SCOMI Oiltools (Europe) revealed a £10million investment in its north-east business yesterday, including a drilling-fluid division, which will complement its waste-management and cuttings-processing business.
The drilling-fluid development at Pocra Quay, Aberdeen harbour, was officially opened by Aberdeen North MSP Brian Adam, a former principal biochemist, who said the investment illustrated the buoyancy of the North Sea market and reflected the faith of locally based firms in its future. He said: “It has been quite a year for the oil and gas industry with record prices dominating events.
“While that has undoubtedly presented challenges for the global economy, and especially for governments, it has presented the industry with opportunities and I am delighted to see many companies rise to the occasion by continuing to invest in the North Sea.”
The Pocra Quay development is generating about 20 jobs in the short term with up to 50 in the longer term.
Scomi Oiltools (Europe) has its HQ at Denmore House, Bridge of Don.
The company has spent the past year developing a means of transporting oily cuttings more efficiently. It says the new solution, Kinesis cuttings transport fluid, will significantly increase the rate at which waste can be transferred and therefore reduce overall drilling costs.
Scomi Group’s oilfield service division president, Chris Pianca, said: “Although Malaysia is our base, we have been growing internationally at a phenomenal rate.
“We are delighted to have this additional new presence in Aberdeen, especially since we already have a very active drilling waste-management product line here. This new project is a significant development for us as drilling fluids and the international markets offer huge growth opportunities for Scomi.”
Since 2005, Scomi’s drilling-fluid markets have expanded from three countries to 15.