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The EIC is proud to manage the UK Pavilion once again at ADIPEC, our 17th time at arguably the world’s best energy show. Our International Trade team has been bringing UK companies to ADIPEC since 2000, when it still happened every two years. It went annual from 2013 onwards and in 2015 the event became our biggest pavilion globally. A showcase of our people’s commitment to deliver our best at ADIPEC is the fact that, in 2021, the EIC won the exhibition’s Best National Pavilion award. This is a really special moment in our calendar and one that is highly anticipated every year. If you want to know more about why ADIPEC continues to lead the way after all this time, don’t miss the chance to read our interview with DMG Events’ Christopher Hudson.
If we expect 2023 to be quite a year for ADIPEC, we can certainly say that it has been for us at the EIC: we celebrated our 80th anniversary and our journey as one of the world’s largest energy trade associations and providers of world-class energy data, insights, networking and events. To crown this occasion, we also won the King’s Award for International Trade, the most prestigious official recognition for business excellence in the UK and a real testament to the hard work and dedication of our members and staff. In this special Middle East edition of Inside Energy, EIC’s Neil Golding details the amazing range and scope of opportunities across this vital region of the world’s energy industry. According to EICDataStream data, since 2022 the region has seen a recovery in the announcements of energy projects following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, even surpassing the number of initiatives initially disclosed in 2019. The combined estimated CAPEX for these projects from all sectors is approximately US$1.11tn.
Diveena Danabalan also discusses the growing needs of our members to convert market intelligence data into full business growth strategies with the help of EIC Consult. Diveena says that companies “want to gain a more in-depth understanding of key markets and sectors tailored to their business requirements.”
We hope you enjoy the read and ADIPEC!
Stuart Broadley, EIC CEO
with Camilla Tew Director, EIC International Trade
The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) will take place from 2-5 October 2023 in Abu Dhabi.
The EIC has taken part in ADIPEC for over 20 years, witnessing its growth into one of the world’s most influential energy events and an important meeting place where professionals convene to engage and identify the opportunities that will unlock new value in an evolving energy landscape.
There are over 683 energy projects under implementation across the region from 2023-2030 worth over US$1.112bn, ensuring that the Middle East continues to be a key area of focus for companies as we seek to maintain the UK supply chain’s position as a trusted and proven partner in the Gulf region. As always, UK companies are leading the way offering innovative products and services renowned worldwide for adding real value to projects and the local supply chain.
2023 will see the largest UK Pavilion to date with more than 100 companies exhibiting across over 1,350 sq m of floorspace.
We once again welcome back the Scotland Pavilion and Welsh Pavilion within the space. Both have companies who are actively decarbonising and selling a product, service or concept which contributes to Scotland and Wales’s transition to net zero. Scotland is hosting 25 exhibitors with 14 on the Welsh Pavilion.
Located in the prime position at the centre of the exhibition halls, the pavilion will be a constant hive of activity. The EIC invites its extensive network of contacts to the pavilion to develop bi-lateral trade through the following opportunities:
• VIP Pavilion tours with NOCs and IOCs, in previous years these have included ADNOC, ARAMCO, SABIC and PDO.
• Panel sessions on key topics across the energy sector including ‘Net Zero Jeopardy – can we realistically achieve 2050 targets’ and ‘The Future of Oil & Gas’.
• One-to-one meetings between exhibitors and EPC contractors.
• Contractor presentations from the likes of Kent, McDermott, Petrofac and Wood.
• An exclusive networking reception ensuring industry influencers and buyers from across the GCC can network with the UK Pavilion exhibitors in an informal setting.
We look forward to meeting many UK companies, EIC members, colleagues, friends and guests at ADIPEC 2023 and we wish those that are attending an exciting and productive event. With thanks to our Pavilion Sponsors:
Platinum Lounge Sponsor
MRDS
Silver Lounge Sponsor
Fulkrum
Platinum Networking Reception Sponsor
TEMS International
Silver Networking Reception Sponsor
Gold Lounge Sponsor
Reflex Marine
Bronze Lounge Sponsor
More Events Logistics
Gold Networking Reception Sponsor
Penta Global
Bronze Networking Reception Sponsor
LRQA
by Neil Golding EIC Director of Market Intelligence
Projects announced up until August 2023 have indicated an upward momentum and are on track to catch up with the number of projects announced in 2022
According to EICDataStream, the projects announced in the Middle East region in 2020 saw a big drop-off compared to 2019, and this carried through to 2021 for the oil and gas sectors. This decline in the number of projects announced was attributed to the compounding effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the concurrent decline in oil prices. However, 2022 witnessed a recovery in terms of the number of projects announced in the oil and gas sector compared to the previous two years. Projects announced up until August 2023 have also indicated a continued upward momentum and are on track to catch up with the number of projects announced in 2022.
High oil prices have led to sizeable profits for the national energy companies, thus providing additional support to the economy. This then leads governmental and corporate entities to allocate resources to new projects. Among the remarkable profits being made include Saudi Aramco’s staggering US$161bn profits for 2022. In 2023, Aramco is expecting to spend approximately US$45 to US$55bn with CAPEX increasing until around 2025. Last year’s CAPEX was US$37.6bn, 18% higher than 2021.
The hydrogen and renewable sectors have seen significant projects announced, showing that the Middle East region is looking towards the future in terms of its energy needs. Companies in the Middle East are well-funded to secure the finance for hydrogen and renewable projects hence more projects will be announced in the future.
Source: EICDataStream
Estimated CAPEX in energy projects in the Middle East region across all energy sectors that are currently under development is approximately US$1.11tn. In second place is Saudi Arabia with 18.89%, then UAE with 18.37%. Other notable contributors include Iraq with 15.05%, Oman with 9.7%, Kuwait with 4.45%, Jordan with 2.53%, Israel with 1.52% and Bahrain with 1.44%. 75.7% of these projects are oil and gas projects, 5.59% are renewable energy projects, 1.55% are transmission and distribution projects, 11.09% are power projects and 6.08% are energy transition projects.
The upstream sector has seen the highest number of contract awards so far this year, as of August 2023, with 39 tracked contracts, followed by the downstream sector with 29 contracts, the renewable energy sector with 20 contracts and the midstream sector with 11 contracts.
Among the recent contracts awarded in the Middle East region is the US$3.6bn EPC contract for the Maximising Ethane Recovery and Monetisation (MERAM) project to the joint venture of NPCC and Tecnicas Reunidas in the UAE. Another contract awarded is the US$1.9bn EPC contract for the derivatives units for the Amiral Complex to Maire Tecnimont in Saudi Arabia and the US$1.5bn EPC contract for the subsea pipelines and subsea cables for the North Field Sustainability (NFPS) Compression project awarded to McDermott International in Qatar.
Oil and gas opportunities (2023-2030)
Figure 5 provides a comprehensive overview of the leading operators and developers within the oil and gas sectors in terms of expected CAPEX, specifically focusing on projects slated for commencement between 2023 and 2030.
Saudi Aramco is leading the way in terms of CAPEX and some of the major projects under development currently include the Amiral Complex project, the Jafurah gas processing plant and the Zuluf field development project.
Qatargas is investing in the North Field Expansion (NFE) LNG Liquefaction Trains first and second expansion and the North Field Production Sustainability (NFPS) projects. In fifth place is ADNOC Refining, where some of its investment is in the Ruwais Refinery East Crude Flexibility project. In ninth place is ADNOC, with its Jebel Ali gas discovery project and the Proton Ventures ammonia export terminal.
Figure 4 shows the opportunities in the oil and gas sector for projects that are expected to come online from 2023 until 2030. Currently, projects valued at US$172.8bn are progressing through the engineering phase, which consists of the conceptual design phase, pre-FEED phase and FEED phase. Meanwhile, over US$579.1bn worth of projects are already advancing through the EPC stage, with US$103.3bn still in the tendering and bidding phase. Overall CAPEX of the oil and gas sector is US$841.8bn, with the upstream sector with US$335.1bn, the midstream sector with US$152.4bn and the downstream sector with US$354.3bn.
Top 10 operators/developers by CAPEX in oil and gas sector (2023-2030)
Figure 6 Oil and gas projects of interest in the Middle East Source: EICDataStream
Arash Oil and Gas Field
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are renewing calls with Iran to negotiate regarding the border of the Arash field, with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as one party. Kuwait’s foreign minister has been invited by Iran’s foreign minister to negotiate regarding the border of the Arash field. Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco has stated that the plans regarding the Arash field are progressing as planned.
Ratawi Gas Processing Plant
TotalEnergies has stated that it aims to complete the project in 2029. QatarEnergy has entered an agreement to acquire a 25% stake in the project while Basra Oil Company will acquire a 30% stake in the project.
Ruwais – Industrial Chemicals Zone – Methanol Production Facility
The contract for the FEED consultant was awarded to Technip Energies in July 2023 and the FEED work is currently progressing. The work for FEED is expected to be completed in Q3 2023.
Basra Ethane Cracker (Nebras
In May 2023, Iraq started the technical studies for the project. Companies from Saudi Arabia have stated their interest in participating in the project in May 2023.
In June 2023, the government of Iraq announced in its 2023 budget that this project is included and its CAPEX is US$8.5bn.
Dominating the expected capacities for power and renewables projects in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia, projecting an estimated capacity of 42.1GW from conventional power plants and renewable facilities. This is then followed by the UAE with 24GW, Kuwait with 18.3GW, Iraq with 15.68GW, Iran with 11.42GW and Oman with 6.39GW. Saudi Arabia’s ascension as the leader in power and renewable capacity is in line with its target to transition its domestic electricity mix to 50% renewable energy sources by 2030. Besides UAE, Saudi Arabia has now joined the nuclear power race in the Middle East, with the Ka-CARE nuclear power plant project in development which will see an estimated capacity of 2.8GW brought online by 2030. 51.23GW of capacity could be added should all the announced renewable projects proceed through the development phases, of which 41.75GW of this will be from the solar sector.
Source: EICDataStream
Al Faisalia and Shuaibah 2 Solar PV Plant
ACWA Power has signed the financing agreements for both the Shuaibah 1 and Shuaibah 2 solar PV power plants. The total financing signed is worth US$1.6bn, which includes a US$0.45bn Saudi riyal-denominated loan from the National Development Fund (NDF) and a US$1.2bn US dollar denominated loan from banks such as Bank Saudi Fransi, Mizuho Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Saudi National Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi Investment Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.
Barakah Nuclear Power Plant
Barakah One Company has completed the refinance of the Barakah nuclear power plant. The refinance involves the full outstanding balance of the loan facilities extended by the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM). Meanwhile, in June 2023, ENEC announced that Unit 4 of the Barakah nuclear power plant has started preparing for operational readiness tests.
Tubarjal and Al-Henakiyah Solar PV Plant
The bid clarification is currently ongoing for both of the projects. The bids for the projects were submitted back in June 2023.
TotalEnergies stated that it will complete the project by 2029. TotalEnergies entered into an agreement with Iraq to develop the project in July 2023.
The graph above provides an overview of the leading operators and developers within the power and renewable energy sectors in terms of expected capacity, specifically focusing on projects slated for commencement between 2023 and 2030. In first place is the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP). Some of the projects that KAPP is involved in are the 5GW North Kuwait solar PV plant, the 2.7GW phase 2 and phase 3 Az-Zour North IWPP and the 1.8GW Al Khairan IWPP phase 1. Following closely is Saudi Electric Company (SEC), its portfolio includes the 1.8GW Qassim 1 power plant, the 1.8GW Taiba 1 power plant and the 3.6GW PP15 power plant. Securing fifth place is ACWA Power with the 2GW Ar Rass 2 solar PV plant and the 1.5GW Sudair solar PV plant.
Within the Middle East, Oman is the frontrunner in the energy transition projects with the majority of the projects being green hydrogen projects. Oman established the Hy-Fly Alliance in 2021, a collaborative platform that unites government agencies, the oil and gas sector, research institutes and key ports such as Sohar and Duqm. Within the Middle East region, Oman takes a pioneering role, emerging as a frontrunner with a pronounced emphasis on green hydrogen projects. Some of the projects are the Green Energy Oman (GEO) project and the H2Oman project.
While Oman’s Vision 2040 does not explicitly outline hydrogen initiatives, it strategically advocates for the diversification of energy sources. Oman has set up a stateowned hydrogen company called Hydrogen Development Oman. Oman has Special Economic Zones (SEZ) that have allocated land and infrastructure which are located in Sohar, Duqm and Salalah. Saudi has set the target to produce clean hydrogen which consists of blue and green hydrogen, and the targeted output aims to reach 2.9mtpa by 2030 with a subsequent increase to 4mtpa by 2035. Meanwhile, the UAE has ratified the new national hydrogen strategy that now sets the target to produce 1.4mtpa of hydrogen by 2031 and for the longer-term target, it targets to produce 15mtpa by 2050. However, the details of the national hydrogen strategy are not yet publicly available.
In terms of carbon capture, Qatar has set a target to reach 7mtpa by 2030, while UAE targets to capture 5mtpa by 2030 and Saudi has set to reach 44mtpa of carbon captured by 2035. One of the carbon capture projects in the region is the Jubail Industrial City CCS hub located in Saudi Arabia, where it aims to capture 9mtpa of carbon dioxide in its first phase. Another project is the Habshan 5 gas plant carbon capture project which aims to capture 1.9mtpa of carbon dioxide from the facility.
In third place is Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) with the project they were involved in, the Block Z1-01 green hydrogen project in Oman. In fourth place is Posco with its green hydrogen project located in Al-Wusta, Oman where it partnered with Samsung Engineering, Engie and PTTEP. Meanwhile in fifth place is Samsung C&T with its green hydrogen project located in Saudi Arabia where it partnered with Saudi PIF and Posco.
