Company

What We're About

Our Motivation

What Drives Our Organization


We are positively impacting the economics, security and environmental implications of global energy production.

Our Purpose

The reason we exist.

To secure global energy needs in an economically and environmentally sustainable way.

Our Vision

The goal of our purpose.

To enable all people to have access to affordable heat, fuel, electricity and produced goods while maintaining a healthy environment for ourselves and future generations.

Our Mission

The path to our purpose and the behaviors we follow.

To help our clients increase the production and recovery of natural gas from their existing wells with minimal human and capital resources and minimal environmental impact.

It's Truly Uplifting

We minimize the need for costly human and capital resources by providing a comprehensive End2End natural gas service enabled by our subsurface compressor systems.


We minimize environmental impact by mitigating the need to drill and frack new natural gas wells, eliminating the need to operate surface wellhead compressors, and maintaining our carbon neutrality as a company.

Our Story

How We're Positively Impacting the Economics, Energy Security and Environmental Implications of Global Energy Production


Our Foundation

Wise Beyond Our Years


Upwing Energy, a leading gas-tech innovator and service company, is an innovative offshoot of Calnetix Technologies, formed to focus on the production of hydrocarbons. Calnetix is a recognized industry leader in high-speed systems, supplying high-speed permanent magnet motors and generators, magnetic bearings and variable speed drives (VSDs) over the past two decades to a wide variety of industries throughout the world. The company's product portfolio includes electric drive systems for offshore and subsea oil and gas applications.

Our Facility

Our Intellectual Property

Our Health and Safety

Our Facility

facility

Upwing Energy’s headquarters, engineering and manufacturing facility is co-located with affiliate company Calnetix Technologies on a seven-acre campus in Cerritos, California.

Upwing Energy headquarters has a state-of-the-art test facility for its Subsurface Compressor System™ (SCS). Test cells are used to verify and validate the unique operating conditions of SCS. Upwing engineers use bench testing and containment rigs to validate each module independently, measure system performance and functionally test full assemblies. Upwing also has a test well and flow loop to simulate downhole conditions with flow rates up to 1 million SCFD and the ability to boost rates further on demand. This functional testing allows for the creation of a unique performance map that can be used for diagnostic and prognostic health monitoring, once the unit is installed in a client’s well.

Upwing’s Texas office, located just west of the Energy Corridor in Houston, serves as a base for the company’s field operations personnel and technical inventory. 

Our Intellectual Property

Intellectual property

Upwing Energy has been granted core technology patents by affiliate company Calnetix Technologies for exclusive use in the downhole rotating space. These core technologies include permanent magnet (PM) machines, magnetic bearings, variable speed drives (VSD) and system level controls. Other intellectual property provided by Calnetix includes proprietary PM design tools and manufacturing processes. In addition, Upwing has filed its own system level and application related patents for downhole rotating devices, including for its Subsurface Compressor Systems (SCS) and Magnetic Drive Systems (MDS). The company has been issued 46 U.S. patents and 9 foreign patents to date with additional filings approved or pending.

Our Health and Safety

health and safety

Upwing Energy is dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of all employees and visitors in our facility. Upwing has a standing safety committee to address safety concerns and maintain OSHA compliance on our campus. All Upwing employees receive extensive training on emergency evacuation procedures, safety precautions, identified hazards and necessary personal protective equipment instructions. All visitors are informed of the necessary safety protocols and procedures during their visit.

Our Facility

Upwing Energy’s headquarters, engineering and manufacturing facility is co-located with affiliate company Calnetix Technologies on a seven-acre campus in Cerritos, California.

Upwing Energy headquarters has a state-of-the-art test facility for its Subsurface Compressor System™ (SCS). Test cells are used to verify and validate the unique operating conditions of SCS. Upwing engineers use bench testing and containment rigs to validate each module independently, measure system performance and functionally test full assemblies. Upwing also has a test well and flow loop to simulate downhole conditions with flow rates up to 1 million SCFD and the ability to boost rates further on demand. This functional testing allows for the creation of a unique performance map that can be used for diagnostic and prognostic health monitoring, once the unit is installed in a client’s well.

