INTERNATIONAL consultancy RPS has acquired Nautilus Ltd and Nautilus World Ltd, a UK/US-based business providing geosciences and petroleum engineering training to the oil & gas industry, for £18.6million.
Nautilus has been providing high quality geosciences training to the oil & gas industry for 12 years.
This year, it is programmed to deliver more than 300 courses worldwide from locations in the UK and US.
Such courses cater for a range of participants, from recent graduates and technical support staff to senior employees with 30 years’ experience.
Subject areas covered include geology, geophysics, reservoir characterisation and development, petro-physics, engineering and geochemistry.
In recent years, Nautilus has delivered a programme of petroleum engineering classes in Houston.
For some of its larger clients Nautilus develops and delivers bespoke in-house training courses.
All Nautilus staff, together with its founders, are transferring to RPS with a view to extending the range of courses offered and the geographic reach of the business.
In the year ended December 31, 2010, Nautilus had revenues of £10.2million and profit before tax of £3.1million, after adjustment for non-recurring items.
Alan Hearne, chief executive of RPS, said in a statement: “The acquisition of Nautilus extends the capability of our energy business into another related growth market.
“Technical training is required by experienced IOCs (international oil companies) as they move exploration and production into increasingly complex areas and by NOCs (national oil companies) as they take greater responsibility for the development of their own assets.
“We see significant opportunity for Nautilus to benefit from the extensive connections RPS has in this sector.”
RPS describes itself as “an international consultancy providing advice upon the development of natural resources, land and property, the management of the natural and built environments and the health and safety of people”.