The graph shows the top 10 developers and operators in the clean technology sectors in the Middle East region. At the forefront is OQ. Some of OQ’s portfolios are the Green Energy Oman (GEO) project and the SalalaH2 green hydrogen and ammonia project. Taking the second position is ACWA Power, and one of the projects that they are involved in is the NEOM green hydrogen production facility.
Sharjah Carbon Capture Project
Sharjah National Oil Company (SNOC) and Sumitomo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a joint feasibility study for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project located in Sharjah, UAE. The capacity of the project is still not decided.
Jubail Industrial City Carbon Capture and Storage Hub
Saudi Aramco has stated that progress is on track for the first phase of the project to come online in 2027.
Jafurah Blue Hydrogen Project
The project is still in the early development stages. Saudi Aramco continues to work to seek potential customers and stakeholders globally.
Green Hydrogen Facility – Hynfra
Hynfra PSA and Fidelity Group have partnered to build a green ammonia plant which will be located in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, Jordan and it aims to produce up to 200,000tpa of green ammonia, primarily for export to Europe.
HYPORT Duqm Green Hydrogen Project
The project’s developers have stated that phase 1 of the project will produce 330,000tpa of green ammonia while phase 2 will be able to produce 650,000tpa of green ammonia. Phase 2 of the project will be powered up with up to 2.7GW of green energy.
EICDataStream is the EIC’s leading project tracking database, containing information on energy projects from the inception stage all the way through to completion.
Updated daily by expert analysts in London, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Houston and Rio de Janeiro, EICDataStream holds data on over 13,500 active and future CAPEX projects in all energy sectors across the world. EIC members visit www.the-eic.com/MarketIntelligence/EICDataStream
THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2023
#NAD2023
Hosted by Dame Joanna Lumley
with Christopher
How is ADIPEC’s thematic focus being reflected in its offerings this year?
What makes ADIPEC 2023 so bold and so important?
ADIPEC 2023 builds on our nearly 40-year legacy of innovation and evolution to follow an even bolder vision and stronger purpose to support the energy industry and wider ecosystem in its efforts to transition towards greater sustainability. Being held under the theme of ‘Decarbonising. Faster. Together.’, ADIPEC 2023 seeks to unite industries to accelerate the urgent action and game-changing solutions needed to decarbonise quicker and future-proof the global energy system. For four days, ADIPEC will convene some of the brightest minds from across the energy value chain and beyond – including government, private enterprise stakeholders, technology, academia and finance – to ignite the innovative and disruptive thinking needed to tackle the world’s most pressing energy challenges.
Decarbonisation is at the heart of ADIPEC 2023, permeating the entire event. With more than 200 strategic and technical sessions on decarbonisation alone, the low-carbon agenda is the key focal point for the ADIPEC conference programme. The dedicated Decarbonisation Strategic Conference, now in its second year, brings together leaders from the energy spectrum to tackle topics ranging from overcoming barriers to decarbonisation to mobilising finance for low-carbon technologies and the critical role of innovation in fast-tracking the journey to a brighter energy future. And of course, there are our special exhibition offerings and initiatives that include the Decarbonisation Accelerator, Decarbonisation Connect and the Decarbonisation Guide.
With COP28 taking place in the UAE just seven weeks after ADIPEC, what role will your energy event be playing for the wider energy industry?
With ADIPEC 2023 taking place less than two months before the UAE hosts COP28, our event is uniquely placed to offer a global stage to address some of those critical issues from across the energy ecosystem and focus on moving the needle forward towards securing sustainable energy for all.
We are working to ensure that ADIPEC 2023 will address how the energy industry responds to critical calls to eliminate methane emissions by 2030; phase out carbon emissions across the value chain to reach
net zero by 2050; assure energy security and clean energy investment flows in the global south and scale decarbonisation technology and clean energies to achieve carbon neutrality.
The energy sector reportedly faces a challenge in attracting and retaining young talent. What is ADIPEC doing to address this challenge?
Young people are critical to the future of the energy sector and the global energy transition. We have paid extra attention to youth this year to ensure that the next generation of energy professionals is being equipped with the knowledge to pioneer the next phase of energy solutions. Beyond our existing Young ADIPEC and Future Leaders programme, both of which work to engage youth in energy, we are also introducing our first Youth Council.
The ADIPEC Youth Council will convene 20 talented young minds to shape the conversations at the world’s most anticipated gathering of energy leaders. In the runup to ADIPEC the Youth Council members will participate in meetings to shape the content for the ADIPEC strategic conference programmes, proposing speakers and topics to ensure the inclusion of youth issues and concerns in ADIPEC’s strategic agenda. During ADIPEC, the members will participate in panel discussions, debates and roundtables, liaise with the ADIPEC executive committee members to generate international dialogue on the energy transition and engage with universities and other youth councils to further increase youth engagement with ADIPEC.
with Diveena Danabalan Head of EIC Consult
Over its 80 year history, one of the EIC’s core product offerings has been access to its renowned market intelligence databases: EICDataStream, EICAssetMap and EICSupplyMap. This offering can be enhanced as highlighted from several of our members; seeking to gain a more in-depth understanding of key markets and sectors tailored to their business requirements. Diveena tells us more about this exciting offering and how it could potentially benefit your organisation.
Diveena, what does EIC Consult offer which isn’t covered by normal EIC membership?
The first thing that everyone should know is that the Consult service can be accessed under normal EIC membership and it should be noted that we are a chargeable service – we work with members and non-members, however EIC members do get a discount. A little bit about us – Consult was formed after identifying a need from our members; that they wanted to gain a more indepth understanding of key markets and sectors tailored to their business requirements. As a team we have access to the full range of EIC’s products, services, data and networks which enables our high delivery standards.
Consult has a few core offerings which can be adjusted to fit most clients’ requirements. These take the form of bespoke outputs such as reports and presentations which focus on markets/countries of interest, sectors of interest, competitor analysis, and the identification of potential manufacturers/ suppliers/JV partners on a regional basis.
Consult has a lot of scope in terms of what we can deliver and no two pieces of work have been the same. We’ve done everything from the identification of a new country from a list of potentials in order for a client to situate an office, to the identification of companies with proven expertise in the supply and manufacture of equipment needed for parts of a carbon capture plant, to the production of a sector-specific presentation for a client for use in a board-level strategy meeting.
My advice here to a potential client would be if in doubt just reach out to us and we’ll see if we can help.
Diveena, another opportunity which companies may not know about is how EIC Consult and EIC Event Solutions work together to raise a company’s profile. Can you tell us more about it?
As two teams that produce bespoke offerings it was only a matter of time before Consult and Event Solutions collaborated.
One of our sweet spots is around informing a client’s business development direction/strategy – a great example of this was a joint client EIC member TÜV SÜD.
Another example I could give is that Consult successfully conducted a UK supply chain mapping exercise for a non-member operator to support the development of its Phase 2 application for the cluster sequencing for CCUS deployment. Off the back of this Event Solutions ran a very successful supply chain procurement event with the same client plus others in the Humber Cluster. This to me would be a great example of that synergy in action –together our teams are basically the dream value add for clients.
Why do you think this would be of value to EIC members in the Middle East?
Consult has a global reach so anything which we can deliver to the rest of our clients in the world, we can deliver in the Middle East. We’ve worked with a wide range of clients including government bodies, operators, EPCs, OEMs and SMEs. We are able to not only give a holistic picture of the GCC/ME region as a whole but are also able to provide that deeper dive on a country-by-country basis; this has proven popular with clients outside of the Middle East who have a base in the region. We can also pinpoint areas of interest for our clients when it comes to export opportunities so if you’re considering entering a different market either within the Middle East or abroad, we can help you.
Operator: Centrais Elétricas de Barcarena (Celba)
Value: US$400m
The project has been included in Brazil’s new Growth Acceleration Programme (PAC). The federal programme envisages investments upwards of R$75.2bn (US$13.3bn) in power generation between 2023 and 2026.
Operator: ONGC
Value: US$300m
The tendering process for the project has commenced. The EPC work will comprise of at least three new 6-slot wellhead platforms with gas lift facilities and 100km of associated subsea pipelines, modifications at existing platforms along with an extension of a flare bridge.
Operator: Hyphen Hydrogen Energy
Value: US$9.4bn
Hyphen has signed a partnership agreement with ILF Consulting Engineers. ILF will provide project management services, technical expertise and procurement and contract advice.
visit EICDataStream
Operator: Oman Power and Water Procurement Company
Value: US$500m
OPWP has planned for a new 1,000MW solar PV project that will come online in 2029. The 1,000MW solar PV project will be divided into two solar PV plants, each with a 500MW capacity.
Operator: PKN Orlen
Value: US$2bn
Vestas has signed a conditional agreement to supply 76xV236-15.0MW wind turbines. The agreement is yet to translate into a firm and unconditional order. NKT and two undisclosed partners, have finalised an agreement to supply the export cables for the wind farm, valued at more than €120m.
Operator: Battelle
Value: US$500m
The Department of Energy (DoE) has awarded Battele, Climeworks and Heirloom a Notification of Selection for a direct air capture project in Louisiana. The proposed project will have a capacity of 1m tonnes per year. Project development is expected to start in late 2023.
For more information on these and the 13,500 other current and future projects we are tracking please
EICSupplyMap maps the capabilities of supply chain companies that operate in the wider energy industry. These industries cover renewables, upstream, midstream, downstream, power, nuclear, energy storage and the potential and proven capabilities in carbon capture and hydrogen. After successfully mapping the UK market, EICSupplyMap now covers the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Texas/US and Brazil.
• Identify the supply chain local to your region, giving you the opportunity to engage with potential new clients.
• Find the supply chain capability in five regions, now covering the UK, UAE, Malaysia, Texas/US and Brazil.
• An in-depth look at profiles of more than 6,000 energy sector supply chain companies.
• Make smarter decisions by targeting your offering to international developers/operators and contractors matching your capability with international energy projects.
In a groundbreaking collaboration in the Sultanate of Oman that embodies the escalating call for sustainable energy solutions and aligns seamlessly with the ESG disclosure guidance for GCC listed companies, Mohammed Yousuf Akram & Partner Co (MYA) LLC has partnered with Sustainable Energy International (SEI) LLC. This alliance is catalysing a transformative shift towards an environmentally mindful and operationally effective energy landscape.
At the forefront of MYA’s mission lies the provision of home-grown proven solutions that resonate with crucial ESG metrics, particularly within the environmental sphere. Covering vital aspects like GHG emissions, energy usage, water consumption and climate risk mitigation, this partnership underscores the pivotal role of innovation in sculpting a sustainable future.
This narrative paints a vivid picture of MYA’s journey, showcasing its dedication to impactful and ecologically conscious practices. This is achieved by deploying a proof of concept (PoC) and, in parallel, completing the energy audit. The audit provides findings and recommendations based on no investment, low investment and high investment scenarios.
This approach serves as an inspiring call for industry leaders to unite, endorsing endeavours that mirror the surging demand for sustainable solutions. Central to this collaboration is a comprehensive strategy encompassing energy efficiency, water management and fuel efficiency solutions. These pioneering technologies epitomise MYA’s resolute commitment to trailblazing sustainability.
Presenting Intelligent Energy Savers, MYA and SEI introduce innovation, vowing up to 25% energy savings. This tech seamlessly integrates into systems, optimising energy while maintaining operational efficacy. This leap propels global sustainability goals closer. Simultaneously, the Smart Energy Optimizer adapts energy consumption smartly. Beyond efficiency, it showcases tech’s power to curb waste.
Central to the partnership is water management, with smart water clamps stopping air passage in meters. MYA and SEI redefine conservation, enhancing accuracy and curbing waste.
Fuelled by MYA’s bio fuel additive, emissions can plummet by 70%. Amid environmental concerns, this tech’s potential for a smaller carbon footprint underlines MYA’s resolute dedication to a greener world.
Access to clean, safe drinking water is fundamental for human survival, yet it remains a challenge for millions worldwide. Thanks to technological advancements, SOURCE® Global hydropanels are innovative devices that harness the power of the sun to produce clean, fresh water from the atmosphere. The entire process takes place off-grid, absent electricity and the need for any existing infrastructure or hard pipes. Fans draw in air and push it through a patented, hygroscopic material that traps the water vapour. Through temperature variation inside the hydropanel, the water vapour condenses into water. The water flows into a protected reservoir where it’s mineralised for taste, circulated and monitored for quality. High-quality potable water is available on demand. One of the remarkable features of hydropanels is their scalability – the solution is infinitely scalable. This flexibility makes the hydropanel suitable for a wide range of applications, from remote locations lacking access to clean water sources to urban areas with water scarcity.
SOURCE hydropanels have already demonstrated their potential in various real-world settings. In regions with limited water infrastructure, hydropanel solutions have provided a reliable and sustainable source of drinking water in more than 52 countries.
The core of the hydropanel resides in its environmental advantages. By relying on renewable solar energy and utilising air as the water source, hydropanels reduce dependence on traditional water sources. That mitigates the strain on the ecosystems and helps to preserve vital natural resources.
The energy industry increasingly recognises the significance of integrating sustainability into its practices. That involves implementing measures to mitigate environmental impact, improve resource efficiency and cost savings. To attain these objectives, the sector embraces innovative strategies to optimise operations, reduce expenses and promote sustainability.
Al Mutawa Marine Works LLC
6th St-Musaffah Industrial Area PO Box 46100
Abu Dhabi UAE
Contact
Jehad Abbas, Sales and Business Development Manager
Telephone +971 (02) 5552 800
Email mtgce@eim.ae
Web https://mutawamarine.com/
Al Mutawa Marine LLC is a specialist company providing a wide range of services to the offshore oil and gas and other industries. Al Mutawa Marine owns and operates a fleet of twenty six offshore support vessels providing its clients with up to date access to the advances made in the marine and diving related technologies.
