Fire protection company Blaze Manufacturing Solutions is poised to increase both revenues and staff by more than 20% this year 2015 after securing a string of deals worth a total of £2million.
Contracts won by the Laurencekirk-based firm, which supplies fire protection systems to oil and gas operators, include a chemical cleaning services deal worth around £1million.
Blaze – which lists Amec, Petrofac, Taqa and Wood Group among its clients – secured a pair of multi-million pound contracts last year, [2013-14] which boosted turnover to £18.25million.
Global Energy Group is preparing to unveil over 2,000 feet of fresh quay at its base in Nigg Bay as ports all along the east coast get ready for a step-change in the offshore wind sector.
Steve Thompson, business development director at Global, will tell Scotland’s largest offshore wind conference in Aberdeen on Tuesday [27 JANUARY] that the extra quayside space will provide services for the renewables industry.
Global bought the former oil rig yard at Nigg Bay on the Cromarty Firth in 2011 and has signed a memorandum of understanding with Moray Offshore Renewables, which plans to erect wind turbines in the firth.
Faroe Petroleum said it was “well placed” to consider attractive acquisitions this year as the falling oil and gas price sees rivals selling off assets.
The company said its strong cash position and undrawn debt facilities mean it expected 2015 to be “another year of growth”.
The firm, which has the largest stake in Norwegian oil fields for a UK-based company, said post-tax exploration and appraisal costs were expected to run to £25million while production capex was expected to be £16million this year.
Marine Platforms has taken delivery of a new subsea support vessel, the African Inspiration, from Norwegian shipbuilder Havyard.
The firm, based in Aberdeen and Nigeria, said the vessel will service deepwater market locations offshore Nigeria.
The African Inspiration is currently berthed in Aberdeen to have two ROV systems installed as well as other project equipment before she leaves for the Gulf of Guinea.
A selection of the country’s most successful subsea businesses have made it on to the shortlist for the industry’s annual awards gala.
Fisher Offshore, Proserv and ROVOP are all in contention for the annual Subsea UK Awards event’s top honour, the subsea company of the year award.
Express Engineering Oil & Gas, Flowline Specialists and Tekmar Energy have been short-listed in the Global Exports Award category, while ToolTec, Ocean Installer and Cambla are vying for the New Enterprise award.
An offshore oil consultancy with an operation in Aberdeen has bought a controlling stake in a Norwegian IT firm.
Stavanger-based Ross Offshore took a 60% stake in Network Scenario for an undisclosed sum after working closely with the company for a number of years.
More than 60,000 offshore workers are to have the span of their shoulders measured ahead of new regulations on body size coming into force in April.
Industry group Step Change in Safety has revealed its measurement strategy for helicopter passengers travelling to and from offshore installations that will ensure all can escape from windows in the case of accidents.
Workers whose shoulders measure greater than 22in will be classified as “extra broad” (XBR) and will be required to sit in a helicopter seat that’s closest window is compatible with their shoulder size.
Centrica is celebrating a ground-breaking date in the history of UK gas exploration and production today.
Gas from the Irish Sea was extracted, processed and piped into the National Grid for the first time on January 9th 1985, marking 30 years of production from Morecambe Bay, one of the country’s biggest gas reservoirs.
At peak, the region produced enough gas to meet 20% of the UK’s domestic demand.
A well-known petroleum economist has warned that a spat over the creation of a new port in the Cromarty Firth risks giving the region a “bad image”.
Tony Mackay, head of Mackay Consultants in Inverness, also criticised the Cromarty Firth Port Authority’s (CFPA) expansion plans, claiming that its estimates in terms of job creation and economic impact were “silly”.
The steep decline in oil price paused yesterday for the first time in five days, after benchmark Brent caused consternation as it fell to below $50 a barrel.
Crude prices at last turned positive as Brent hovered near $51 a barrel last night, after recovering from a session low of $49.66 earlier. US crude was also up 70 cents at $48.63, after rallying earlier to $49.31.
Energy services firm Hunting yesterday unveiled plans to sell its ship-broking division to an employee benefit trust (EBT), with a deal expected to be signed in the coming weeks.
City analysts had previously identified EA Gibson Shipbrokers as a “non-core asset” for the FTSE 250 firm, although the timing of the potential sale is understood to be unrelated to the recent plunge in the price of oil.
The company said: “The transaction is expected to complete by the 31 March and is conditional on a number of matters including the management of Gibson finalising structure and funding.
Engineering IT specialist Aveva has snapped up an oil and gas software firm for £26.9million as it places a bet that its customers will be seeking to cut costs.
The Cambridge-based company acquired 8over8 from management and private investors.
