APACHE North Sea said yesterday it was looking to boost staff numbers and find new headquarters.
It aims to eventually have its north-east workforce housed under one roof.
Apache, which employs 216 people in the north-east and also has about 320 core contractors, said on Wednesday it was buying ExxonMobil’s Mobil North Sea assets for £1.1billion.
The acquisition means Apache now needs more workers.
It plans to take over control of the Mobil assets, primarily the Beryl field and Sage gas terminal at St Fergus near Peterhead, in December.
But the firm will start working with Mobil North Sea, including examining the geology of Beryl, as soon as today.
Managing director Jim House is due to visit the Beryl field, which is in the northern North Sea, tomorrow and then Sage on Monday.
He said yesterday the ExxonMobil deal, initially mooted in January, was delayed by the increase in the supplementary charge on UK North Sea oil and gas producers in the March Budget.
Issues around decommissioning liabilities also made the transaction complex.
Mr House said he hoped 4D seismic work to give the firm a thorough picture of Beryl – and at greater depths – could be done early in the new year, subject to agreement from partners and budgeting.
The last 3D seismic survey of the field was in 1997.
Mr House said the Dyce-based firm – part of Houston-based Apache Corporation – was looking at existing office space in Aberdeen for new headquarters but considering “all options”, which could include a new-build.
Apache’s north-east staff are currently based at Alba Gate, Stoneywood Park, and an overspill office next door.
Mobile North Sea’s 26 employees are mostly based at Grampian House, Union Row, with some at nearby Caledonian House.