Over the years the company has attained an enviable track record, providing long term services to clients including ADNOC and its affiliates, NPCC, E&P Qatar, Kuwait Oil Company, ADOC Japan, BUNDUQ, ADWEA, ARAMCO, KNPC offshore, QPC offshore, Total E&P Qatar, Kuwait Oil Company and Hyundai.
46th Floor, Bitexco Financial Tower
2 Hai Trieu, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
Contact Diep Le Tran, Group Systems Administrator
Telephone Vung Tau +84 254 3833319 HCM +84 28 62876093
Email le@impac-group.com
Web www.impac-group.com
IMPAC Group is a multidisciplinary technical and engineering consultancy organisation that supports diverse clients’ needs and requirements in the energy sectors (renewables and oil and gas) as well as other industrial projects, delivering front end engineering, design, detail design, support services and project management consulting in the energy sectors:
Impressive Logging Services Sdn Bhd
Suite 4.02
4th Floor Wisma MCA 163, Jalan Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Contact Adli Zaim Bin Awal, Executive Director
Telephone +603 2181 4157
Email zaim@impressive-my.com
Web www.impressivegroup.com.my
Established in 2019, Impressive Logging Services strives to meet its customer requirements with a focus on safety, efficiency, effectiveness and timely service execution.
The company is driven by its strategic vision of expanding its operations both domestic and international, with a goal of attaining a greater market share.
Av Induscabos, 300 Vila Jau Sao Paulo 08559-300
Brazil
Contact Sandro de Rezende, Commercial Manager
Telephone +55 (11) 4634 9000
Email sandro.vendas@induscabos.com.br
Web www.induscabos.com.br
Founded in 1976, Induscabos
Electrical Conductors is one of the largest cable manufacturers in Brazil producing high, medium and low voltage electrical wires and cables, with 100% national capital. The plant is located in the city of Poá, 25 miles from São Paulo, installed in an area of 80,000 sq m (22 acres).
The company is present in all segments of the market, with emphasis on its strong performance in energy, oil and gas, mining, steel, paper and pulp, agribusiness, wind farms, photovoltaic power plants besides being recognised in construction and distributors of electrical materials.
Bow Bridge Close Rotherham South Yorkshire S60 1BY UK
Contact Rob Speirs, Managing Director
Telephone +44 (0)1709 782 400
Email rob.speirs@s3-id.com
Web https://www.s3-id.com
S3 ID provides the location of personnel and assets to enhance productivity, safety and security in hazardous areas.
Rua da Assembléia 10 – sala 2422 Centro Rio de Janeiro 20011-000
Brazil
Contact
Marina Castro dos Santos, Head of Patent and Innovation
Telephone +55 (21) 3176 6530
Email marina.castro@vdav.com.br
Web www.vdav.com.br/en/
The law firm Vaz e Dias Advogados & Associados is a specialist on intellectual property law and has the objective of assisting businessmen in the protection of intangibles and providing legal support for transactions that explore intellectual knowledge and technological innovation.
Its activities encompass aspects related to the protection of technological inventions by patents and utility models, to the registration of industrial design, plant varieties, semiconductors, trademarks, domain names, copyright and its efficacy in Brazilian territory and overseas.
Tuesday 14 N ovember 2023
Holiday Inn • Almaty
Kazakhstan
The company’s activities relate to the implementation of confidentiality policies for the protection of secret information, commercial pledges of intellectual property rights, assignment of trademarks and patents, technology transfer and licensing agreements, franchising, copyright and entertainment law.
AAL Shipping (AAL) recently completed the successful transportation of critical Toshiba-built power station components on a single shipment from China and Japan to Queensland, Australia. The units were carried for global logistics provider DB Schenker and are to be used in the repair of the Callide power station as part of a US$200m project to fix damaged turbines and return one of Queensland’s newest and most vital coal-fired power plants to full capacity, after failures had resulted in mass power outages from the NSW border to the north of Cairns.
Alpha 3 Manufacturing has confirmed the appointment of Perry Duffill as the new managing director of its UK-based electronics manufacturing facilities. With more than 20 years of experience in electronics manufacturing, Perry Duffill brings a unique skill set to the role, tasked with establishing the strategic direction, as the business continues to drive growth following an exciting period of investment and innovation.
Chairman and current interim managing director, Tim Roberts, said: “Perry has an exemplary track record of driving operational excellence and I am thrilled to have him join our team. I am confident that Perry’s extensive experience will be an asset to the business as he strives to strengthen Alpha 3 Manufacturing’s position as a specialist in electronics engineering and supply chain solutions. I look forward to working closely with Perry over the coming months to ensure a seamless transfer.”
International subsea equipment rental and solutions specialist
Ashtead Technology has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of Christine Cochrane as HR director.
The appointment follows a period of significant growth for the company and reflects the importance Ashtead Technology places in attracting and retaining top talent to support its strategic ambitions and international expansion plans.
In her new role, Christine will lead the strategic direction of the HR function, working closely with the senior management and regional teams to ensure that the right people strategies are in place to meet the strategic and operational needs of the business and deliver against the company’s priorities.
Allan Pirie, Ashtead Technology’s CEO, said: “We are delighted that Christine has joined Ashtead Technology. Her vast knowledge and experience in people and organisational development will further strengthen our position as an employer of choice, help us meet our ambitious growth plans and build the organisation of tomorrow.”
AAL was selected for the project due to its long-standing relationship with DB Schenker, history of strong performance on Toshiba cargoes, and the reliability of AAL’s monthly AsiaEast Coast Australia Liner Service on which this latest cargo was shipped.
Initially consisting of a 270 tonne transformer and 600CBM of accessories, the cargo was loaded onto AAL’s 31,000 deadweight mega-size A-class heavy lift MPV AAL Singapore in the Port of Shanghai and was due to be discharged at the Port of Gladstone in Queensland, with the transformer offloaded to barge and then transported to shore.
For more information visit: www.alpha3manufacturing.com
i For more information visit: www.ashtead-technology.com
This project illustrates how, with co-operation, flexibility and trust between carrier and customer, we can deliver significant value beyond the initial project scope.
Chris Yabsley, Chartering Manager, AAL Australia
asset55 has announced a major project award from ExxonMobil affiliate ExxonMobil Guyana. The company looks forward to supporting the Uaru FPSO with its Validate and Execute software.
at scale with multiple major operators concurrently is a responsibility, but also a privilege that drives our company mission forward.
Conor O’Leary, Regional Director, asset55The Validate software will ensure that the Uaru FPSO project data is validated and correct through execution phase and life of asset. In turn, its Execute software will be setup to support early execution planning and will support the project through construction, commissioning and startup.
For more information visit: www.assetfiftyfive.com
Designers and manufacturers of polymeric repair and protection systems, Belzona Polymerics Ltd has announced the promotion of longserving employee, Mrs Charli Walton (Ge Yu), to its board of directors.
Mrs Walton, who in August 2022 was appointed corporate development director (China) onto the board of Belzona Molecular Technology (Nanjing) Ltd, is the first female member of the board. She has been with Belzona for twelve years, originally joining the marketing team in 2011.
Mrs Walton has acquired considerable experience in B2B marketing and will be responsible for creating and implementing marketing strategies to consolidate and accelerate Belzona’s growth plans in China. In addition, she will be providing the nexus between the Chinese company, Chinese Distributors, and Belzona’s various international headquarters.
DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, and its partners, have secured over £51m investment for four trailblazing research projects.
This funding is delivered by network users and consumers under the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), a programme of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) managed in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in collaboration with Innovate UK.
Three of the projects are dedicated to hydrogen innovations, while the fourth focuses on assessing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation in the gas network. This assessment will pave the way for the development of an intelligent gas grid, utilising data and AI to monitor and control gas networks. It will also ensure the safe delivery of energy to consumers as new forms of gas are introduced into the network.
The Aberdeen branch of Flexitallic, a market leader in manufacturing and supplying static sealing solutions, has rapidly expanded its stock provisions after the team secured several contracts with major oil and gas operators in the area.
One involves a specification update of several offshore platforms that will see all graphite-based gasket materials replaced with Corriculite®, the corrosion-preventing material developed by Flexitallic.
The new contracts follow the company’s investment in moving to a larger 4,600 sq ft premises at Wellheads Industrial Estate in 2020, which allowed it to expand its gasket stockholding and workshop capabilities and host dedicated bolted joint integrity training and demonstrations.
In addition, the team emphasised showcasing its technical capabilities while developing relationships with new clients who prefer to work directly with a manufacturer that can support with problem-solving.
As well as meeting daily demands, the team has expanded its stockholding of patented products, including Corriculite® and its flange isolation gasket, ISOFLEX FS, which offers significant operators cost-effective and efficient sealing solutions that deliver a dramatic reduction in maintenance costs over the lifetime of an asset.
Flexitallic has also dramatically increased stocks of high-pressure ringtype joint gaskets, mostly used within the Aberdeen market. Customers require these gaskets quickly, and Flexitallic now holds a complete range of ring joints to suit standard ASME and API pressure classes.
The Absheron gas condensate field project in the Caspian Sea has reached successful completion under the early production scheme (EPS) phase. This achievement highlights the professionalism and dedication of all stakeholders involved. The project, a joint venture between SOCAR and TotalEnergies, benefited from their combined expertise and resources.
Managed by the joint operating company of Absheron Petroleum (JOCAP), the project saw effective co-ordination and streamlined processes throughout. HECOTEC LLC, as a subcontractor of SOCAR Oil and Gas Construction Trust, played a vital role in the brownfield scope of work. Its contributions encompassed project management support, project planning and progress reporting, management of technical changes, preparation of the construction management documentation, quality assurance documentation, HSE compliance documentation and project data management.
Close collaboration with main contractor BOS Shelf LLC ensured the successful execution of construction activities during the brownfield phase. The project also showcased operational excellence through the first remotely controlled platform in the Caspian Sea.
The successful completion of the Absheron gas condensate field project is a significant achievement. The professionalism, dedication and collaboration displayed by all stakeholders, including SOCAR, TotalEnergies, JOCAP, BOS Shelf LLC, SOCAR OGCT, HECOTEC LLC and others have been key to overcoming challenges and delivering exceptional results. Visit HECOTEC on LinkedIn.
i https:// www.linkedin.com/ company/hecotec-industrial-developmentcompany/?originalSubdomain=az
ICR Group has appointed two business development directors in the US. Established in 2011, ICR is a technology-focused provider of specialist maintenance inspection and integrity solutions deployed across multiple industry sectors.
Brian Begnaud, who will be based in Lafayette, joins from Eriks, while Houston-based Brandon Kangas was previously with SMC Industries. Both directors possess extensive industry expertise in identifying opportunities and developing partnerships across a variety of sectors.
The Houston office has played a key role in ICR’s global success over the past year, securing master service agreements (MSAs) with oil and gas operators, the US operation of
a global communications, mobile networks and technology business and other US-based clients.
Brian and Brandon form a key part of the BD team along with Houston colleague Phil Paterson, Business Development Director.
A recent key agreement covers the provision of drone services by ICR Sky-Futures, a global leader in unmanned aircraft and remote sensing operations. Its team supports clients by delivering high-quality inspection reports and data in support of asset build or inspection programmes. This project entails drone inspections of cell towers across the Lower 48 in support of the 5G roll-out.
Strategically, ICR has three defined markets in the US for repair and inspection solutions: oil and gas (including upstream and midstream), process industries and utility and infrastructure sectors such as telecoms, power and water.
In addition, it expects to win further work for INSONO, a non-destructive testing technique for the inspection of composite repairs applied to metallic components to reduce the need for costly steel replacements and operational disruption.
As well as Houston, ICR has operations in the UK, Norway, the Middle East and Australia, the firm has 25 partners worldwide, including representation in Canada, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago.
ICR’s growth is driven by its wellestablished technological solutions. Among them Technowrap, a life-long repair system capable of addressing internal, external and through-wall defects, even on complex geometries.
Meanwhile, ICR’s Quickflange weldless connector solution provides cold work alternatives for high-performance flange-topipe connections. This technology enables permanent repairs that enhance pipeline integrity and flow assurance without the need for welding or hot work.
With a diverse range of applications, Quickflange proves to be costeffective and efficient, saving up to 80% of the time typically required for repairs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 57% compared to traditional welding methods.
The Technowrap repair system makes a remarkable contribution to reducing emissions: it has been shown to decrease emissions by 66% compared to traditional replacement methods. This environmentally friendly approach not only improves operational efficiency but also demonstrates ICR’s commitment to sustainability.
ICR has also demonstrated its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and its dedication to achieving netzero goals in its energy transition objectives. To ensure transparency and disclosure aligned with best practices, ICR publishes an annual Impact Report. This report serves as a testament to the company’s responsibility and accountability in its pursuit of sustainability.
Our American business has doubled in size in the past year and, with Brian and Brandon injecting new energy and flair into our market-facing activities, we expect this pace of growth to continue.
David Sedge, ICR President, Americas
Kent, a leading engineering services provider in the oil and gas and lowcarbon energy sectors, has been awarded the contract to provide detailed engineering, procurement, integration and testing of the telecoms infrastructure/systems package for the field control station for the Jansz-Io Compression (JIC) project by DSME.
Kent has a long history of providing integrated telecoms packages for the Chevron-operated Gorgon project. Its team of expert engineers and technicians will support delivery of the telecoms EPC contract and have since provided telecoms maintenance for the LNG plant on Barrow Island and other Chevron Australia facilities.
Kent’s scope of work will take place at its facility in Perth and will ensure the diverse systems from multiple vendors are integrated correctly to ensure reliable communications and security for the not normally attended facility.
Kloeckner Metals UK, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of metal products and services, is proud to announce that it has been certified as a Great Place to Work®. This prestigious certification is a testament to the company’s continued commitment to creating an outstanding workplace culture that empowers employees and drives success.
