Oilfield service companies are moving into the fast-growing data centre business by supplying power and cooling technology as demand from their traditional drilling customers weakens.
Groups including Baker Hughes, Halliburton and SLB are leveraging existing expertise and providing equipment such as gas turbines and power generation systems to companies in the rapidly expanding sector and snapping up businesses.
With data centres under pressure to find power sources outside the traditional grid, the oilfield service companies are stepping in to provide generators and batteries, cooling and energy-efficiency equipment, as well as designing and overseeing maintenance for these systems.