Upwing’s Texas office, located just west of the Energy Corridor in Houston, serves as a base for the company’s field operations personnel and technical inventory. 

Our Intellectual Property

Upwing Energy has been granted core technology patents by affiliate company Calnetix Technologies for exclusive use in the downhole rotating space. These core technologies include permanent magnet (PM) machines, magnetic bearings, variable speed drives (VSD) and system level controls. Other intellectual property provided by Calnetix includes proprietary PM design tools and manufacturing processes. In addition, Upwing has filed its own system level and application related patents for downhole rotating devices, including for its Subsurface Compressor Systems (SCS) and Magnetic Drive Systems (MDS). The company has been issued 46 U.S. patents and 9 foreign patents to date with additional filings approved or pending.

Our Health and Safety

Upwing Energy is dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of all employees and visitors in our facility. Upwing has a standing safety committee to address safety concerns and maintain OSHA compliance on our campus. All Upwing employees receive extensive training on emergency evacuation procedures, safety precautions, identified hazards and necessary personal protective equipment instructions. All visitors are informed of the necessary safety protocols and procedures during their visit.

Our Leadership

David and Herman winning OTC Spotlight Award
Herman

Herman Artinian

President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Artinian has 30 years of experience in domestic and international business development/management and specializes in creating profitable business growth by identifying and developing disruptive technologies in the energy sector. He successfully formed and increased the shareholder value of multiple start-up companies while previously serving as the Executive Vice President of Calnetix Technologies. From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Artinian was the Managing Director of Access Energy, a Calnetix subsidiary, where he was responsible for multiple global licensing deals. From 2006 to 2009, he was the Vice President of Business Development for Calnetix spin-off Direct Drive Systems (DDS), and played a major role in its acquisition by FMC Technologies in 2009. He holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Worry never accomplishes anything. When you have a problem, it is best to concentrate on the solution to that problem, not the problem itself.
Thomas D. Willhite
Pat Speaking
Pat

Patrick McMullen

Chief Technical Officer

Mr. McMullen has 35 years of experience in the magnetic devices field for high-speed equipment. Prior to joining Upwing Energy, he co-founded parent company Calnetix Technologies, where he served as the Chief Technical Officer and was the key subject matter expert on all of Calnetix’s technologies and integration capabilities. He played a major role in identifying, evaluating, developing, acquiring and selling IP for all Calnetix spin-off companies, including Upwing. While at Calnetix, he also led the formation of VYCON, another Calnetix subsidiary, and served as its Chief Technical Officer from 2003 to 2013. Prior to the establishment of Calnetix, Mr. McMullen was the Vice President of Research and Development at Avcon, Inc. He is the author of multiple patents and publications in high-speed turbomachinery and holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Thomas Edison
Kristen at SPE
Kristen

Kristen Frey

Chief Marketing & People Officer

Ms. Frey has 20 years of experience defining marketing and organizational strategies and evaluating emerging markets. She specializes in driving external communications efforts for early stage companies that effectively differentiate their market positioning, while building out and managing their internal operations infrastructure and talent to support organic growth. Before joining Upwing, Ms. Frey served as the Director of Marketing for Calnetix Technologies and its subsidiaries VYCON, Access Energy and Direct Drive Systems (DDS) from 2008 to 2016. She was instrumental in the sale and transition of DDS to FMC Technologies in 2009. Previously, Ms. Frey held multiple marketing, operations and communications management roles in the oil and gas industry, including positions with venture-capital backed ORYXE Energy, Gulf Oil, Conocophillips, Tosco and Mobil Oil. Ms. Frey holds an MBA from California State University, Long Beach and a B.A. in Public Relations from the University of Georgia.