Kloeckner Metals UK firmly believes that its employees are its most valuable asset. They are the heart and soul of the organisation, making it a truly one-of-a-kind business built on the strength of character, spirit and unwavering commitment of its people. Their unique skills, vast knowledge and extensive experience allow Kloeckner Metals UK to make a significant difference in the industries it serves.
The Great Place to Work® certification is awarded to organisations that provide excellent employee experiences and showcase exemplary people practices. It is a global authority on workplace culture, with a robust assessment process that evaluates an organisation’s employee satisfaction, trust and overall workplace culture.
We are absolutely delighted with the award of this contract and the faith both DSME and Chevron Australia have placed in us based on our in-depth knowledge and experience with the existing systems installed on Barrow Island and other Chevron sites.
Joe McCormick, Executive Vice President of Operations in AsiaPac, KentKloeckner Metals UK is one of the leading metal stockholders and processing suppliers in the UK. It is a member of the Klöckner & Co Group, one of the largest producerindependent distributors of steel and metal products and one of the leading metal distribution companies worldwide. Kloeckner Metals UK offers a diverse range of ferrous and non-ferrous products, sourced from reputable and accredited mill sources in the UK and across Western Europe. As a pioneer of digital transformation in the steel and metal industry, Kloeckner Metals UK continuously strives to add value for customers by investing in digital technologies and introducing innovative eProcurement solutions.
The company is passionate about sustainability and aims to transform the industry by playing an active role in building a sustainable future for employees, customers, community and future generations. Kloeckner Metals UK cares about social, economic and environmental wellbeing and has aligned its policies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
KODIAK, a leading provider of comprehensive project management solutions for the renewable energy sector, is delighted to announce its successful qualification for several framework agreements with Energinet, the Danish national energy transmission infrastructure owner, operator and developer, as part of Energinet’s call for Tender for Consultants for Geoscience, Offshore Environment and Consent.
KODIAK has successfully qualified for four framework agreements, each crucial to advancing Energinet’s mission of a climate-neutral energy supply. These framework agreements include: geoscience project management; geophysics data management; geoscience project team and permitting & consent.
The framework’s duration spans 60 months, with the possibility of two extensions, providing KODIAK the opportunity to build a lasting partnership with Energinet while making significant contributions to its initiatives.
In this partnership constructed around a commitment to efficiency and environmental viability, KODIAK and Energinet aim to drive the energy transition forward, shaping a greener and more sustainable future.
As a leading provider of holistic project management solutions for developers in renewable energies, KODIAK offers top-class industry services and professionals. Its highly skilled specialists participate in the implementation of some of Europe’s most challenging renewable energy projects, committed to driving the transition to a sustainable energy future with reliable, costeffective and environmentally responsible energy solutions.
Oliver Hydcovalves, established in 2021, is dedicated to supporting clients and end users in its pursuit of sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. As part of the renowned Oliver Valve family of companies, it draws on over 40 years of manufacturing expertise, enjoying a strong global reputation and recognition on many approved vendor
While the visual changes made may appear subtle, they were deliberate decisions aimed at maintaining visual familiarity with valves that have been in the field for many years. The company’s goal is to ensure that its product reputation remains recognisable and, consequently, trusted by its clients.
Oliver Hydcovalves has worked closely with the well-renowned third-party testing body TÜV, to type test the Hydcovalves products with 99.9% hydrogen. In fact, Oliver’s was the first valve manufacturer to successfully qualify a valve at TÜV with hydrogen.
Oliver Hydcovalves prioritises safety and exceptional performance in hydrogen applications. Its meticulous material selection process, combined with innovative sealing technologies, guarantees reliable operation and safeguards against potential risks. Oliver Hydcovalves takes pride in delivering valve solutions specifically tailored to meet the unique challenges presented by hydrogen applications and in particular for hydrogen fuel stations.
Over the past two years, Oliver Hydcovalves has allocated significant resources to extensive research, aiming to understand the unique effects of hydrogen on various materials. With the advantage of an in-house metallurgy department and a state-of-the-art research and development facility, it has successfully refined and redesigned ‘conventional valves’, making them well-suited for hydrogen fuelling applications.
Hydrogen, being a volatile gas, presents substantial risks, especially to the integrity of materials. Consequently, selecting the appropriate materials is crucial to ensure optimal valve performance. Hydrogen embrittlement, a phenomenon where hydrogen atoms infiltrate the metal lattice, resulting in brittleness and eventual cracking, poses significant safety hazards and environmental risks, particularly in critical components like valves.
With its extensive experience and expertise in the hydrogen industry, Oliver Hydcovalves is proud to have a robust reference list of successful hydrogen projects that it has supported such as hydrogen transport and hydrogen gas pipeline. These projects serve as tangible evidence of the company’s commitment to delivering reliable valve solutions and its ability to meet the unique requirements of diverse hydrogen applications.
Oliver Hydcovalves’ valve products have been meticulously designed with hydrogen and carbon capture technology to cater to a wide range of applications. Whether you are involved in hydrogen transportation and refuelling, purification, storage, blending, fuel cells and electrolysers, or heating and cooling systems, it has the right valve solution to meet your specific needs.
Following recent expansion, Steve Noakes has been appointed as Managing Director of Pioneer Safety Group (PSG), a worldwide leader dedicated to industrial safety solutions including explosion protection for hazardous areas.
The Group comprises Pyroban, Pyropress, Euro Access and the recently acquired Ex-tech Signalling and Ex-tech Solution.
To lead Pioneer Safety Group during this period of expansion and beyond, Steve Noakes will also continue in his role as Managing Director of renowned safety company Pyroban Ltd.
Pyroban, headquartered in Sussex, UK, will continue to offer explosion protection solutions for materials handling equipment, diesel engines and offshore equipment, alongside Ex microsensor solutions, ignition hazard assessments (IHA), inspections, audits, training and Ex engineering solutions for fixed plant and process equipment to third parties as part of its EXSolutions offering.
UK-based Pyropress will continue its design, certification, manufacture, and global supply of flameproof (Ex d) and intrinsically safe (Ex i) switches and transmitters to reliably and safely monitor pressure, temperature and fluid level.
France-based Ex-tech Solution designs, manufactures and certifies a comprehensive range of Exd and Exe enclosures, limit switches, rotary switches, indication lights and motor control stations for use in a wide variety of electrical installation and OEM applications.
To showcase the new range of safety solutions available, Pioneer Safety Group will be attending ADIPEC 2023 from 2 – 5 October in Abu Dhabi. Visit stand number 9470 to meet the team and discover more.
Leading controls technology company
Proserv has moved its operations in Saudi Arabia into a new dedicated, stateof-the-art facility in Dammam as part of its roadmap to bolster and extend its expertise for customers and establish itself as the control system solutions partner of choice across the kingdom.
Proserv has invested a significant sum in the bespoke site, located close to the HQ of major national oil company Aramco, as the Aberdeen headquartered business seeks to increase its activities within the digital arena in Saudi Arabia, including real-time condition monitoring and industrial automation right across the energy landscape, including renewables. The strategy reflects Proserv’s wider global digitalisation push alongside several technology partners.
This new facility, with its increased and upgraded capabilities, is testament to our proactive ambitions to drive this business into exciting new areas here in the kingdom.
Chris Chambers, General Manager, Saudi Arabia, Proserv
The new base delivers key upgrades to enhance Proserv’s well-established topside service provision with investment directed to an inhouse instrumentation calibration zone, as well as a purpose-built pressure testing facility. The site also incorporates manufacturing, service and refurbishment areas within its 1,000 sq m footprint.
Proserv’s relocation and upgrade of site capabilities in Saudi Arabia follows a similar move conducted earlier this year at its important base in Chennai, India.
Kampen Valve Care BV, incorporated in 1976, has been providing valve maintenance and repair services to the Dutch market for over 45 years and has built an excellent reputation working with major operators.
For the past two years, Score Group has been collaborating closely with Kampen Valve Care supplying specialist labour and services to the Dutch market. This partnership has yielded positive results for both companies, receiving excellent feedback from customers.
The acquisition of Kampen will provide Score with a platform to further develop within the Dutch and wider Benelux marketplace and offer
the opportunity to Kampen’s existing customers to access Score’s unique value adding services, including its emissions elimination program (EEP). A single source solution for emissions management, the four-stage EEP process works to detect and quantify emissions at source, interpreting data to inform a customised repair and mitigation plan to maximise the reduction of emissions.
Score is committed to investing in Kampen Valve Care’s growth and development, which includes but is not limited to, the upgrading of its current facilities, adding specialist labour to the team and offering Score’s world-class training programme to the next generation of valve specialists.
For more information visit: www.score-group.com
We want to use every opportunity to connect with our members, so please follow us on Twitter (@TheEICEnergy) and connect with us on LinkedIn –EIC (Energy Industries Council)
Below you’ll find a selection of some of the exciting EIC activities and useful industry information we’ve shared through our social media channels.
Have you booked your table at this year’s EIC National Awards? Join us as we celebrate the very best of EIC members on 19 October in London bit.ly/3hXYkFW
The EIC @TheEICEnergy
Looking for opportunities to capitalise on EIC’s energy industry knowledge? Contact the EIC Consult team! To learn more visit bit.ly/3OXhBZ0
Sustainable and Scalable Solar Power is an EIC webinar regarding Indonesia’s activities across the energy sectors. To watch this and more webinars on EICTV go to bit.ly/3KZp2g3
2 October Overseas Exhibition
ADIPEC 2023
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
3 October Business Presentation Fundamentals of Oil and Gas Rio de Janeiro
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EICDataStream/AssetMap training
5
18 October Business Presentation
EICDataStream/AssetMap training
Online
19 October Business Presentation
Offshore E&P in Brazil with MODEC Rio de Janeiro
19 October LIVE e-vents
North America Market Update: Oil & Gas
Webinar
19 October Corporate Entertainment
EIC National Awards 2023
London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square
24 October Overseas Exhibition
Kormarine 2023
Busan Exhibition & Convention Center, South Korea
24 October LIVE e-vents GCC Energy Market
26 October Corporate Entertainment
Rio Samba & Gas 2023 – OTC Brazil Rio Scenarium, Rio de Janeiro
31 October Sector Showcase
Cross-Sector Decommissioning 2023
Join us at key events around the globe to promote your products and services to industry leaders and project decision makers.
These major exhibitions bring together energy professionals from around the world to identify the solutions and skills of the energy industry today, towards shaping the future of energy.
We have a global calendar of events covering traditional oil and gas as well as clean tech and renewables.
Camilla Tew, Director, International Trade camilla.tew@the-eic.com
With the leaves now falling and summer well and truly behind us, the UK and Europe events team had a very busy and successful September and is looking forward to what we have scheduled for October.
During Offshore Europe in Aberdeen on 5-8 September the UK events team hosted several sessions at the Collaboration Zone on the EIC Pavilion, Powered by Mott MacDonald. We focused on different themes throughout the week: The Power of Collaboration, Navigating Net Zero, The Decarbonisation of Oil & Gas and Mind the Skills Gap, as invited speakers discussed their commitment to net-zero emissions and the need for drastic and rapid change within our industry.
The energy industry joined us last month as we dived deeper into Floating Offshore Wind and Marine Energy. On 26 September Equinor, RWE, ERM, Celtic Sea Power, Wood, EDF Renewables, Blue Gem Wind, BW Ideol, Offshore Wind, Flovents, Bechtel and Principle Power joined us for a sell out event as we explored the exciting development of the Celtic Sea Cluster.
EIC worked in partnership with Greenbackers and our event co-host, Liverpool City Region and Mersey Tidal Power, as we came together to host Waves to Watts: Exploring the Potential of Marine Energy in Liverpool on 28 September. Marine energy offers a major opportunity for industry diversification and there are many who are already benefitting from expanding into the wave and tidal supply chain. The value of maintaining a global lead is clear and the opportunity for UK based businesses to capture some of this £76bn market by 2050 must not be missed. This event heard from the key companies in this market as they discussed the largest projects and presented on the current state of the sector and the huge opportunities for the supply chain.
With only two weeks to go, the countdown is on for an absolutely fabulous night of celebrating supply chain success, networking and glamour at EIC’s National Awards Dinner. Join EIC and celebrity host Dame Joanna Lumley as the industry comes together to celebrate the very best of EIC’s members and their supply chain excellence on Thursday 19 October in London.
Jo CampbellBook your table from only £2,250+VAT, or an individual ticket for £250+VAT and attend a night of entertainment and a wonderful 3 course meal and other surprises. Thank you to our headline sponsor Bureau Veritas, supporting sponsors Kent and Howden, after-dinner sponsor Restrata and prize draw sponsor Roxtec for their continued support.
Would you like to follow in the footsteps of our sponsors and increase your brand awareness?
Become an award category sponsor alongside DNV, Fluor and ASCO Group. For only £3,950+VAT, you can be with us on the night with a table of 10 and then join Dame Joanna Lumley on stage to present the winner of your chosen category with a trophy engraved with your logo. Limited categories remaining, so email eventsuk@the-eic.com to secure yours.
EIC, with organising partner NDA , also invites you to join us for a dedicated event on decommissioning, outlining the specific challenges and opportunities across multiple sectors in the energy industry. During the event we will explore cross-sector learning, dive into pipeline possibilities and uncover real opportunities for the future.
Jo Campbell, Regional Director, UK & Europe
jo.campbell@the-eic.com
The final quarter of the year starts strongly with the biggest show in the energy calendar, ADIPEC taking place from 2-5 October. EIC will once again be hosting the UK pavilion in Hall 8 and branching into the Decarbonisation Zone in Hall 12. We are proud to have over 110 exhibiting companies and a full programme of events across the week in the exhibitors lounge. Please stop by and see us, where I wish all those attending a productive week.
