business community changes the nature of the relationships you’re able to build,” he said. “These aren’t regional managers; they are enterprise-level decision-makers shaping how the industry operates at scale.”

Addressing a widespread emissions challenge

Kathairos focuses on eliminating methane emissions from pneumatic devices, which are widely used in oil and gas production and represent one of the largest sources of routine emissions in the industry.

Pneumatic controllers and pumps are the single largest source of routine methane emissions in upstream oil and gas production, making them a significant opportunity for emissions reduction.

Traditionally, these systems rely on natural gas to power valves and controls, resulting in small but continuous releases of methane during normal operation. Kathairos replaces that gas with liquid nitrogen, allowing equipment to function without venting methane into the atmosphere.

The system operates without external power and requires minimal maintenance, making it well-suited for remote and large-scale deployments.

The growing focus on methane mitigation is being driven by a combination of regulatory expectations, investor pressure, and advances in monitoring technology.

“Emissions performance is becoming a real factor in market access, capital allocation and the social license to operate,” Westerheide said.

Scaling impact across North America

Kathairos has deployed its technology at more than 3,000 sites across North America and is approaching a milestone of eliminating 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

“We didn’t get there with a single large installation — we got there one well site at a time,” Westerheide said.

The company’s emissions reductions are measured and verified through its internal monitoring platform, giving operators real-time visibility into performance across their operations.

Growth and outlook

As Kathairos continues to expand its U.S. footprint, Oklahoma City is expected to remain central to its growth strategy.

The company plans to add both commercial and technical roles locally to support its growing customer base and is evaluating the potential for a field operations presence in the Anadarko Basin as deployment activity increases.

“Our growth in OKC is a direct reflection of the relationships we’ve built here,” Westerheide said. “Every new role we add is an investment in those partnerships and in this community.”

Westerheide said companies focused on emissions reduction, operational efficiency and performance transparency will play an increasingly important role in the future of energy production.

“My hope is that more companies focused on where the energy industry is going choose to build here,” he said. “Companies working at the intersection of energy, technology and emissions performance belong in OKC.”