stamping truck movement via satellite.
Mike Gardner, CEO of NGInnovations, was thrilled to be chosen as the first winner from West Virginia. “This is a great honor for our company! We’ve worked very hard to provide a product that provides the shale energy producers peace of mind that when frac or produced water leaves their site, it will be handled in an environmentally responsible manner by use of the NGPureTM C-FIT system. It’s exciting that the SGICC was afforded the opportunity to expand the contest to include West Virginia. We want to thank both Bill Hall as well as the Benedum Foundation that provided the center the funding to include our state in the contest. The exposure that we’ve already received has been great.”
More than 80 applicants entered this year’s competition, from which 13 finalists were chosen. Of the 80 applicants, 22 came from 18 companies in West Virginia. Carbon Fiber Composites of Ona also made it to the final round of competition for its “out of autoclave” process to produce lower cost, high strength carbon fiber composites for use in oil and gas applications where corrosion resistance is paramount.
This year’s contest was expanded to include a winner from the state of West Virginia thanks to a grant provided to the Shale Gas Innovation Commercialization Center (SGICC) from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
“TechConnect was pleased to join the SGICC in promoting the contest in the state because it helps to identify and develop shale gas technologies that could potentially turn into jobs for West Virginians,” said Anne Barth, executive director of TechConnect. “I’m proud that we had so many applications and hope there will be even more next year,” she added. TechConnect partnered with the INNOVA Commercialization Group and WVU’s Office of Research & Economic Development to help market the 2014 contest.
Bill Hall, SGICC Director commented, “We were very pleased with the quality of this year’s applications. Reducing from over 80 entries to the 13 finalists was an arduous task. The judges did a fantastic job analyzing all of the applications. The four winners are all impressive examples of innovation on display. These companies identified a challenge the shale energy industry faces and developed impressive solutions ready to be implemented.”
Dante Bonaquist, Senior Corporate Fellow, R&D at Praxair, a sponsor company and judge noted, “Through the Shale Gas Innovation Contest, SGICC brings together a broad range of promising ideas covering production, transportation and utilization. From the technology scouting perspective, there is no better opportunity to see high caliber shale gas related innovations on display at a single event.”
Joe Frantz, Vice President of Engineering for Range Resources-Appalachia was one of the judges at this year’s finals event. He noted, “I’ve worked with SGICC since its inception, and I really enjoyed the engagement in the Innovation Contest this year. Their process used to uncover innovations is a real value for the industry.”
The other three winners are:
- KCF Technologies, Inc. – SmartDiagnostics® wireless sensor system that enables low cost predictive maintenance for rotating O&G Equipment
- OPTIMUM Pumping Technology – High-performance manifolds for reciprocating NG compressors that eliminates pulsation control bottles and their vibration-related failures, and significantly improving compressor reliability and operating efficiency
- TM Industrial Supply- Filtration technology to effectively separate for removal the NGL’s and other contaminates from natural gas through the use of their Gas Flow Membrane Technology
The winning companies each received a check for $25,000. The entire list of the 13 finalists with technology descriptions can be found at: http://www.sgicc.org/shale-gas-innovation-contest.html
The sponsors for this year’s contest were: Ben Franklin Technology Partners (http://www.benfranklin.org), ANGA (www.anga.us), Aquatech (www.Aquatech.com), Baker Hughes (www.bakerhughes.com),
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (www.cabotog.com), CONSOL Energy (www.consolenergy.com), Chesapeake Energy (www.chk.com), Chevron (http://www.chevron.com/ctv/), EQT (www.eqt.com), First National Bank (www.fnb-online.com ), GE Oil & Gas (http://www.ge-energy.com), Little Pine Resources (http://littlepineresources.com), the Marcellus Shale Coalition (http://marcelluscoalition.org), PPG Industries (www.ppg.com) , Praxair (www.praxair.com), Range Resources (www.rangeresources.com), Seneca Resources (www.natfuel.com/seneca), and Williams (www.williamsinthenortheast.com).