Creativity is intelligence having fun.
Albert Einstein
Bilal and team at a team celebration
Bilal Said

Bilal Said

VP of Engineering and Product Development

Mr. Said has over 25 years of experience in product strategy and development across multiple market segments and functions. Before joining Upwing, he was the Senior Vice President of Products at Testek Solutions, where he led product strategy, implemented business and organizational processes and was responsible for profitability from proposal to commissioning. While at Testek Solutions, he also served as Vice President of System Engineering, where he specialized in design and development strategy and product portfolio optimization. Prior to that, Mr. Said worked at Eaton Corporation, spending his tenure implementing manufacturing strategy, leading innovation planning and execution and instituting product roadmaps, while holding a variety of chief engineering and management roles. He holds an Executive MBA and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Wichita State University and an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Queens University of Belfast, UK.

Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got up.
Nelson Mandela
Team at wellsite
David

David Biddick

Director of Technical Field Operations

Mr. Biddick has 15 years of experience in product development and project management. Prior to joining Upwing, he was the Project Manager for Integrated Completions at Schlumberger, where he was responsible for managing mechanical and electrical engineering, manufacturing and supply chain teams in the U.S. and Europe and developing reservoir monitoring and flow control technology into the first fully electric integrated downhole system. Previously at Schlumberger, he was the Technical Champion for Core Completions in Asia and the Business Development Manager, Completions for Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. Prior to that, Mr. Biddick spent 7 years on Schlumberger’s Completions Team in Houston, advancing from Design Engineer to Project Manager to Team Lead. He is the author of multiple patents and holds a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.

You can never know everything, and part of what you know is always wrong. Perhaps even the most important part. A portion of wisdom lies in knowing that. A portion of courage lies in going on anyway.
Robert Jordan
Offsite management meeting 2023
Ashend Leadership Profile

Ashend Singh

Controller

Mr. Singh has 24 years of global experience in managing finance and initiating process improvements within manufacturing and service organizations. Before joining Upwing, he was the Controller at Royal Truck Body, a business unit of the SHYFT Group, where he managed the finance department and all internal and external stakeholders, implemented internal control policies and procedures and executed an operational KPI matrix that is now deployed across all SHYFT business units. Prior to that, Mr. Singh worked at ATPI Voyager as the Head of Finance, in charge of overseeing successful integration of a newly acquired business, rolling out new processes in relation to pricing models and developing P&L’s by state and business units. He holds a Bachelor of Business with a focus on Accounting and Commercial Law from Swinburne University, Melbourne.

We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?
Steve Jobs
Our Leadership

Mr. Artinian has 30 years of experience in domestic and international business development/management and specializes in creating profitable business growth by identifying and developing disruptive technologies in the energy sector. He successfully formed and increased the shareholder value of multiple start-up companies while previously serving as the Executive Vice President of Calnetix Technologies. From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Artinian was the Managing Director of Access Energy, a Calnetix subsidiary, where he was responsible for multiple global licensing deals. From 2006 to 2009, he was the Vice President of Business Development for Calnetix spin-off Direct Drive Systems (DDS), and played a major role in its acquisition by FMC Technologies in 2009. He holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles.

President & Chief Executive Officer
Thomas D. Willhite
Worry never accomplishes anything. When you have a problem, it is best to concentrate on the solution to that problem, not the problem itself.

Herman Artinian

David and Herman winning OTC Spotlight Award
Herman

Mr. McMullen has 35 years of experience in the magnetic devices field for high-speed equipment. Prior to joining Upwing Energy, he co-founded parent company Calnetix Technologies, where he served as the Chief Technical Officer and was the key subject matter expert on all of Calnetix’s technologies and integration capabilities. He played a major role in identifying, evaluating, developing, acquiring and selling IP for all Calnetix spin-off companies, including Upwing. While at Calnetix, he also led the formation of VYCON, another Calnetix subsidiary, and served as its Chief Technical Officer from 2003 to 2013. Prior to the establishment of Calnetix, Mr. McMullen was the Vice President of Research and Development at Avcon, Inc. He is the author of multiple patents and publications in high-speed turbomachinery and holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

Chief Technical Officer
Thomas Edison
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.

