Equipment Appraisal Blog | Understanding Machinery Appraisals

Uncertainty in the Oil & Gas Drilling Markets Affects Equipment Values

Posted by Equipment Appraisal Services on Mon, Jul 26, 2021 @ 08:00 AM

Machinery Equipment Appraisal Oil Gas Fracking

Look Far and Wide and be Patient Before you Liquidate your Machinery & Equipment

Given the sharp downturn in the oil and gas field production industry during the last couple of years, with energy companies dealing with low market prices and oversupply, it is difficult to imagine the market ever returning to the boom days it enjoyed in the past. With many drilling and service companies currently sitting on their equipment, waiting for some positive news, it may seem like there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" as it is commonly referred to, is a process of drilling and then injecting water, sand, and chemicals into the earth, where the rock, or shale, below is fractured and, as a result, releases oil and gas. This industry has been heavily regulated, and, although it produces natural gas which is considered "cleaner" than coal, it has been harshly criticized for various health and safety reasons, among others.

The early results of fracking led to an oversupply of energy sources in the US, Canada, and various overseas countries, however, the resulting issues included a sharp drop in oil prices along with many energy services companies taking huge losses given all the costs and penalties of doing business.

If you own or work for a company that services the oil and gas fields where fracking was commonplace in the past but has since dried up, it may be time to complete an updated equipment appraisal on your equipment and begin to look outside your local resale markets to potentially sell some of your excess inventory of assets. There are still pockets in North America as well as overseas where the oil and gas markets remain active, and you may be able to find an opportunity to receive a fair price for your equipment.

As an alternative to liquidating through an auction service or sitting idly by while the uncertainty grows in this industry, you may want to consider engaging in a longer-term hybrid plan of selling what you can at fair prices and paring down your business to a more reasonable level, in anticipation of some kind of upward market turn in the months to come.

These market fluctuations can be severe in the oil and gas industry, and maybe no more so than it is experiencing at present, however, historically, there have always been changing economic developments over the years which turn things around when you least expect it.

Along the way, consider obtaining an updated equipment valuation from an independent accredited machinery & equipment appraiser who can provide realistic values on your assets without the additional agenda of trying to assist in your resale effort.

Tags: machinery & equipment appraisal, accredited appraisers, Oil & Gas Industry Assets, oil and gas equipment

How to Determine Fair Market Value of Oilfield Equipment

Posted by Equipment Appraisal Services on Mon, Mar 08, 2021 @ 08:00 AM

Oil and Gas Machinery Equipment Appraisals

 

Your oilfield machinery is a primary driver behind the success of your business. You haven’t considered how much your assets are worth in quite some time, however, you now need to update your insurance coverage, obtain refinancing, buy or sell some equipment or even purchase a new company to keep up with growth requirements. Understanding the current market value of your oil and gas equipment is critical for all these possibilities. Obtaining an independent valuation from an experienced accredited appraiser is equally important to you and the other parties involved in the transaction.

Factors Considered in a Fair Market Value of Oil and Gas Equipment

  • Physical Deterioration: An appraiser will review the equipment, taking note of its physical condition. The old adage about never judging a book by its cover applies well to machinery appraisals for oilfield equipment. Even if an oil rig looks old and shows visible wear and tear, it is not necessarily an indication of low value. Appraisers will review the history of the equipment with you before making a value determination. Machinery that has been well maintained, with components replaced as needed, regardless of age, will likely still have significant value.
  • Replacement Cost: An appraiser will estimate how much it would cost to purchase, for example, an equivalent rig, mud pump, or service truck new, and then deduct from this cost-based typical levels of market depreciation over time.
  • Useful life: The appraiser may estimate the useful life of the machinery by reviewing the age, physical condition, and depreciation of equipment. Effective age is typically weighed more than chronological age if the equipment has been well maintained over its life.
  • Market Data: The marketplace is where all relevant information is found during the appraisal process. We will look at recent sales and listings while gathering opinions of value from third parties who buy and sell new and used equipment every day.

Appraisers will factor all of these variables into the analysis and subjectively estimate value based on their opinion of the reliability of the data. The appraisal report will summarize this process, explain the criteria under which fair market value was determined, and provide the sources relied upon to support these conclusions.

If you are considering any business plans in the immediate or longer-term future where the value of your oilfield assets is a factor in the decision making, it is well worth the time and expense to engage an independent appraisal company to complete the task. It is important to hire an appraiser who is unbiased and experienced in the valuation of these types of assets. When your business is on the line, never settle for an appraiser who doesn’t have the right credentials or may have an interest beyond appraising your machinery. Equipment Appraisal Services is the perfect place to begin your search.

Tags: machinery appraisal, accredited appraisers, fair market value, equipment valuation, oil and gas equipment