Towards the end of the year the UAE is also proud to host COP28, which is being labelled as the ‘global stocktake’. It will be interesting to hear how much progress is being made against the respective net zero targets and if they are in jeopardy, as some recent findings are intimating. While we remain committed as an industry that net zero targets need to play a crucial role in driving urgent action towards a sustainable future, the initially projected timelines may yet prove to be challenging.
Last month witnessed the EIC Middle East, Africa and CIS Regional Awards 2023, held on the illustrious QE2 in Dubai. This was a fantastic evening where we celebrated the best and brightest of the energy supply chain. With nine categories up for grabs I would like to congratulate all the finalists and in particular those that the judges selected as winners on the night. For those interested in participating in Survive & Thrive VIII, which will lead into next years Regional Awards, watch this space as interviews will commence soon.
It was also a pleasure to host our first contractor briefing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where a packed audience heard from Saipem and the multitude of opportunities that they have in the Kingdom and beyond. Based on your feedback we will continue with this model and hope to bring you further contractor briefings from across the GCC, CIS and Africa in the months ahead.
Looking ahead we will continue to deliver our quarterly Africa and GCC Market and Project Update webinars on 10 and 24 October allowing you to remain up to date with activity across the respective regions.
Hopefully the final quarter of the year is productive for your respective businesses where we continue to work on several events in the background. The market certainly seems to be picking up across the regions with several high-profile contracts having been announced. As always the entire team is here to support you as best we can, you need only ask.
Ryan McPherson Regional Director, Middle East, Africa, Russia & CIS ryan.mcpherson@the-eic.com
The projects are being developed by energy company ACWA Power, the Water and Electricity Holding Company, or Badeel – which is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) – and Saudi Aramco Power Company.
The Al Shuaibah PV 1 and Al Shuaibah PV 2 plants in Makkah Province will have capacity of 600MW and 2.031GW respectively and are capable of powering up to 450,000 households. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in 2025.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) have signed an amendment to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the US$50m NOGaPS Manufacturing Fund.
The Fund was created by the NCDMB and domiciled with BOI to attract oil and gas equipment manufacturers to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) facilities established by the NCDMB and to increase access to affordable finance by the manufacturing entities.
The US$50m NOGaPS Fund was launched earlier in the year to incentivise companies to be domiciled and manufacture oil and gas equipment components within the NCDMB oil and gas parks being established at different locations across the country.
Please go to page 28 to see upcoming events around the world
September was an eventful month in Kuala Lumpur for EIC APAC as we successfully executed our flagship event, EIC APAC Energy Conversations 2023.
The conference was held on 13-15 September 2023 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre co-located with the 19 Asian Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals Engineering Exhibition (OGA).
Our goal for this conference was to promote focused conversations to encourage higher participation of Asian oil and gas companies in the energy transition. We also wanted international, regional and local businesses to exchange ideas and share the latest concepts and approaches on the solutions available to accelerate decarbonisation to achieve net-zero by 2050. We invited experts from PETRONAS, TNB, Sarawak Energy and Shell Malaysia, alongside regional national oil companies (NOCs) and other companies from Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, India, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The first session of the conference was a high-level discussion on achieving net-zero and enhancing energy security. The session was moderated by Julian Taylor, Executive Director (Asia Pacific), University of Strathclyde and was joined by a representative from the Energy Division of the Ministry of Economy, Charlotte Wolff-Bye, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, PETRONAS, Dr Kenneth Gerard Pereira, Founder and Managing Director, Hibiscus Petroleum, Abang Arabi Abang Narudin, Senior VP Corporate Strategy, PETROS and Pandai Othman, Managing Director & CEO, MHB (previously known as MMHE). The discussion focused on doubling down on decarbonisation efforts while maintaining the core activity of oil and gas, transforming the energy business and developing potentials for new opportunities in low-carbon energy, developing carbon capture and storage infrastructure in ensuring long-term energy security and achieving the right pace for energy transition to ensure an orderly and just transition and access to all.
The second and third sessions of the conference focused on the decarbonisation pathways for the upstream and downstream industries within the oil and gas sector. Moderated by the EIC’s own executive director, Neil Golding the discussion on the Upstream Decarbonisation Pathways revolved around the deployment and scaling up of technologies and innovative solutions in low carbon pathways, zero routine venting and flaring, carbon capture and storage solutions, and methane emissions reduction. The Downstream Decarbonisation Pathways session was moderated by Akbar Md Thayoob, President, Malaysia Petrochemicals Association (MPA).
This session highlighted key issues in the downstream sector such as the electrification of operations, the enhancement of operational excellence via digital solutions and process simplifications, CO2 removal technologies and refinery emissions reduction strategies. Other sessions hosted during the two-day conference included Emerging Trends in Achieving Net-Zero in Asia Pacific, An Outlook of the Global Energy Market and lastly Powering the Energy Transition. EIC APAC would like to thank all of our sponsors, speakers and partners for their support in making this event a resounding success.
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India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has published a revised strategy for offshore wind according to which areas will be awarded for development through three models, with the first tender under one of the auction models expected to be launched in December. MNRE has also issued two calls for tenders for offshore wind surveys related to two of the auction models.
Genesis Energy is planning to become the solar powerhouse with three new projects that it hopes to bring online from 2026. The company says it has picked three sites in the Manawatu, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay regions, all in the North Island, to install up to 400MW of solar capacity. The pot price is estimated to be around NZ$600m (US$555m).
During August the North and Central America region had the pleasure of hosting, for its fifth instalment, its popular series, North and Central America Business Briefing series. McDermott visited the EIC Houston offices and presented to a full house of delegates sharing information around their procurement process and project announcements in the region, pictured below.
North and Central America Market Update Series 2023-2024
Join our region for our North and Central America Market Update series taking place throughout 2023-2024. This series will take place virtually, over our event platform GotoWebinar and will be divided into three events covering a Mexico Market Update, Oil and Gas Market Update and Renewables and Energy Transition Market Update provided by our very own EIC analysts team.
Thursday 5 October 2023: Mexico Market Update
To register www.the-eic.com/EventDetail?dateid=3945
Thursday 19 October 2023: Oil and Gas Market Update
To register www.the-eic.com/EventDetail?dateid=3945
Thursday 14 March 2024: Renewables and Energy Transition
To register www.the-eic.com/EventDetail?dateid=3947
We would like to extend a special thank you to the McDermott team, Wagner Freitas, Global Subcontracts Director, McDermott and Kristi Krupala, Market and Communications Manager for helping us make this event possible. To register for future EIC North and Central America regional events, please visit www.the-eic.com/ Events/Calendar or email adriana.romo@the-eic.com
Beyond our Business Briefing series, we would like to invite EIC members and non-members to attend our upcoming North and Central America Market Update series. This series will be divided into three online webinars taking place on 5 October 2023, 19 October 2023 and 14 March 2024 and will cover market updates around Mexico, oil and gas and the renewables sector. To register, please refer to the links listed above. On 6 December we have our North and Central America Membership Open Day with Roxtec. We look forward to welcoming you all to a future EIC regional event.
Amanda Duhon VP & Regional Director, North & Central America amanda.duhon@the-eic.com
The US Department of Energy has announced a US$1.2bn investment to advance the development of two commercial-scale direct air capture (DAC) hubs in the US Gulf Coast. Project Cypress (Louisiana) and South Texas DAC Hub have been selected to demonstrate how engineered carbon removal, with atmospheric CO2 being captured and stored at scale, could take on a fundamental role in the country’s goal of becoming net-zero by 2050.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced three final wind energy areas (WEAs) located off the coasts of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The three WEAs cover approximately 356,550 acres and have the potential to generate from 4GW to 8GW of capacity.
Please go to page 28 to see upcoming events around the world
The Rio Breakfast in August featured prominent independent players such as Trident Energy, PetroReconcavo, ENP (Energy Platform) and ABPIP (Brazilian Association of Independent Oil & Gas Producers).
The event, with over 110 attendees, centred around discussions on the role of the independent market, global opportunities and ongoing industry projects. The presentations spotlighted ENP’s evolution into a dynamic energy platform, PetroReconcavo’s financial strength with net revenue exceeding R$650m and Trident Energy’s operational prowess with around 800 suppliers.
On 3 October the EIC’s Fundamentals of Oil and Gas and Energy Perspectives workshop offers participants a one-day comprehensive insight into energy geopolitics and oil and natural gas dynamics. It covers topics like energy’s global significance, historical and current energy supplies, oil production’s technical and economic facets, environmental concerns, evolving geopolitical business opportunities, oil and gas price trends and the ongoing global energy transition’s impact. The workshop will highlight sustainability, responsible management and technological advancements in the energy sector.
At the end of the month OTC Brazil stands as a pivotal offshore technology conference in Brazil, uniting professionals and experts in the offshore oil and gas sector to deliberate the latest trends, innovations and challenges.
Concurrently, the Rio Samba and Gas event, on 26 October, hosted at Rio Scenarium, offers a relaxed platform for industry networking, Brazilian music and caipirinhas during OTC Brazil. Attending the Rio Samba and Gas event is a highly recommended opportunity for networking in this dynamic energy sector.
If you need any assistance or advice in the region or for more information about upcoming events, please contact rio@the-eic.com
Clarisse Rocha Director – Americas clarisse.rocha@the-eic.com
The Brazilian National Petroleum Agency (ANP) will carry out the 2nd Cycle of the Permanent Offer of offshore areas under the production sharing regime on 13 December 2023. The round will entail the offering of six pre-salt exploration blocks in the Campos (Turmalina) and Santos (Ágata, Cruzeiro do Sul, Esmeralda, Jade and Tupinambá) Basins. 13 players are eligible to take part, including Petrobras, BP, Chevron, CNODC, CNOOC, Ecopetrol, Equinor, Petrogal, Petronas, QatarEnergy, Shell, Sinopec and TotalEnergies. Overall investment throughout the exploration phase is expected to surpass R$2.5bn (US$500m).
The Brazilian Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), the federal government’s programme for accelerating the country’s economic growth, was officially released by President Lula this August and includes an investment of US$110bn in the energy industry. From this R$68bn will be allocated to the oil and gas sector, US$5bn to low carbon fuels, US$15bn to power generation and US$18bn to transmission lines. 80% of the added power generation capacity will come from renewable sources.
Turning compliance demands into a successful consolidation-driven growth strategy
and complex issues, de-risk projects, optimise costs, and BV Solutions M&O has developed a renowned reputation for driving genuine change. However, recent times have forced the business to be exceptionally agile.
How is Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore thriving?
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore is undertaking a major operational and structural overhaul of its consultancy business Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore (BV Solutions M&O). The business acquired a number of complimentary consultancy-based organisations from 2014–2016 which continued to operate independently.
The business has taken the strategic decision to create complete, clear and effective separations between its consultancy and classification activities. While some businesses are moving to matrix organisations, BV Solutions M&O is capitalising on its unique consultancy qualities to be able to provide a dynamic offering to the market.
Having already seen revenues jump dramatically, it is now well placed to attack ambitious targets that are set for 2026.
Within the broader group lies BV Solutions M&O – a single-source advisory, consulting and assurance team of BV serving the marine and offshore energy industry markets. Completely focused on the future and offering added-value solutions to enable its clients resolve new
As a result of the impacts of the pandemic, changing markets, regulatory change, the energy transition and oil price volatility, the company has found itself facing perhaps the most defining period in the BV Solutions M&O team’s history.
To continue to deliver sustainable organic growth classification societies have looked to diversify into consultancy services, which requires complete separation from the classification business to ensure that there is effective independence between business units, with appropriate safeguards in place to manage any perceived conflict of interest on projects.
To adapt to market needs as necessary, the company launched BV Solutions M&O in October 2018.
Here, a key goal has been to consolidate its marine and offshore subsidiaries into BV Solutions M&O to create one large entity that is the single-source advisory, consulting and assurance team.
Specifically in the last nine months this has been a huge undertaking with dedicated leadership across the business driving this change across strategy, sales, marketing, legal, finance and quality departments, requiring a completely overhauled organisational structure. However, these
efforts will be defining for Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore – by separating out the classification activities from the consultancy, the firm will be able to spread even more new wings for growth.
This strategy has gained momentum in the past five years. While the early phases of BV Solutions M&O resulted in clearer separation of services, the group still had consulting entities outwith the BV Solutions M&O brand.
With these entities having now been welded together under one brand and organisation as part of its consolidation strategy, siloes have been broken down to create a single team that is more resource efficient with deep-rooted expertise, truly global capability, and more agile and empowered in terms of scope definition and execution.
Equally, it has offered cultural improvements too. The firm’s employees within previous subsidiaries now feeling much more a part of the larger Bureau Veritas Group, and being able to appreciate the wider career opportunities available.
From a financial perspective, there have also been benefits. With various divisions now aligned in one group, there is improved understanding of key opportunities and greater synergies in terms of how best to allocate resources and chargeable hours.
The group’s renewed focus on services continues to deliver excellent results in revenue, despite the impacts of the Russian war in Ukraine, oil and gas price volatility, and the global pandemic. The figures speak for themselves: Where BV Solutions M&O began with €60m revenues in 2019, that has continued to grow to €80m today, with BV M&O delivering 16% organic growth in Q4 2022. And its clients have benefitted too, the clear separation of its classification and consultancy efforts providing a broader scope and superior response to queries. Indeed, having now developed stronger foundations and improved compliance via its consolidation strategy, the firm looks set to only go onto greater things moving forward.
Between growth opportunities, improved efficiencies, competency advantages, breaking down siloes, global compliance, and an underlying appetite to change and improve, BV Solutions M&O is now well placed to achieve its overarching goal of doubling its revenues by 2026.
Bureau Veritas Solutions is the single-source advisory, consulting and assurance team of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore. Global leader in testing, inspection, and certification, delivering high quality services to help clients meet the growing challenges of quality, safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.
Story type
#transformation (main category)
#service & solutions
Benefits
• Broader scope and superior response to queries due to the clear separation of classification and consultancy efforts.
• Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore revenue organic growth in Q4 2022 equalled 16%.
Key findings
For industry
• Don’t be afraid to be a first mover and be bold in your strategy and have conviction in what you believe to be the right thing to do.
• In order to be an effective leader, you have to inspire, motivate, create an environment for people to flourish and when implementing a strategy create a clear message and vision with buy-in and urgency.
For government
• For Scotland and UK policy, I would like to see a cohesive energy transition plan that backs some key energy solutions with policy and investment and really demonstrates how to get there.
Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore at a glance:
Key products and services: A single-source advisory, consulting and assurance team of Bureau Veritas serving the marine and energy industries.
Main industries served:
• Oil and gas – 62%
• Marine – 29%
• Others – 9%
Headquarters: Aberdeen, UK (BV Solutions M&O)
Year established: 1828 (Group), 2018 (BV Solutions M&O)
Number of employees: 450+ (BV Solutions M&O)
Revenue: £70m (BV Solutions M&O)
After completing his PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, Hamzah joined CALGAVIN fulltime in 2022 as a Technology Development Engineer.
Whilst hiTRANTM Thermal Systems, a wire matrix heat transfer system, paves the way in tubular transfer enhancement solutions, CALGAVIN saw a gap in the market.
With the aid of robust in-house research, development, and manufacturing capabilities, the development of hiVISCTM, an innovative enhancement technology aimed at optimising process applications involving viscous fluids, began. The project, now in its commercialisation phase, has already demonstrated value for a well-known chemical and pharmaceutical client.
British engineering firm CALGAVIN has been providing heat transfer solutions to clients all around the world for more than four decades. Innovation and problem-solving lie at the company’s core, its range of test facilities, development of research programmes and collaborations with UK and worldwide universities enabling it to stay at the cutting-edge of the ongoing question – is there a better way to optimise heat transfer?
Answering this question is CALGAVIN’s ever-present challenge. In 2018, during university student Hamzah Sheikh’s placement year, the company had started some research with a chemical company to tackle heat transfer challenges caused by processing highly viscous fluids.
Since then, he has been involved in progressing development on hiVISCTM, for which the company successfully applied for funding from Innovate UK to help take the product from development to commercialisation.
The process has involved several important steps to date, including engagement with clients via questionnaires and at large energy sector events such as ADIPEC. More technical steps have covered CFD, geometry refinements, physical testing, product prototyping and the development of manufacturing processes. Final heat transfer and pressure drop tests have also been carried out, along with modification of the test rig to meet the high testing accuracy standards required by clients.
Alongside this, the company has been further developing its software tool to help clients configure inserts which are optimised to their needs – the program generates a part number, which CALGAVIN then uses to quote them on supplying the finished solution.
The speed at which hiVISCTM has been developed and launched is impressive. CALGAVIN already has an order secured and delivered, the product exceeding expectation and providing cost effective solution to a complex thermal problem.
The customer in question was an international pharmaceutical company, that first made contact with CALGAVIN in 2018 at the ACHEMA conference. During the development of hiVISCTM, CALGAVIN reconnected
as the product was suited to their needs. At the time, the firm was aiming to take a lab scale reaction to a continuous process, increasing productivity and efficiency of manufacturing their product. The fluids in question were highly viscous and corrosive, and therefore required delicate processing in a tubular exchanger without the presence of any metals. Due to the fluid properties and product yield requirements, flow rates were limited, and heat transfer was poor. In addition, the reaction was exceptionally exothermic, and using the current setup to achieve the required product yield would result in excessive temperature increases, which would ultimately lead to mechanical failure of the tubular exchanger.
CALGAVIN applied hiVISCTM, producing the insert from PTFE as metals were off limits. Because the PTFE version could not be 3D printed, the company adapted the product design, invested in new tooling and modified its CNC machine by adding an additional two axes.
The solution has performed remarkably well, achieving thermal stability at the required yield. Furthermore, CALGAVIN advised that firm could operate at a lower temperature due to the effectiveness of hiVISCTM, enabling it to reduce energy consumption and cut costs, and operate in a safer thermal envelope.
An equivalent exchanger to provide the same effectiveness as the solution provided with hiVISCTM enhancement would have been much larger and require more energy to manufacture, install, and operate.
With this impressive success story already under its belt, it appears that CALGAVIN could be onto a winner with hiVISCTM. Indeed, the project underlines the importance in offering avenues and opportunities for student talent to thrive with real-world R&D experience.
CALGAVIN works in partnership with some of the largest global businesses to provide robust heat transfer solutions to the process industry. Based in the heart of the UK, CALGAVIN’s dedicated manufacturing facility encompasses a comprehensive engineering team and research and development laboratory, ensuring a robust quality and trusted experience across the oil and gas industry.
Story type
#technology (main category) #culture, #diversification, #innovation, #service & solutions
Benefits
• Customers’ needs for thermal stability satisfied.
• CALGAVIN’s heat transfer solutions optimised.
Key findings
For industry
• Science tells you what is real. Don’t let your personal feelings get in the way of solid research.
• Don’t be afraid to use new technologies to reduce emissions and to solve process challenges.
For government
• Push more practical and hands-on approach of the real world and industry in younger people.
CALGAVIN at a glance:
Key products and services: Unique chemical engineering and construction company, working in the enhancement of thermal process and flow conditions.
Main industries served:
• Oil and gas – 80%
• Energy Transition – 5%¨
• Nuclear power – 2%
• Others (pharma) – 13%
Headquarters: Alcester, UK
Year established: 1980
Number of employees: 35
Revenue: £3.5m
Revenue from exports: 90%
provided innovation and adapted its approach to client requirements.
To address the changing needs of the market, CCi has actively engaged clients to better understand and align with their needs.
By advocating a proactive and preventative approach to project complexities by looking to become involved at the earliest possible opportunity, the company is minimising project risks and delivering long term benefits and peace of mind to its customers.
Established in 1998, Capital Consulting International (CCi) has an established reputation as an independent global consultancy, recognised around the world for its expertise as a provider of delay, quantum, technical and project management services in the construction and insurance industry.
With a staff compliment of more than 200 employees, the firm has continued to grow its market share over the past decade.
CCi has found many of its clients becoming increasingly cost-focused. To overcome this challenge and better cater to the evolving demands of the market, CCi has
CCi realised that to meet their clients’ ever-evolving challenges, they needed to engage with them in a different manner, ideally at the start of a tender period or project in order to identify potential challenge areas and minimise risks, resulting in the launch of its project monitoring services.
This was a natural transition. Indeed, as an established and experienced consultancy, CCi has encountered a variety of project issues and has the knowledge base to identify these ahead of time. For this reason, the firm began to advocate getting involved in projects as early as possible to help manage issues, encouraging its own customers to be more proactive and preventative.
This renewed approach has been transformative, adding significant value to the client. While upfront costs may be slightly higher, the potential for retrospective issues to emerge has been drastically reduced, limiting the potential that additional costs arise while providing peace of mind and better results. Further, it enables CCi and its clients to make more informed decisions in respect of costs and time involved on each project, facilitating greater forecasting and insights.
For this to work CCi reviews and alters the ways in which it presents to clients, reviews proposals and markets itself. Key to this has also been engaging with clients directly, understanding their pain points and where CCi can add value.
Indeed, it has been a gradual transition. However, as the firm has ironed out the creases in all projects, it is continuing to demonstrate the merits of its proactive approach, offering value that will only serve to embolden its position in the market moving forward as more prospects gravitate towards this modernised, relevant, and logical method.
Its position is also strengthened compared to competitors by the addition of technical experts meaning that CCi can deal with Technical, Delay and Quantum related matters under one roof.
CCi’s belief is that a client’s case is best served when these three disciplines are provided as an integrated service, ensuring an exchange of information between delay, quantum and technical experts is efficient and effective. Indeed, it’s a competitive advantage that continues to pay dividends, ensuring clients don’t have to go to multiple providers for various services.
With this core offering underpinning its ongoing success, the firm has not only worked on hundreds of projects worldwide, but it is now also starting to see more commissions being developed on the central basis of its proactive offering.
In continuing to secure repeat business while also attracting a range of new clients with its renewed strategic emphasis, CCi is confident that it has re-laid a new, more prosperous path for the future.
CCi is a global consultancy of delay, quantum, technical and project management experts, advising the insurance and construction industries. CCi’s advisors and experts are strategically based around the globe, with offices across the UK, North America, Middle East, and Asia Pacific. They bring a broad range of industry experience to protect the clients’ interests on construction, engineering, and energy projects.
Story type
#transformation (main category)
#collaboration
Benefits
• Repeat business secured.
• Company now working on hundreds of projects across the globe.
• Value added to clients.
Key findings
For industry
• Listen to your clients.
For government
• Get inflation under control, it requires guidance and legislation.
Capital Consulting International at a glance: Key products and services: Independent global consultancy that is recognised around the world for its expertise in the insurance and construction industries.
Main industries served:
• Oil and gas
• Conventional power
• Nuclear power
• Renewables
• Energy Transition
• Others
Headquarters: London, UK
Year established: 1998
Number of employees: 200
Revenue: £40m
convincing that cellular networks represent the future of connectivity versus the longstanding Wi-Fi incumbent.
Cellnex is proving that cellular private networks represent a robust, scalable and ultimately superior connectivity infrastructure for industrial facilities. Its next objective is to move into the energy space, drawing on its success in deploying networks for other industries to kickstart a new age of hyper-connected (and thus hyper-productive) assets. With an expanded UK-based team and growing number of pilots being undertaken, momentum is starting to gather.
A multi-billion-dollar global enterprise with around 2,500 employees, Cellnex is already a business success story. A key partner to the telecoms industry with its cellular network infrastructure solutions, the company owns and operates one in every four telecommunications masts helping to keep people and businesses connected around the UK.
For Cellnex, the future of connectivity involves wireless mobile networks (such as 5G) superseding the Wi-Fi establishment. Capable of blending with distributed antenna systems, the firm’s masts ensure everybody can acquire signal no matter where they are, laying the foundation for a connected society that is not reliant on cumbersome wires.
One industry it has targeted is energy. Traditionally among the slow adopters of new technologies, the sector still needs
Winning over the energy industry has been a priority for Cellnex’s Europe-based business (headquartered in Spain) since the turn of the decade. So far it has been something of an education and concept proving exercise, a process which continues to involve speaking to and working with potential clients to demonstrate the unique benefits of private cellular networks versus what is being delivered by current Wi-Fi setups.
The strategy is a simple one – apply and market use cases and applications from adjacent industries to showcase a range of transferable benefits to potential clients in the energy sector. To do so the company has pressed ahead with several important moves, the first being to grow its UK team and establish a dedicated unit responsible for engaging with energy stakeholders – here, EIC membership has been useful, in particular the access to project data and introduction to leads. Cellnex has also set up consortia with institutes and vendors to offer technological solutions and combinations which are already proven in adjacent industries.
A major challenge, and one which is ongoing, is making a business case to supplement and often switch away from Wi-Fi that will convince decision-makers who are already risk averse when it comes to disrupting their technology stacks. Budgeting is a particularly large hurdle to clear, not least because communications networks represent large areas of spend. But Cellnex is making the case for 4G and 5G private networks by encouraging potential clients to widen their lens and look at the wider productivity and performance benefits. 5G is already underpinning
enormous industrial operations around the world, some of the most prominent examples being hyper-connected mines which exploit the superior connectivity provided by 5G to power autonomous operations.
Cellnex is drawing on these use cases to help penetrate the energy market. The company is engaged in a number of pilot projects spanning nuclear and mining to refineries and asset tracking at ports, all of which have the potential to help Cellnex make inroads into the energy space.
In Spain, it is working closely with BASF at a chemical plant operated by the firm. The project is based on a use case presented to BASF by Cellnex from networks installed at 14 ports across Finland – infrastructure which provides robust, reliable and scalable connectivity.
In November 2020, the two parties began exploring how a similar setup could be adapted to suit differing applications at BASF’s refinery. To date, the scope has been broad, covering network infrastructure, cellular radio, mobile network core and edge computing to host key applications around asset tracking, video surveillance and various AI-powered analytics. The results have been extremely promising, the client revealing that the project has allowed it to advance exponentially towards a new way of operating. The cellular network is highly scalable (at low cost), assisting workers on-site and from afar, and enables BASF to operate the site with fewer personnel than it otherwise could have with alternative network technologies due to the speed, coverage and data capabilities provided.
All of this unlocks several optimisations for BASF. Its coverage of outdoor areas and challenging environments is now far greater (versus WiFi), while the company can keep workers safe by removing personnel from hazardous areas. Meanwhile, various monitoring capabilities are providing the client data from which it can make process enhancements. In terms of sustainability, BASF is also able to reduce the amount of physical infrastructure it needs, helping it to reduce its carbon footprint.
With this successful pilot under its belt, Cellnex looks well positioned to approach and work alongside other asset operators and move beyond what it terms ‘the end of start-up phase’.
Cellnex UK is the UK’s largest and fastest-growing independent owner and neutral operator of wireless telecoms infrastructure. With the wireless infrastructure foundation that they deliver across rural and urban areas, Cellnex UK connects everyone, everywhere. Their networks and solutions are built to be fit for now and the future so that the UK can prosper.
Story type
#diversification (main category)
#digital, #innovation, #service & solutions
Benefits
• Cellnex further into the energy market.
• Client was able to improve asset operations with fewer costs.
Key findings
For industry
• Believe in your vision.
• Have a clear call to action, take advantage of the direction the market is heading to.
For government
• Provide the industry with better, easier access to sufficient private networks radio spectrum/ frequencies.
Cellnex at a glance:
Key products and services: Infrastructure owner, servicing the telecoms industry, mainly servicing mobile network operators.