Patrick McMullen

Pat Speaking
Pat

Ms. Frey has 20 years of experience defining marketing and organizational strategies and evaluating emerging markets. She specializes in driving external communications efforts for early stage companies that effectively differentiate their market positioning, while building out and managing their internal operations infrastructure and talent to support organic growth. Before joining Upwing, Ms. Frey served as the Director of Marketing for Calnetix Technologies and its subsidiaries VYCON, Access Energy and Direct Drive Systems (DDS) from 2008 to 2016. She was instrumental in the sale and transition of DDS to FMC Technologies in 2009. Previously, Ms. Frey held multiple marketing, operations and communications management roles in the oil and gas industry, including positions with venture-capital backed ORYXE Energy, Gulf Oil, Conocophillips, Tosco and Mobil Oil. Ms. Frey holds an MBA from California State University, Long Beach and a B.A. in Public Relations from the University of Georgia.

Chief Marketing & People Officer
Albert Einstein
Creativity is intelligence having fun.

Kristen Frey

Kristen at SPE
Kristen

Mr. Said has over 25 years of experience in product strategy and development across multiple market segments and functions. Before joining Upwing, he was the Senior Vice President of Products at Testek Solutions, where he led product strategy, implemented business and organizational processes and was responsible for profitability from proposal to commissioning. While at Testek Solutions, he also served as Vice President of System Engineering, where he specialized in design and development strategy and product portfolio optimization. Prior to that, Mr. Said worked at Eaton Corporation, spending his tenure implementing manufacturing strategy, leading innovation planning and execution and instituting product roadmaps, while holding a variety of chief engineering and management roles. He holds an Executive MBA and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Wichita State University and an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Queens University of Belfast, UK.

VP of Engineering and Product Development
Nelson Mandela
Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got up.

Bilal Said

Bilal and team at a team celebration
Bilal Said

Mr. Biddick has 15 years of experience in product development and project management. Prior to joining Upwing, he was the Project Manager for Integrated Completions at Schlumberger, where he was responsible for managing mechanical and electrical engineering, manufacturing and supply chain teams in the U.S. and Europe and developing reservoir monitoring and flow control technology into the first fully electric integrated downhole system. Previously at Schlumberger, he was the Technical Champion for Core Completions in Asia and the Business Development Manager, Completions for Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. Prior to that, Mr. Biddick spent 7 years on Schlumberger’s Completions Team in Houston, advancing from Design Engineer to Project Manager to Team Lead. He is the author of multiple patents and holds a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.

Director of Technical Field Operations
Robert Jordan
You can never know everything, and part of what you know is always wrong. Perhaps even the most important part. A portion of wisdom lies in knowing that. A portion of courage lies in going on anyway.

David Biddick

Team at wellsite
David

Mr. Singh has 24 years of global experience in managing finance and initiating process improvements within manufacturing and service organizations. Before joining Upwing, he was the Controller at Royal Truck Body, a business unit of the SHYFT Group, where he managed the finance department and all internal and external stakeholders, implemented internal control policies and procedures and executed an operational KPI matrix that is now deployed across all SHYFT business units. Prior to that, Mr. Singh worked at ATPI Voyager as the Head of Finance, in charge of overseeing successful integration of a newly acquired business, rolling out new processes in relation to pricing models and developing P&L’s by state and business units. He holds a Bachelor of Business with a focus on Accounting and Commercial Law from Swinburne University, Melbourne.

Controller
Steve Jobs
We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?

Ashend Singh

Offsite management meeting 2023
Ashend Leadership Profile

News & Events

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May 6, 2024 – May 9, 2024

Offshore Technology Conference (OTC)

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August 20, 2024 – August 22, 2024

SPE Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition - Americas

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