Two north-east energy service firms are playing important roles in BP’s efforts to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Asco and PSN are among hundreds of companies from the US and abroad who have been called in by the offshore giant to provide specialist skills.
The Deepwater Horizon rig was under lease to BP when it blew up and sank on April 20, killing 11 workers and leading to a huge release of oil.
Nearly 40,000 people, almost 5,000 vessels and 110 aircraft, are involved in BP’s operation to contain and collect the escaped oil.
Eight staff from Asco’s freight management operation in the US are working full-time with BP to make sure people and equipment are in place to help with the clean-up.
Five are currently based in BP’s crisis centre in Houston and are involved in high-level planning meetings. The company’s freight-management units in Aberdeen and Singapore have also been helping move equipment from various parts of the world to Houston.
Asco chief executive Billy Allan said: “The dedication, energy and commitment from BP and their staff is incredible and to have witnessed this first-hand during a recent trip to Houston was humbling.
“This was a terrible tragedy, affecting the lives of so many people. The environmental impact is huge, but I firmly believe the approach adopted by BP will help everyone pull through.”
Meanwhile, from its operations base in Lafayette in Louisiana, PSN has provided more than 150 people for support for the clean-up operation.
This ranges from clerical staff to material co-ordinators to technical advisers.
PSN chief executive Bob Keiller said: “There is no doubt this is a tragic incident and the whole industry is deeply saddened by it.
“Our operations managers in Lafayette have been working relentlessly to assemble the resources to support BP throughout the incident and clean-up operation.
“BP has come under serious criticism in the press, but when you are on the ground the enormity of the effort going into the clean-up programme cannot be underestimated.
“The level of resources being deployed is hugely impressive and shows a responsibility and commitment from BP to see this situation right.”
John Bailey, general manager of special projects for PSN in Aberdeen, went to the US as part of the company’s efforts to support BP.
He spent five weeks in the Gulf liaising with BP project teams and helping to manage the deployment of people and services.
He added: “The scale of the incident meant we had to move quickly to deliver resources and services. The collective effort by everyone is incredible.”
Matt Taylor, a spokesman for BP in Aberdeen, said: “Our colleagues who have been seconded to Houston and the Gulf coast tell us how motivating and heartening it has been for BP to be working with so many professional and committed individuals from across the industry.
“Hundreds of companies, including PSN and Asco from Aberdeen, are helping solve the immense technical and logistics challenges associated with the huge response effort and we are hugely grateful for their contributions.”