Deepwater drilling and performance improvement specialist Exceed has secured several new contracts leading to 25 new staff being taken on lately, with further expansion on the cards.
The Aberdeen firm now has a team of more than 35 people working on projects in three countries with two further contracts scheduled to start shortly.
Exceed says turnover is on track to rise more than 300% in two years and is forecast to nudge $7million for 2010/11 (year-end February 2011).
The firm started out as a drilling-related performance improvement specialist but diversified last year by launching what was billed as the offshore industry’s first consultancy of its type to focus solely on drilling projects in deepwater.
The new division provides a full wells project capability from conceptual design, exploration and evaluation through to full field development.
Led by industry-renowned drilling experts Al Brockie and Stan Van de Capelle, the division rapidly secured its first deepwater drilling project management work and is set to take on further work with the same client in the Black Sea.
Energy believes the client is a US super-major, perhaps ExxonMobil, which is already involved via a Turkish Black Sea farm-in. Moreover, Exxon will shortly have a new Transocean super-drillship working to its account on the Turkish programme. Chevron is also now involved offshore deepwater Turkey.
Exceed says it is in discussions for further international deepwater projects later this year.
Founder and co-director Ian Mills said of the outlook: “Exceed invested heavily in diversifying to create the opportunity for additional growth and in drawing together an exceptional team. We went from a discretionary offering to an essential one and now have work worth $6million stretching well into 2011 and beyond.
“Deepwater exploration and development plays an increasingly important role in meeting global energy demands.
The key players in this field – national oil companies (NOCs) operators and contractors, are faced with challenges such as increasing complexity, escalating cost of services, limited availability of deepwater rigs, and the shortage of and technically capable experts with the sector relevant experience.”
He added: “Exceed’s deepwater team has amassed more than 500 years combined offshore drilling experience working on a variety of rig types including the latest technology 5/6th generation dual-handling rigs.
Our mission is to be the world’s premier deepwater wells specialists who explore and develop deepwater prospects free of incidents and at the lowest possible cost of access. We aim to shorten the cycle from prospect to production while always delivering well integrity, well productivity and well quality.
“At the moment, coaches are working on three projects and have an additional two scheduled to begin over the next three to six months, including what will be Exceed’s first work in Nigeria.”
The past year has also seen Exceed gain ISO 9000 accreditation and FPAL (First Point Assessment) portfolio of results in excess of 86%.