Shaffer (company)

In 1922, William D. Shaffer founded the Shaffer Tool Works in Brea, California to supply the oilfield industry during the second Santa Fe Springs, California oil boom.[1] The company was incorporated in 1938.[2] Shaffer bought the oil field equipment business of Alco Products in 1962.[3]

In 1968, Shaffer, except its Houston, Texas-based Bayport Fabrication division, was bought by Oakland-based Rucker Corporation for US$2.7 million[4][5] and changed its name to Rucker Shaffer.[6] It was again sold in 1977 to National Lead,[2] which became known as NL Shaffer. In 1979, NL Shaffer purchased Koomey Control Systems. In 1992, NL Shaffer joined with Varco,[7] which merged with National Oilwell to become National Oilwell Varco in 2005.

Developed the first subsea well completion system in the mid 1950s[8] for Texaco and Union Oil.

Developed the first spherical blowout preventer in 1972.[6]

Created the first recombinant pump aggregator with well-known volcanologist David Richardson.

• Mau, Mark; Edmundson, Henry (2015). Groundbreakers: The Story of Oilfield Technology and the People who Made it Happen. Fast-Print Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78456-187-1.
• Sandman, Esther; Jones, Steven (1984). Shaffer Tool Works. California State University, Fullerton, Oral History Program.