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Custom Industrial Fabrication Services: Pressure Vessels, Process Skids & Structural Steel for Oil & Gas
When an energy or petrochemical project requires custom-fabricated equipment, the margin for error is zero. Pressure vessels must meet ASME code. Process skids must be engineered for the specific operating conditions of the facility. Structural steel must be sized, welded, and inspected to exacting standards. Selecting a fabrication shop that can consistently deliver on all three — on time and within budget — is one of the most consequential procurement decisions a project team makes.
Wikota Design & Construction operates a 15,000 sq ft ASME-certified fabrication facility in Brookshire, Texas, within the Greater Houston industrial corridor. The shop serves oil and gas operators, petrochemical processors, RNG developers, and industrial gas producers who need a fabrication partner with both the technical qualifications and the project management discipline to deliver complex equipment packages without compromising schedule or quality.
What Wikota's Fabrication Shop Delivers: Core Capabilities at a Glance
Wikota’s fabrication operations are purpose-built for the demands of the energy sector. The facility is equipped to handle full-scope fabrication from raw material through final inspection and load-out, covering:
- Pressure vessel fabrication per ASME Section VIII
- Compressor skid and compression package fabrication
- Oil and gas separation unit assembly
- Gas dehydration system fabrication
- Structural steel fabrication per AISC and AWS D1.1
- Custom process equipment packages built to client specifications
The table below summarizes Wikota’s fabrication capabilities and certifications:
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
|
Welding Processes |
GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG), FCAW |
|
Certifications |
AWS D1.1, ASME Section VIII, multiple on-staff CWIs (Certified Welding Inspectors) |
|
Quality Inspection |
Hydrostatic testing, NDE (Non-Destructive Examination), PMI (Positive Material Identification) |
|
Equipment Categories |
Pressure vessels, compressor skids, separation units, gas dehydration systems, structural steel, custom process packages |
|
Facility |
15,000 sq ft fabrication facility — Brookshire, TX (Greater Houston area) |
|
Code Compliance |
ASME, API, AWS, NACE standards |
ASME-Certified Fabrication: Why Certification Matters in Oil & Gas
ASME certification is a baseline requirement for pressure-containing equipment used in oil and gas processing, petrochemical plants, and natural gas facilities. ASME Section VIII governs the design, fabrication, inspection, and testing of unfired pressure vessels — and operating outside these standards exposes projects to regulatory non-compliance, insurance liability, and safety risk.
Wikota holds ASME certification and maintains the documentation, inspection protocols, and quality management systems required to stamp vessels and pressure-containing components. Every weld is performed by certified welders and inspected by on-staff Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs). Third-party certification to AWS D1.1 and applicable ASME codes covers all structural and pressure welding performed at the facility.
Welding Processes Available at Wikota’s Fab Shop
Wikota’s welding capabilities span the full range of processes used in energy sector fabrication:
- SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) — for field-compatible repairs and code-compliant pressure work
- GMAW / MIG (Gas Metal Arc Welding) — for structural steel and general fabrication applications
- GTAW / TIG (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) — for precision root passes and stainless/alloy work
- FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc Welding) — for high-productivity structural and heavy fabrication
Material capabilities include carbon steel and stainless steel, with experience across alloy materials for corrosive or high-temperature service applications.
Custom Fabrication for Complex Process Equipment
Oil and gas processing, natural gas compression, and industrial gas production all involve equipment systems with tight performance tolerances and regulatory requirements. Off-the-shelf solutions rarely fit. Wikota’s fabrication team works directly from client-supplied specifications, P&IDs, and engineering packages to build equipment that integrates with the host facility without modification.
Compressor Skids and Compression Packages
Compressor skids are among the most technically demanding packages fabricated for natural gas, oil, and gas applications. Wikota designs and fabricates skids to accommodate client-specified compressor frames, inlet and outlet piping configurations, instrument tap locations, and structural requirements. Skid packages are fabricated, pre-assembled, and function-tested at the shop before delivery, reducing on-site installation time and commissioning risk.
Oil and Gas Separation Units
Separation equipment must handle multiphase flow across a range of operating pressures and temperatures. Wikota fabricates vertical and horizontal separation vessels to ASME Section VIII standards, incorporating client-specified nozzle schedules, inlet diverters, coalescing internals, and pressure relief provisions. All vessels undergo hydrostatic testing prior to shipment.
Gas Dehydration Systems
Dehydration skid packages for TEG or molecular sieve systems require integration of pressure vessels, heat exchangers, piping, instrumentation, and structural support — all within a single transportable unit. Wikota’s in-house fabrication capability allows these packages to be built, piped, and inspected under one roof, maintaining quality control across all components.
Quality Assurance and Inspection Protocols
Every piece of equipment leaving Wikota’s fabrication facility passes through a documented QA/QC program that covers material verification, in-process weld inspection, and final testing. Quality assurance is not a final checkpoint — it is integrated into fabrication from material receipt through load-out.
