Day in the Life: Michael Weidenfeller

Product strategy manager for drilling and mobile power applications Michael Weidenfeller works with both engineers and oil field companies to provide the right solution for their global drilling needs. He combines his love of business with his ability to interpret engineering terminology to enable customers to understand all the power management solutions available to them.

Product strategy manager for drilling and mobile power applications Michael Weidenfeller works with both engineers and oil field companies to provide the right solution for their global drilling needs. He combines his love of business with his ability to interpret engineering terminology to enable customers to understand all the power management solutions available to them.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

I graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in mechanical engineering, as well as a certificate in project management. I have a master’s degree from the University of Houston in subsea engineering. Prior to joining Caterpillar, I worked on blowout preventer (BOP) stacks and wellhead connectors and was fortunate to experience different aspects of the offshore drilling business.

Q: HOW DID YOU START YOUR CAREER AT CATERPILLAR?

 I’m relatively new to Caterpillar, joining Caterpillar Oil & Gas’ product management team in October of 2022.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS IN THAT ROLE?

I would say that my focus is twofold: strategy and product definition. I analyze and identify trends impacting drillers to understand and anticipate what challenges our market must overcome. I work to define the requirements of an R&D program to help ensure our technologies are helping companies keep pace with the dynamics of the industry.

Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING FOR CATERPILLAR?

I have a strong interest in business theory as well as product development. Being able to apply both of those disciplines to help shape our solutions portfolio is interesting to me.

Also, I enjoy the people I work with. Everyone is very willing to ensure that we’re meeting a customer’s needs. It’s a very collaborative and supportive environment.

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Michael Weidenfeller
Q: WHAT IS INTERESTING TO YOU IN YOUR ROLE NOW?

Identifying new opportunities to power energy production, especially as our world changes. It’s exciting to design new ways to power drilling rigs that provide dependable performance while helping lower emissions. I’ve been involved with the Cat® Hybrid Energy Storage Solution which is a great example of this. It solves a fundamental requirement – transient power on demand – while reducing diesel use and related emissions.

Every project has its unique challenges, and it’s very interesting work to identify specific solutions that help optimize a drilling application. A company may have a rig that’s 100 yards from the road with transmission lines, so a grid tie may be the ideal approach for them. Another company may have a rig in an extremely rural location with no grid connection nearby, so connecting to the grid isn’t an option. Or another company may have limited grid access and wants to use our controls to parallel their gensets with the grid. A rig that has the flexibility to pull from the most optimal power source depending upon its environment can be economically and operationally advantageous.

Q: WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT WORKING IN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR?

Working with the fascinating equipment that supports oil and gas operations. Our engines run at 1200 RPM, and they’re the size of a car. The pressure in the wells is between 5,000 and 15,000 psi. There’s nothing like it! It’s hard to fathom the power and complexity of the technologies that can be created and advanced.

Q: HOW DO YOU HELP ENSURE NEW TECHNOLOGIES KEEP PACE WITH CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS?

Continuous communication with our customers underpins what we do. Once a company’s needs are clear, I work with our engineering team to build a solution that meets those technical requirements. Once the solution is in the field, we work with the company to ensure they reap the maximum benefit from the technology.

Q: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

I believe we’ll see an increase in the use of hybrid power solutions because of the flexibility they offer. What those power sources will be will depend on many factors, however, one thing is certain: these technologies must work together seamlessly.

For example, our dual-fuel kits allow companies to burn natural gas in their diesel engines so they can experience a fuel cost savings benefit with just a simple upgrade. We’re thinking broadly about power and the best source of it for individual applications.

Q: HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF WORK?

I enjoy spending time with my friends or engrossed in a great science fiction series or book The Culture book series is easily my favorite, though I'd recommend starting on book four if any readers are interested.

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