UNIVATION, the commercial arm of the Robert Gordon University, has hosted a visit to the north-east by a Chinese delegation.
This follows it winning a contract, worth a five- figure sum, with the Foreign Co-operation Administration Department (FCAD) of PetroChina.
The deal involved a two-week programme of oil and gas training in Aberdeen, combined with industrial and cultural visits. The 21 delegates who attended the course came from operating companies within PetroChina.
Univation regional business development manager, Greg Sloan, said: “PetroChina is looking to substantially increase the amount of offshore work it does, having in the past concentrated on onshore development.
“Where else in the world can they go to find such a rich source of energy industry experience and expertise?
“The North Sea is more than just a mature province. Here in Aberdeen, within a radius of a dozen miles, is a repository of knowledge unsurpassed in the exploration and development of what can be a very harsh offshore environment.”
The contract was won following an international tendering exercise and, according to Univation managing director Ian Campbell, there are high hopes of more of the same.
He said: “It is our intention to build a long-term relationship to provide offshore training to PetroChina through FCAD. Here in Aberdeen we have the knowledge they need. This knowledge transfer is going to be one of Scotland’s most important exports in the coming years.”