Subsea pipe specialist Flexlife returned to profit last year despite a small decline in annual sales.
Its parent company, Flexlife Group, also narrowed losses, according to accounts filed at Companies House.
Flexlife Limited saw turnover fall around £1million to £13.3million in the year to the end of March 2014. But the firm recorded a pre-tax profit of £452,461 compared to a £514,678 loss in the prior year.
An engineering services company has invested £150,000 in setting up a new testing division in Aberdeen.
Enterprise Engineering Services (EES) says the new facility at Tullos Industrial Estate has enabled it to become a one-stop shop for design, fabrication, installation and testing services.
The oil price is expected to "bounce back" from five and a half year lows this year - but North Sea activity will continue to decline, energy policy experts have predicted.
Energy specialist Munro’s Travel reports strong interest from UK companies keen to attend and exhibit at the world’s top oil show.
Next year’s Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in the US oil capital of Houston is being held from Monday, May 4, to Thursday, May 7.
Executives and experts from leading oil companies will be attending this important event, which attracted a show record of more than 108,000 people last year.
A north-east firm has been awarded a two-year contract extension for the provision of specialist contractors with Shell UK.
Aberdeen-based firm CSL has been awarded the extension of an existing onshore and offshore frame agreement with the oil giant across its Upstream International Europe region for the provision of client representation.
The contract covers provision of experienced senior client, diving, marine and engineering representatives to support subsea teams.
The European Court of Justice has ruled obesity can constitute a disability.
The EU’s highest court was asked to rule on the case of a male childminder in Denmark who said he was sacked for being too fat.
Legal experts had warned that the move would offer crucial protection to offshore workers who fall foul of new helicopter safety legislation limiting the size of people travelling to North Sea platforms.
The court said that if obesity could hinder “full and effective participation” at work then it could count as a disability.
BLOBA Glasgow aluminium company owned by the former owner of Rangers Football Club said its systems had been successfully installed an accommodation module to be used on successfully installed on the BP Clair Ridge project.
Bellshill-based Alphastrut, owned by Sir David Murray’s private investment firm, said its decking has saved BP around 54 tonnes in weight following the completion the seven figure installation deal.
Well management firm Exceed has set its sights on international markets after reaching its target turnover of £15million this year.
The Aberdeen company is currently planning the first deepwater campaign in Myanmar, expected to commence in early 2015.
The firm has added 10 new staff in Aberdeen this year, adding to its workforce of 75 in Canada, Ghana, Kenya, Myanmar and Malaysia.
Norwegian investment firm HitecVision has consolidated five companies in its portfolio into one oil and gas services firm.
The firm’s Global Maritime Group, which has offices in Aberdeen, Glasgow and London, will now comprise Marine Contracting, Deep Sea Installation, Vryhof Anchor and Deep Sea Mooring.
The five companies specialise in offshore and maritime engineering, marine warranty, dynamic positioning, vessel inspection, mooring and anchors, as well as offloading, transportation and installation of offshore structures.
Glacier Energy Services has merged its pipeline machining and onsite service businesses into a new division as it expands across the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
The firm, which has operational bases in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Newcastle and Singapore, has appointed Mark Derry, previously head of Glacier’s offshore division, to run the new unit.
Glacier has also appointed Kevin Strachan as regional manager for the Middle East, based in Dubai, for the newly formed Roberts Machining Solutions.
Oil service provider Plexus said it did not expect its business to be hit by weak oil prices this year or beyond as it sees continued demand for its niche equipment.
The Aberdeen-based supplier of oil and gas drilling technology said it expected the sharp decline in oil prices to be temporary and that long-term investments in the sector would sustain demand for Plexus' services.
Plexus chairman Jeffrey Thrall spoke to the AIM listed firm’s investors at its AGM yesterday.
Investing in new plant has paid off for Saltire Energy after the oil drilling equipment rental firm posted a 10% rise in revenues.
Accounts filed at Companies House showed that the Portlethen-based company turned over £36.3million in the year to 30 June, up from just under £33million in the previous 12 months.
Pre-tax profits edged up by 3% to £17.7million after a rise in the costs of distribution and sales, including the investment in new rental gear.
Writing in the directors’ report, chief executive Mike Loggie said: “The group’s rentals have continued to show considerable growth.
Turnover at Enermech broke through the £200-million barrier for the first time last year and is on course to hit £260million this year after the mechanical engineering group unveiled a further six crane contracts together worth more than £34million.
Figures published yesterday showed that revenues grew by 40% during 2013 to reach £202.5m.
International expansion reined in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), which climbed by a more-modest 21% to hit £14.2m.
