Sept 30 (Reuters) - The private equity owners of Flowco

have kicked off preparations for an initial public offering of

the oilfield services provider that could value it at as much as

$2 billion and come as early as the first half of 2025,

according to people familiar with the matter.

Jefferies, JPMorgan Chase ( JPM ) and Piper Sandler ( PIPR ) have been tapped

as the lead underwriters for the stock market flotation, the

sources said, cautioning that the timing and the size of the

deal were subject to market conditions.

Flowco has filed confidentially with U.S. regulators for its

IPO, the sources said, requesting anonymity to discuss private

information. A confidential submission of paperwork allows

companies to make preparations for their flotations away from

the glare of public-market investors.

Flowco was created recently by a three-way merger between

oilfield services providers specializing in services that help

improve the rate of oil and gas extraction from wells. In June,

its owners Global Energy Capital and White Deer Energy struck a

deal to combine Flowco Production Solutions, Estis Compression

and Flogistix.

Global Energy, White Deer, Flowco and Jefferies did not

respond to requests for comment. JP Morgan and Piper Sandler ( PIPR )

declined to comment.

The planned stock market launch from Flowco would come at a

time when the U.S. oil and gas industry continues to face

scrutiny over the adverse impact of fossil fuels on the

environment - something that has deterred some investors from

putting cash into such companies.

That, however, has not deterred oil and gas companies from

pursuing stock market launches, as higher crude prices over the

last two years have boosted the performance of energy producers.

In turn, this has supported those firms that supply services to

them, such as Flowco.

Natural gas producer BKV priced its offering last

week, raising $270 million. Oilfield services firms HMH Holding,

Hornbeck Offshore Services and PHI Group are also preparing for

potential stock market launches in the coming months.