A major oilfield company in Drumheller shut its doors on Monday morning leaving some employees out of work.
Word spread early Monday, April 14, that employees were being sent home and by afternoon, it appeared the company’s yard in the HyGrade Industrial Park was locked and only contained fleet vehicles.
The Mail received a statement from a Baker Hughes spokesperson that read, “It is never easy to close a facility. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that our parting and retained employees have been treated fair through this process. The change is about consolidating our business to meet the needs of our customers.”
The Drumheller Baker Hughes facility in the Hy-Grade Industrial Park. A spokesperson for Baker Hughes said it is never easy to close a facility, referring to changes to its operations in Drumheller.
At press time, it was not known how many local employees or contractors would be affected. Calls to the local office were met with a busy signal.
The Mail also learned the company’s Medicine Hat operations were closed on the same day. According to a Medicine Hat News report, about 200 employees were paid a severance or offered a transfer.
Baker Hughes is an oilfield service company with a 100-year history with operations in more than 80 countries. It is based in Houston.