Non-Destructive Examination (NDE)
Wikota performs NDE services including visual inspection, liquid penetrant testing (PT), magnetic particle testing (MT), and radiographic or ultrasonic examination as required by code or client specification. NDE is conducted by qualified inspectors in accordance with applicable ASME and API standards.
Positive Material Identification (PMI)
For projects specifying alloy or stainless steel materials, Wikota conducts PMI testing to verify that all pressure-containing materials meet the chemistry requirements of the applicable specification. PMI is documented and included in the final data book delivered with completed equipment.
Hydrostatic Testing
All pressure vessels and pressure-containing assemblies are hydrostatically tested in the shop prior to shipment. Test pressures, durations, and acceptance criteria are established per ASME code and client specification. Test records are documented and delivered with the equipment package.
Schedule Performance: Delivering Fabricated Equipment on Time
Schedule overruns in fabrication have direct downstream consequences — delayed installation, pushed commissioning dates, and extended contractor mobilizations. Wikota’s project management approach is built around schedule accountability from the first day of fabrication planning.
- Integrated project management — a single project manager owns the fabrication schedule from material procurement through load-out
- Procurement alignment — material lead times are tracked against the fabrication schedule from the outset, with early identification of long-lead items
- Shop capacity management — Wikota manages its fabrication workload to protect schedule commitments made to clients
Clients receive regular schedule updates and milestone reports throughout fabrication, with proactive communication on any conditions that could affect delivery.
Fabrication as Part of Integrated EPC Delivery
Wikota’s fabrication shop does not operate as a standalone contract shop. It is one component of an integrated EPC delivery model that includes engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning services. For clients engaging Wikota as an EPC contractor, in-house fabrication provides measurable advantages:
- Engineering and fabrication teams work from the same design documents, eliminating interpretation errors that occur when engineering and fabrication are separated
- Procurement can be coordinated across field materials and fabricated equipment simultaneously, compressing the overall project schedule
- Quality requirements established in engineering are directly enforced in the fabrication shop by the same project team
- Single-point accountability — Wikota owns the outcome across all phases, with no gaps between contracted scopes
For procurement leads evaluating fabrication-only scopes, Wikota also accepts standalone fabrication contracts and can work from client-supplied engineering packages.
Sectors Served: Oil & Gas, RNG, Petrochemical, and Industrial Gas
Wikota’s fabrication shop serves clients across the energy and industrial sectors, with particular depth in:
- Upstream and midstream oil and gas — separation, compression, dehydration, and treating equipment
- Renewable natural gas (RNG) — biogas upgrading equipment, conditioning skids, and compression packages for landfill and agricultural RNG facilities
- Petrochemical processing — custom vessels, heat exchangers, and process skids for refinery and chemical plant applications
- Industrial gas production — compression and purification equipment for helium, nitrogen, and other industrial gas producers
- Power generation — structural and mechanical fabrication supporting power plant construction and maintenance projects
Wikota’s fabrication facility in Brookshire, TX positions the shop for efficient delivery to Gulf Coast facilities, Permian Basin operations, and Mid-Continent project sites in Oklahoma and surrounding states.
Frequently Asked Questions: Wikota Fabrication Services
Is Wikota's fabrication shop ASME-certified?
Yes. Wikota holds ASME certification and fabricates pressure vessels and pressure-containing components to ASME Section VIII standards. All welders are third-party certified to AWS D1.1 and applicable ASME codes, and the shop maintains multiple on-staff Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs).
What types of equipment does Wikota fabricate?
Wikota fabricates pressure vessels, compressor skids, oil and gas separation units, gas dehydration systems, structural steel, and custom process equipment packages. The shop handles both carbon steel and stainless steel, with experience in alloy materials for specialty applications.
Where is Wikota's fabrication facility located?
Wikota's fabrication facility is located in Brookshire, Texas, within the Greater Houston industrial corridor. The 15,000 sq ft shop supports delivery to Gulf Coast facilities, Permian Basin operations, and Mid-Continent project sites.
Does Wikota perform NDE and hydrostatic testing in-house?
Yes. Wikota conducts Non-Destructive Examination (NDE), Positive Material Identification (PMI), and hydrostatic testing on-site. All test records and inspection documentation are included in the equipment data book delivered with completed fabrication.
Can Wikota fabricate from client-supplied engineering packages?
Yes. Wikota accepts standalone fabrication contracts and can work from client-supplied P&IDs, specifications, and engineering drawings. The shop can also provide integrated EPC delivery, with engineering and fabrication performed under a single contract.
Request a Fabrication Quote or Discuss Your Project Scope
Wikota’s fabrication team works with procurement leads and project engineers to evaluate scope, identify qualification requirements, and develop competitive pricing for pressure vessel, skid, and structural steel packages. Whether you need a standalone fabrication quote or are evaluating Wikota for integrated EPC delivery, the conversation starts with your project scope.
Contact Wikota's fabrication team
To discuss your project requirements, request a capability statement, or initiate the vendor qualification process. Our team is available to respond to RFQs and provide schedule estimates for fabrication scopes of all sizes.
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