In the late 1800's, the citizens of Summerland, California, began producing the numerous springs of crude oil and natural gas that dotted their landscape. After drilling a large number of wells, these early oilmen noticed that those nearest the ocean were the best producers.

In 1887, H. L. Williams came up with the idea of building a wharf and erecting the drilling rig on it. His first “offshore” well extended about 300 feet into the ocean. As expected, it was a good producer and before long, other entrepreneurs built several more wharfs. The longest wharf stretched over 1,200 feet into the Pacific, and thus, “Offshore Production” was born.

By 1910, America had quickly turned to oil as its primary resource when the invention of the combustion engine boosted the consumption of gasoline.

The valves and controls which gauged the flow of oil – nicknamed the “Christmas Tree” – was developed in 1922. In 1925 drilling control instrumentation was developed and in 1926 modern seismology was developed, literally opening the “flood gates” to the offshore production explosion.

The offshore industry, and indeed the oil and gas industry, has been engaged in a mighty battle from various forces such as oil embargos, to OPEC glutting the oil market to the recent devastation dealt by Mother Nature with back-to-back hurricanes, Katrina and Rita.

With the offshore infrastructure virtually in ruins, the resilient industry began the long road to recovery, drop by drop, gallon by gallon and barrel by barrel, and once again, oil companies and their suppliers are bustling at a rate that hasn't been seen since the late 1970's.

Pneumatic and Hydraulic is proud to have played their part in this monumental come back, by stocking the most critical pumps, valves and accessories this industry demands.

Even while Hurricane Katrina was barreling in on New Orleans, while forecasters were predicting gloom and doom for the industry, PHC owners, Mark Mire and Bret Adams were making plans to boost stock levels on the M-series Haskel pump, anticipating large demand of these units due to hurricane damages.

The unprecedented move, bringing in all available M-series pumps, proved to be the best medicine to jump start the recovery, and it is that type of dedication that has propelled Pneumatic and Hydraulic into the role of the dominant pump and valve supplier in the Gulf Coast, as well as the world.