Praxair Starts up Packaged Gas Fill Plant in North Dakota

Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) today announced it has started up a new packaged gas fill plant in Bismarck, North Dakota, significantly increasing its cylinder gases capacity in the Bakken shale oil formation region. This automated facility has been designed to quickly and efficiently fill packaged gases, from single cylinders and packs to liquid vessels and tube trailers. The plant complements Praxair’s network of branch locations providing safety and welding-related supplies, consumables and equipment.

Praxair’s facility offers a variety of industrial and specialty gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide, as well as ultra high purity gases and blends, further serving oil and gas and oilfield services companies operating in the region.

“Our plant, designed by Praxair to specifically serve customers in this region, has reduced turnaround times and improved our efficiency, nearly doubling our previous fill capabilities,” said Robert Crew, general manager, Praxair. “This facility, together with our branch locations, helps us more effectively serve the growing needs of regional businesses.”

The Bakken shale oil formation is located in Western North Dakota and Eastern Montana, as well as the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. According to the United States Energy Information Administration, estimated crude oil production in the Bakken region of North Dakota and Montana shows total wellhead output of over one million barrels of oil per day, which would rank North Dakota second only to Texas in oil production.

About Praxair

Praxair, Inc., a Fortune 250 company with 2013 sales of $12 billion, is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America and one of the largest worldwide. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and many others. More information about Praxair, Inc. is available at www.praxair.com.

Praxair, Inc.InvestorsKelcey Hoyt, [e-mail] McCarthy, [e-mail]