Main industries served:
• Oil and gas – 1%
• Conventional power – 1%
• Nuclear power – 1%
• Others (telecommunications) – 97%
Headquarters: Barcelona, Spain
Year established: 2015
Number of employees: 350 (UK)
Revenue: £200m
Revenue from exports: 15%
Breaking new boundaries with a pioneering intelligent pig
enable customers to quantify how clean the process is, but they also provide full diametric and wall thickness profiling, thus enabling an essential insight into asset integrity.
Having dependably served the fired heater and power generation market for many years, Cokebusters was set an entirely new challenge to provide its trademark combined services solution to mechanically descale and intelligently inspect the ultra small diameter tubing within a vast solar steam array.
The ability to successfully develop and deliver this service has unlocked a stream of new business opportunities in the increasingly narrow diameter networks associated with alternative energy markets.
Established in 2005, Cokebusters has forged a reputation as the international go-to for petrochemical and power generating operators seeking to clean fired heaters, steam generation plants and associated pipelines with its mechanical cleaning pigs.
As a highly effective cleaning device, the patented mechanical pigs have been the foundation and stalwart of the business and enabled it to operate sustainably for nearly two decades. Along its journey, the company found its customers asking for more. A challenge from Total to develop a pig which could ‘see’ how clean the surfaces really were triggered a chain of developmental events.
Today, Cokebusters’ range of intelligent pigs not only
In 2021, a new opportunity was presented to the company from Oman operator, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) – to create a solution for the descaling and inspection of an equivalent 1GW solar steam array.
The assignment from PDO has opened the door for Cokebusters to enter a brand-new market, a crucial breakthrough that will be essential to the futureproofing of the business as the world embraces energy transition and net zero strategies.
PDO’s Miraah plant converts water to steam by focussing solar energy. The steam is utilised for a variety of utility and process needs, including enhanced oil recovery. The array comprises some 100km of tubing, with each individual process loop being approximately 2km long.
One hurdle for Cokebusters to overcome was that its latest third generation (Mark V) intelligent pig, whilst capable of navigating an internal diameter as low as 65mm, was in fact still too large for the solar tubing network.
Undeterred, the company set about the development of a prototype intelligent pig that would be capable of inspecting internal diameters as low as 40mm. Key questions addressed during the design phase included how to create a robust exoskeleton which would house the ultrasonic detection sensors and be light enough to be sufficiently buoyant, as well as how to build a miniaturised
power cell and what sort of end cap and brush design was most appropriate.
Several designs were tested specifically in response to these questions. Crucially, as well as being able to house all the electronics in a much smaller device, the design also had to allow flexibility to navigate through additional tubing restrictions.
Cokebusters had a working prototype within just six months. The testing process, using a purpose-built mimic loop, identified several new enhancements, including the need to modify the end cap design further as a result of potential water ingress and navigational challenges. Meanwhile, several iterations of circuit board and power design were also required.
In conjunction with smaller mechanical descaling pigs, a full-scale trial was conducted on site in August 2022. The pigs were able to successfully navigate and clean the complex circuits with a reported 20% enhanced efficiency, all whilst collecting valuable integrity data to produce 3D imaging of the solar steam tubing.
The trial’s success is testament to Cokebusters’ ability to turn a challenge into a solution; a feat all the more impressive given the firm wholly funded the R&D work behind the new Mark VI intelligent pig. With some minor equipment modifications required on site the company plans to complete the remaining scope in 2023.
Cokebusters has developed what is now believed to be the smallest, untethered, single bodied intelligent pig available worldwide. In doing so, the company has opened up an entirely new market for ultra small pipe diameters, a move which will support the progressive reduction on traditional power sectors such as oil, gas and coal.
Cokebusters is an international energy and utilities services business specialising in the provision of mechanical decoking/descaling, intelligent pigging, and associated integrity management advisory. From its world headquarters in the UK and regional headquarters in the US, the company is able to consistently deliver high quality services to the energy and utilities sector across the globe.
Story type
#innovation (main category)
#diversification, #technology
Benefits
• Successful development of a revolutionary new intelligent pig.
• Full contract pending following completion of minor engineering modifications on site.
• Ability to now provide rolling efficiency enhancement and integrity assurance for modern ultra small piping systems.
Key findings
For industry
• Be bold and take risks to feed innovation. You will succeed more often than you fail.
• Time and bureaucracy can kill off a good idea.
• Process safety should not take second place in the drive for transition.
For government
• Hydrocarbon knowledge and experience will feed innovation and transition.
• There is room and requirement for all forms of energy.
• Support for SMEs should be aligned throughout the UK. Experience shows how engaging and forwardthinking governments in Wales are.
Cokebusters at a glance:
Key products and services: Provision of technologies and services for specialised mechanical cleaning, water filtration and intelligent pig inspection of small diameter tubes, pipes and pipelines.
Main industries served:
• Oil and gas – 90%
• Conventional power – 5%
• Renewables – 2%
• Others (chemicals) – 3%
Headquarters: Chester, UK
Year established: 2005
Number of employees: 105
Revenue: £11m
Revenue from exports: 97.5%
Through operations and structures, Comeca has undertaking an incredible innovation journey driven by improved internal synergies. Successfully merging capabilities, enhancing its training strategy, and shifting focus to end-to-end solutions, the firm has made significant headway across key markets including electric vehicle charging, LV panels and green hydrogen.
An international business delivering a variety of energy management solutions, Comeca has developed a reputation for spearheading innovation. In recent times, it has primarily been helping to drive vital progress across energy transition, digital transformation and new mobility. Operationally, however, this footprint was presenting challenges prior to 2020. While Comeca had developed comprehensive capabilities across subsectors ranging from oil & gas and nuclear power to renewable energy and energy transition technologies, many of its solutions were individualised, and delivered in a siloed manner. This was identified as an area for significant improvement – if Comeca could break down its internal barriers and unlock improved synergies across its operational portfolio, the potential merits could be game-changing.
Resultantly, a new optimisation strategy was launched in
2020, when Comeca began to merge and align its internal activities. It was a process which required an incredible amount of work. Not only did each of the firm’s factories have an individual set of IT solutions, but they also had unique administrative processes such as the presentation of key documents which needed to be addressed. Various branches of the quotations department needed to adopt standard structures across all factories, for example.
Marketing activities also had to be consolidated, while other parts of the business that had previously been fragmented were interconnected. The firm’s sales teams that each sold one range of products had to be trained on the entire enterprise portfolio as the company shifted focus to a solutions-based mindset, this approach also meaning that contracts would become broader in scope, longer term and of greater risk.
The changes were sweeping and would not fully bed in overnight. However, this approach has already begun to bear fruit.
Not only has the company merged internal capabilities to successfully provide end-to-end solutions for its clients, but it has also laid the foundations from which a more comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) charging station solution has been rolled out.
This newly established offering has proven to be successful. Responding to calls for a single provider capable of serving the entire e-mobility solutions lifecycle, from electricity distribution to end-user product delivery, Comeca has become a leading supplier of connected charging systems for heavy-duty vehicles.
In France, it now has a 60% share of the EV charging market for electric buses in cities – up from the 20% recorded in 2019, and only expected to grow further moving forward.
At present, the company is working on a major project for Rennes Métropole that comprises the delivery of 94 AMBER charging points for electric buses to charge in depot, which will serve the region’s 220,000 inhabitants. Further, initial testing of new markets across Europe is ongoing.
The choice to offer a modular and expandable DC charger solution, with a power range that can evolve over time from 50kW to 160kW, has been critical here – an offering supplemented by superchargers or dome solutions that can deliver power of up to 350kW. Further, a smart information layer has been developed and incorporated to improve energy efficiency, connectivity and minimise expenses for clients.
The merging of internal capabilities has also benefitted the firm’s LV panel offering. The company has since upgraded its NORMABLOC range that has been on the market since 1972, extending the life of French nuclear power plants. And it has also supported improvement of its GALAXIS range that is dedicated to oil & gas and continuous process industries, helping to better meet the needs of the nuclear markets of tomorrow.
In green hydrogen, Comeca is also making promising progress. Having anticipated a growth in demand for supply electrolysers, it developed ALLHYDRE – a power converter dedicated to mobility and industrial hydrogen production. Based on a modular design, ALLHYDRE supplies DC electrolysers from 200kW to 1.5MW, and can be delivered as either a standalone product or a containerised solution, this flexibility having attracted significant market interest.
Across these areas, the internal optimisation strategy has paid dividends. Where activities and factories previously had a siloed, single-product focus, that has now changed. With all markets and capabilities now interlinked, the firm has unlocked significantly improved operational efficiency and synergies, while also enhancing its offering and expanding its share in crucial markets.
Further, it is also now has a healthy and diversified portfolio. Having achieved a revenue of €127m in 2022, €39m stemmed from its energy portfolio, while the rest was split between industry (€34m), transport and infrastructures (€34m), and building (€20m). In no uncertain terms, the firm has diversified successfully in order to futureproof for years to come.
In an increasingly electrical world, Comeca provides equipment and services dedicated to distribute, optimise, and master the energy all around the world. As a multibrands and multi-technologies player, Comeca is a major actor in the industry, energy, infrastructures, commercial buildings and transport sectors.
Story type
#transformation (main category)
#energy transition, #people & competency, #service & solutions
Benefits
• Creation of a strong, diversified portfolio.
• Revenue of €127m in 2022.
Key findings
For industry
• Keep an open mind on possibilities. Find ways to combinate what you have to create something new.
• Use AI but don’t forget to think human. It’s too easy to lose relationships by only using new technologies. The truth is somewhere in the middle.
For government
• Ensure that government-financed R&D has access to the market.
Comeca at a glance:
Key products and services: Manufacturing of electrical and power electronic devices.
Main industries served:
• Energy – 31%
• Others (building, industry, transport & infrastructures) - 69%
Headquarters: Montpellier, France
Year established: 1976
Number of employees: 1,500
Revenue: £112m
Revenue from exports: 11%
The elevation of Gareth Beverley to CEO in 2020 sparked the beginning of a more joined-up approach to doing business.
As more and more companies take advantage of drones to carry out vital inspection and data gathering tasks, Consortiq has successfully repositioned itself as a consultative partner, pilot and pilot trainer capable of unlocking key productivity benefits. Such has been the success of the move, revenues are set to treble in 2023.
Far from being a novelty gadget or a ‘nice to have’ for businesses, drones are quickly becoming a vital tool for energy asset operators seeking a more efficient, accurate and safer way to carry out critical inspections and surveys.
For London-based Consortiq, starting out in 2015 centred around CAA-accredited drone pilot training. Over time, the company realised the value in diversifying its services, moving into consultancy to offer advice on how clients in various sectors can make the most out of drone usage, as well as how to ensure data best practice.
This consultancy style work took off from 2018 as more and more companies sought about accelerating their digital transformation and industry 4.0 strategies. With drones entering the mainstream at the same time, the company soon realised it was sat on a potential gold mine of business – provided it positioned its offering and expertise in the right way.
This did not require a root and branch transformation by any means. Instead, the transition represented a natural evolution of the team so it could offer combined drone piloting, consulting and training in a seamless and flexible way depending on client needs.
Indeed, the key to shifting successfully has been to allow the experts within the Consortiq team to be able to follow new opportunities, a culture built around trust and scope for development, as well as learning and collaboration. Alongside this, the firm started to be more precise in its recruitment of skills, hiring talent to fill very particular gaps.
Now positioning itself as a consultative partner, Consortiq adopts a relationship building approach to doing business as opposed to operating on a purely transactional footing. This is proven by its 2022 revenue breakdown, which shows that 43% of all income is derived from activities with recurring clients.
Such customers include The Chemours Company, an American chemical firm that was founded in 2015 as a spin-off from DuPont.
Consortiq was onboarded in 2019, initially as a consultant. Over time, the relationship has progressed as the company sought to incorporate LIDAR into its asset inspection activities, Consortiq flying these specialist missions to ensure it reaps the full benefit of what LIDAR has to offer.
Since 2020, the enhanced use of drones has enabled The
Chemours Company to reduce the need for humans to be on site carrying out inspections in potentially dangerous areas and cut the amount of manual processes involved.
This has brought about key safety and financial benefits. For example, it is estimated that $9mn in costs can be saved annually on stack inspections across its sites by removing the need for expensive crane hire and human inspectors. Meanwhile, in the area of tank inspections, periodical checks used to involved US$125,000 per inspection – thanks to the incorporation of drones into the process, that cost is reduced to somewhere closer to US$20,000. Taking into consideration the scale of The Chemours Company’s asset portfolio, Consortiq is enabling savings of around US$5–10m.
Additionally, the client looks set to make further efficiencies in parts ordering, the use of drones now enabling it to order only what is needed in a much more responsive manner. Likewise, its human workforce are now freed up to take on more preventative tasks, a move which should lead to superior uptime and reliability outcomes.
It is long-term, collaborative relationships such as this that typifies Consortiq’s modernised approach to doing business.
Indeed, it is a strategy that appears to be translating into success financially, with revenues set to treble to US$3m in 2023 after the firm reached the US$1m landmark last year. By proving its worth across a multitude of dronerelated services and positioning itself as the partner to help organisations maximise their use of drones, Consortiq looks well set on its onward growth journey.
Consortiq are Drone Enablers. They bring together consultancy, training, and flying in their Enterprise Drone Blueprint, and using this blueprint Consortiq aims to enable 1 million drone flights for its clients in the next 10 years. Consortiq aims to help clients find a better way to improve their safety, efficiency and quality through the use of drones and robotic technologies.
Story type
#collaboration (main category)
#digital, #service & solutions
Benefits
• Revenues set to triple in 2023.
• Approach to doing business mordenised.
Key findings
For industry
• Don’t be afraid to give people the freedom to learn and try new ideas.
• If you want to implement new technology successfully, need buy-in from the top, and promulgating through organisation. Bottom-up advocacy only gets you so far.
