Bagwell Energy Services in Delcambre has announced a major expansion at the port that is slated to bring in more than 100 jobs.

DELCAMBRE — An energy services company is making a big investment on the Iberia Parish side of the Twin Parish Port District in Delcambre, with a $2.5 million capital investment and 150 newly created jobs being announced this week. 

The announcement for fabrication center Bagwell Energy Services upgrade at the Port of Delcambre came from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and Bagwell Energy Services CEO Rodger Bagwell Monday. 

According to a prepared statement, Bagwell Energy Services is situated on the Iberia Parish side of the Twin Parish Port District of Iberia and Vermilion parishes, also known as the Port of Delcambre. There, Bagwell Energy is expanding its services to the chemical manufacturing and liquified natural gas processing industries, as well as serving its offshore and onshore oil and gas customers.

The investment is expected to add precision fabrication equipment for process industry piping and vessels, the installation of new cranes and the building of a 15,000 square-foot addition to its fabrication center. It was also add a 4,000 square-foot addition to its painting and blasting facility. 

Port Director Wendell Verret said the upgrades to the facility, which is the only industrial tenant with the Port of Delcambre, will be a tremendous boost to the local economy. 

“With access to the waterway, they see a potential for them and it just fits what they want to do,” Verret said. “The state and Louisiana Economic Development is participating in this project, they liked the idea.”

The announcement said that the project will retain 46 existing jobs while creating 150 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of $74,000, plus benefits. In addition, Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 240 new indirect jobs, for a total of 390 new jobs in Acadiana and surrounding regions.

“That’s a big deal for us and our area,” Verret said.

Edwards said the expansion emphasizes the great leadership, ingenuity and talent possessed by our native oilfield and industrial services companies as positive signs of recovery for Louisiana’s offshore exploration and production begin to show. 

“We’re excited for Delcambre and for Iberia and Vermilion parishes that this expansion will bring more high-quality jobs to our coastal oil and gas industry and more support for our growing onshore industrial projects,” Edwards said in the statement

The facility was initially built by Bagwell Energy Services, but the company eventually moved out of the location. Verret said when an opening was announced, the company decided to relocate to its former facility. 

“We are excited to be back at home in the Twin Parish Port,” said Rodger Bagwell, who had served as president and CEO of Rotocraft Leasing Company and helped build that Broussard-based transport company from a fleet of 15 helicopters to 150. “With this area’s experienced energy-related workforce, our waterfront facility and the investment into technical equipment, we have the competitive edge to succeed. Through a diversified customer base and years of experience in this industry, we look forward to many years of growth in the Twin Parish Port.”

LED began working with Bagwell Energy on a potential expansion project in August 2018. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered the company a competitive incentive package, including a performance-based Economic Development Award Program incentive of $250,000 to offset infrastructure improvements at the site. Bagwell Energy also will receive the comprehensive workforce solutions of LED FastStart® — the nation’s No. 1 state workforce training program according to the statement — and the company is expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs Program.

“Bagwell Energy Services is exactly what we need right now at the Port of Delcambre — a respected growing company,” Iberia Parish President Larry Richard said in the statement. “I couldn’t be happier to see Bagwell back in Delcambre. We are certain that great businesses like this continuing to locate here will go a long way to grow and diversify economic opportunities for our citizens, and I appreciate the Bagwell family’s decision to invest in Iberia Parish.”

At its Iberia Parish manufacturing site, Bagwell Energy completes piping and vessel fabrication orders; builds production equipment, skids and modular enclosures for remote exploration and production sites; and performs blasting, painting and hydrostatic testing services. Bagwell Energy also dispatches trained crews to install, maintain and repair equipment at customer production sites.

“Bagwell Energy has been an important business partner in the energy sector for many years and is a known for its quality and innovation, creating many career opportunities for our community,” Iberia Industrial Development Foundation President and CEO Mike Tarantino said in the statement. “With this expansion, Bagwell is continuing to grow its business and workforce investment here and is showing, once again, that Iberia Parish is the place to be for growing businesses.”

Bagwell Energy owns 28 acres, including its fabrication and office facilities, in the Twin Parish Port District, while the company leases additional space for its hydrostatic, blasting and painting operations, as well as the marine terminal slip it developed in conjunction with 

“For almost 40 years, Bagwell Energy Services has continued to innovate in the energy and manufacturing sectors, both of which are key industries in Acadiana,” One Acadiana President and CEO Troy Wayman said in the statement. “This expansion exemplifies the ability of Acadiana manufacturers and the region’s outstanding workforce to embrace technological innovation and modernization to secure future business in today’s competitive oil and gas environment. It marks an exciting new chapter for the company, as well as the communities of Iberia, Vermilion, and the rest of Acadiana.”