PSL Energy Services win major Caspian contract
Posted: 22 January 2004
Oil and gas services firm PSL Energy Services has succeeded in
winning a major multi-million dollar Caspian contract which will
create up to 50 new jobs in Aberdeen and Azerbaijan.
PSL was awarded the contract by McDermott Caspian Contractors Incorporated
(MCCI) for the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC)
development with all the work being carried out in Baku.
The initial work-scope is for nitrogen/helium leak detection and
bolting services for the process facilities on the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli
field. Developed by BP on behalf of AIOC, the field lies 120 miles
off the Azerbaijan coast and is forecast to yield up to 1 million
barrels of oil a day within a few years.
The topside contract is for work on the first platform of a planned
three and PSL hope that on completion it will be in a good position
to bid for further work on the other decks which are scheduled to
be operational in 2005 and 2006.
A critical element of the work scope will be providing training
for Azerbaijan nationals in flange management and leak testing skills
and initially up to 24 new jobs will be created in Baku but that
could rise to as many as 40.
PSL Energy Services managing director, Doug Duguid, revealed the
Aberdeen based company had been pursuing the MCCI contract for more
than a year and said securing the bid was the direct result of establishing
a regional base in Baku.
Mr Duguid said the new work was a significant step towards internationalising
PSL's core activities and establishing a foothold in the strategically
important Caspian region.
He said: "This contract is hugely important for PSL in terms
of growing the business internationally and it gives us an excellent
opportunity to showcase our workforce, products and technical skills.
This gives us a strong foundation in Azerbaijan on which we can
build and I am delighted for our team based in Baku who have put
in a power of work to secure this contract.
"We believe it is necessary to have our own people and facilities
on the ground in Baku to allow us to respond quickly to the requirements
of the lead contractors and operators in this important sector and
our foresight is paying off.
"Integral to the contract is to provide training to the Azerbaijan
workforce and we delighted to be able to pass on our technical skills
and in the process to reinvest in the local economy by creating
jobs.
"Since our MBO in April we have continued to strengthen our
reputation for providing top quality workmanship and innovative
solutions by winning some very important contracts. This latest
award confirms we are moving on to a new level and is the perfect
start to 2004 which is looking to be a very promising year for the
company."
Operations director for the Central Azeri Platform, Gordon Phillips,
said: “During the final negotiation phase and subsequent execution
of the work, PSL have been very responsive and accommodating to
proposals made by MCCI.
“PSL's personnel have quickly integrated into the MCCI site
organization to establish a truly team approach for the timely completion
of the piping sub-systems. We are very happy with the performance
and the flexible approach being taken by PSL to accommodate a tight
and technically challenging schedule.”
Mike Rumbles, MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, praised
PSL’s drive to internationalise the business.
Mr Rumbles said: “"I am delighted that PSL has been
awarded this important contract. The management and staff at PSL
are to be congratulated for the dramatic turn around of their business
in the last year. I am well aware of the important contribution
that companies like PSL make to the local economy and I wish the
company every success for the future."
Initially discovered and developed in the Soviet era, the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli
(ACG) field contains at least 5.4 billion barrels of recoverable
oil and lies some 120 kilometers off the coast of Azerbaijan in
120 metres of water.
The Chirag portion of the contract area (Early Oil Project) is
currently producing up to 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) and undergoing
further development.
Work is underway on the ACG Full Field Development project (FFD),
which plans to develop the Azeri and Deepwater Gunashli portions
of the contract area. Phase 1 of the three phase project was approved
in August 2001 and will develop the central part of the Azeri field
with first oil production scheduled for late in 2004/early 2005.
PSL Energy Services Ltd employs 240 staff at headquarters in Portlethen,
Aberdeen, and at bases at Great Yarmouth, Houston, Singapore and
Baku.
Its core activities are well services, process, pipeline and excavation
services and inspection services and hydraulic work-overs.
For more information see www.psles.com
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
Information supplied by companies
or PR agencies who are responsible for content. Send press releases
to info@pipelinedubai.com |