For government
• Reform the drone/aviation regulators to be forward-thinking, growth-based.
• Be less focused on bureaucracy, be more focused on the bigger market-creation prize.
Consortiq at a glance:
Key products and services: Use of drones and digital technology to customers safely and more efficiently.
Main industries served:
• Oil and gas – 45%
• Conventional power – 50%
• Renewables – 5%
Headquarters: London, UK
Year established: 2015
Number of employees: 10
Revenue: £821,910
Revenue from exports: 60%
Providing high quality fabrication certainty during challenging times
How is COOEC-Fluor thriving?
COOEC-Fluor Heavy Industries (COOEC-Fluor) has been in operation since 2012. At over 2 million square meters, COEOC-Fluor is one of the largest fabrication yards in the world with a capacity to deliver in excess of 250,000 MT/ yr and completed structures of up to 50,000 tonnes. With an unwavering focus on maintaining quality and safety, this fabrication yard has rapidly developed a proven track record in delivering for significant projects working with internationally renowned clients in offshore oil and gas, LNG, refining and chemicals.
Around the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, COOECFluor had secured significant contracts for clients in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Among these were 157 modules for a large LNG project in Canada, 34 fixed platform jackets for an offshore windfarm in the UK, Asia’s largest deepwater jacket to be installed in the South China Sea, as well as several other large onshore and offshore modular projects.
The yard faced several challenges during the pandemic
period including multi-wave infection resurgence in the local area, price increases in bulk materials, manpower mobilisation challenges due to limited ability to travel weekly even within the provinces, and sometimes daily testing requirements for a crew of up to 15,000 craft workers, to name a few. In order to effectively mitigate these issues, COOEC-Fluor took a very pioneering and pro-active approach.
The major priority was to ensure that the Zhuhai fabrication yard always remained operational, responding effectively and efficiently to minimise impacts to clients’ projects, all while always keeping its personnel safe.
Some of the strategies employed were:
- Developing specific safety policies to be implemented during the Covid-19 andemic.
- Establishing proper communication channels for Covid-19 and safety protocols.
- Developing proper quarantine protocols for incoming vessels and personnel.
- Providing free weekly covid testing for all craft and staff.
Due to these and other conservative measures, the Zhuhai yard did not have a single incidence of Covid-19 outbreak throughout the pandemic while the yard delivered over 125,000 MT of fabricated steel each in 2021 and 2022. While the initial phases of the pandemic proved challenging, this firm was successfully able to implement strategic control mechanisms to keep the yard open and operational without any compromise on safety and quality.
In the last few years, COOEC-Fluor has also made significant strides in developing and implementing a strategy for the offshore wind market. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, global offshore wind capacity will go from close to 100GW currently installed to over 300GW. Europe and China will account for the bulk of this installed capacity. With its large assembly area and production capacity, COOEC-Fluor has the ability of a “manufacturing driven” approach for the fabrication of offshore wind platform foundations and transition pieces and capitalise on this rapidly growing industry.
Looking ahead, the company is now exploring further international growth in renewables, deepwater oil and gas as well as large scale module fabrication for the upstream, downstream and chemical industries. With a proven domestic and international track record behind it, COOEC-Fluor looks well placed to expand its horizons even further.
About COOEC-Fluor
COOEC-Fluor Heavy Industries (COOEC-Fluor) is a joint venture formed by Fluor and China Offshore Oil Engineering Co. (COOEC), a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation. Through COOEC-FLUOR, the appointed management team operates and manages the Zhuhai Fabrication Yard in China’s Guangdong province. At 2 million square metres, the yard can accommodate fabrication modules weighing more than 50,000 tonnes.
Story type
#diversification (main category)
#collaboration, #export, #resilience, #service & solutions
Benefits
• COOEC-FLUOR becoming a leader in the Chinese fabrication market, delivering approximately 130,000 metric tonnes of fabrication solutions on an annual basis.
• Company building Asia’s largest deep-water jacket and entering the renewables sector.
• Significant quayside accommodating large vessels without height restrictions for delivery to western locations.
Key findings
For industry
• As one of the largest fabrication yards in the world, COOEC-FLUOR is always engaged to offer the most efficient solutions to energy players by providing fabrication certainty.
• Worked diligently to prove that Chinese yards can offer a combination of quality and good value solutions.
For government
• Providing the most efficient solutions to renewables market in China, COOEC-FLUOR is exploring its way to contribute to the government’s net zero commitment.
COOEC-Fluor at a glance:
Key products and services: Offshore fixed platform jackets and topsides, onshore modules fabrication and assembly, offshore wind foundations and substations, floaters, FPSO/FLNG modules, subsea equipment.
Main industries served:
• Oil and gas – 33%
• Conventional power – 33%
• Renewables – 33%
Headquarters: Zhuhai, China
Year established: 2012
Number of employees: 1,500 (direct yard employees) 10,000 – 15,000 (subcontracted employees)
Revenue from exports: 50%
the industry retrenched, and energy producers deferred investment into new projects, leading to a fall in demand for front-end engineering consultancy skills. However, owing to rapid realignments in energy supply following events in Ukraine, demand swung dramatically.
Crondall Energy Ltd is growing not just quickly, but effectively. Driven to solve some of the biggest challenges in offshore energy floating and subsea technologies, the firm has made the recruitment and retention of talented engineers its number one priority.
With investment in a new Glasgow office to attract local talent, and by targeting UK universities for quality engineering graduates, supporting chartership for all its engineers, and re-enforcing shared values and culture, the firm has successfully retained its staff amidst challenging labour market conditions.
Despite its reputation, the firm has not been immune to the difficult conditions that stemmed from instability and unpredictability in key energy markets in recent years, largely driven by the substantial transition resulting from moves towards net zero.
While this has brought opportunities for engineering consultancies, it has also posed challenges, many of which have been amplified by large swings in the energy price market, the global covid pandemic, recent events in Ukraine, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
At the outbreak of the covid pandemic in early 2020 and following a prolonged downturn in oil and gas prices,
For Crondall, this has highlighted potential concerns with staff recruitment and retention. With the firm’s main product being engineering hours delivered by skilled staff, it needed to avoid reducing headcount at times of low demand. However, in times of high demand, the company becomes more exposed to movements in the labour market and must act to retain staff.
That said, staff salaries and customer charge-out rates do not change quickly, and market volatility therefore has had to be managed carefully to underpin profitability and take advantage of any upturn in demand.
To combat the challenges posed by rapidly fluctuating market conditions, Crondall considered how to keep headcount stable at times when revenues are unpredictable.
Here, it opted to provide visible and ongoing opportunities for all staff, while ensuring all employees also felt listened to and heard, enabling the development of clear progressive paths that are aligned to individual aspirations.
To execute this more effectively, the enterprise also took the decision to bring its subsea and floating production companies together under a single board and management team in mid-2022, this helping to rationalise the commercial and corporate structure of the organisation and ensure a unified culture.
Now, the board meets formally every two months at each of the firm’s key UK offices on a rotating basis, ensuring all staff and management can meet and socialise at least twice a year. Albeit a relatively simple aspect of Crondall’s strategy, it is highly effective in contributing to a genuine feeling of unity within the organisation.
Beyond culture, these changes have also enabled the firm to rationalise its recruitment strategy and open additional opportunities for existing staff. Operating effectively as a single company with twice the headcount has allowed Crondall to scale up its human-resources capability, and more effectively support existing staff, all while freeing up senior management time to focus on the strategically important recruitment requirements.
The reorganisation and restructuring have further provided promotion opportunities and facilitated more bandwidth for recruitment of technical staff across a wider range of engineering disciplines and geographical locations.
While it has been just one year since this restructuring has taken place, with the process still ongoing, Crondall is already beginning to see several benefits emerging. Indeed, it now has a dedicated HR resource across the organisation which ensures consistency in its approach to issues such as staff reviews, communication, promotions, benefits and all other aspects of retention and recruitment.
The firm has not lost any staff as a direct result of the reorganisation in the last 12 months, while its senior team are now averaging 10-plus years of service. Further, the company’s recruitment drive has seen it become successful in reducing the average age of its engineers, with several of its staff now working across a broader range of disciplines.
Having made significant progress, Crondall is now looking to keep the momentum up. Between enhancing its focus on hiring high quality engineering graduates from many universities across UK, encouraging all its engineers become fully chartered, and continuing to re-enforce its shared values and culture through several initiatives, the firm looks well placed to sustain its satisfied workforce and reputation as an employer of choice in the future.
Crondall Energy is a leading independent consultancy providing strategic, commercial and technical services for offshore energy projects using floating and subsea technologies. With over 20 years of experience, it helps clients to manage technical, commercial and strategic risks and achieve positive project outcomes.
Story type
#people & competency (main category)
#culture
Benefits
• Dedicated HR resource to ensures consistency in Crondall’s approach to issues.
• No staff lost due to the reorganisation and additional younger engineering hires providing a stable, well-motivated basis for growth.
Key findings
For industry
• Aim to recruit high quality staff and retain. It’s more efficient to recruit capable engineers and invest in training than to spend management time addressing a high turn-over of resources.
• Retention of knowledge at all levels is a key part of future development, and being open to transferring that knowledge between sectors will play a major role in how quickly the transition away from hydrocarbons as a principal energy supply can occur.
For government
• Have a stable long-term energy strategy and clarity over the speed and direction of travel required to achieve net-zero targets.
Crondall Energy Ltd at a glance:
Key products and services: Energy transition, offshore renewables, floating production, subsea and pipelines, business consulting and technology development.
Main industries served:
• Oil and gas – 73%
• Energy Transition – 24%
• Renewables – 4%
Headquarters: Southampton, UK
Year established: 2000
Number of employees: 45
Revenue: £7.2m
Revenue from exports: 50%
Emerging stronger than ever from a period of significant uncertainty
the enterprise would be shut down, resulting in tens of job losses.
Deepsea Technologies UK, formerly known as AFGlobal UK before being acquired by Deepsea Technologies Inc in July 2022, has endured a rollercoaster ride in the past 12 months. Having begun 2022 faced with a difficult business sale process, the division successfully found the perfect new partner and owner in Deepsea Technologies Inc the merger having provided huge benefits thanks to a wider portfolio of subsea production technologies, with huge export potential for the UK business.
Prior to becoming Deepsea Technologies UK, AFGlobal began 2022 in a tricky position. AFGlobal was in the process of selling off various segments and was looking to step away from subsea, leaving the diver-less and diver assisted engineered technologies division – the last remaining division – in desperate need of a buyer.
Due to economic difficulties stemming from the Covid-19 period, and wanting to leave the subsea market, the former owner decided to reduce their exposure and find funds, asking the AFGlobal team to find a buyer for the business immediately. If a resolution couldn’t be reached,
This task landed in the lap of Managing Director Martyn Conroy, who quickly came under huge pressure. It was a major period of uncertainty in which some employees were let go. Yet under Conroy’s leadership, the team stuck together, holding their nerve as they attempted to find a solution that would enable them to emerge stronger than ever.
Indeed, this is exactly what was achieved. Thanks to the perfect amount of patience and some fruitful and frank discussions, Conroy and the AFGlobal US Management team were able to find an ideal new owner and partner in the form of Deepsea Technologies Inc and its President, Sanjay Reddy.
With the buyer found in June 2022, and a successful acquisition following quickly in July 2022, AFGlobal UK was rebranded to Deepsea Technologies UK. Thereafter, the two enterprises’ product portfolios were merged to create a new UK subsidiary with bolstered resources, improved engineering power, and greatly enhanced global prospects.
As a result of this integration, Deepsea Technologies UK is able to use in-house manufacture to enable quicker delivery and reduced costs.
Further, the subsidiary is able to readily tap into Southeast Asian and LATAM markets, thanks to its parent company’s
footprints in India and Brazil, these also serving to lower manufacturing costs and reduce logistics-associated emissions.
As with any merger, there have been some teething problems, from combining the firms’ websites and marketing platforms/messaging to blending the technical knowledge of its teams. However, ultimately, Deepsea Technologies UK has found itself on much firmer footing as it embarks on a new year in 2023.
Where the subsidiary’s revenues had dropped 71% from 2021 to 2022, this is now expected to rebound and rise by 180% in 2023, exceeding those figures achieved in 2020 and 2019.
Kicking off this recovery will be the group’s new major Wahoo, Campos Basin a substantial contract win from operator PetroRio in Brazil, with a considerable scope coming to Bromborough, UK office that will see the provision of a subsea production system and manifold. Indeed, after a year of major uncertainty, the UK enterprise is now eyeing significantly more fruitful horizons ahead.
With multiple production and manufacturing facilities across the world, Deepsea Technologies provides both diver-less and diver assisted engineered technologies for the energy sector.
These technologies are bespoke designed, built and installed by Deepsea UK’s team in some of the harshest offshore environments.
The company has over 30 years of experience in the design and delivery of pressure containing equipment, compact flanges, hot stabs, PLEM’s, bend stiffener connectors and ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) tooling. This includes well established products such Taper-Lok® flanges and Retlock® Diverless connection systems.
Story type #collaboration (main category)
#resilience
Benefits
• Substantial Brazilian contract won.
• Manifold and PLEM engineering to be conducted by UK office.
Key findings
For industry
• Take that leap into a new business and into the energy – a lot of opportunities, now is the time to take them.
• Built trust wins work.
For government
• Help businesses to go on more delegations for new market entry.
• Detail technical specs to enter the floating offshore wind market.
Deepsea Technologies at a glance:
Key products and services: Design and delivery of pressure containing equipment, driverless connection systems, compact flanges, hot stabs, PLEM’s, bend stiffener connectors, offshore service support, engineering and ROV tooling.
Main industries served:
• Oil and gas – 100%
Headquarters: Bromborough, UK
Year established: 2005
Number of employees: 43
Revenue: £10m
Revenue from exports: 71%
