US oil service giant Halliburton has officially opened its new £20million North Sea headquarters in Aberdeen.
Announcing completion of the project yesterday, Halliburton said the 86,000sq ft building and 37,000sq ft of workshop space would allow it to consolidate its operations around Dyce.
The new complex, designed by Aberdeen architect Halliday Fraser Munro, will be home to 500 of Halliburton’s 2,500 Scotland-based employees who previously worked in four locations.
A spokeswoman for Houston-based Halliburton said its employment levels in the north-east reflected current market conditions, but would not be drawn on whether or not the firm had cut any North Sea jobs in recent months.
Last October, the group said contracts were ending in the North Sea and it was deploying assets and people to other areas of greater demand and profitability.
It has so far failed to provide details about the impact this might have in Aberdeen.
Plans for the HQ were first unveiled in November 2006.
Halliburton’s chairman, president and chief executive David Lesar was at the complex at Howe Moss Crescent, on the Kirkhill industrial estate, yesterday to declare the building open.
UK vice-president Simon Seaton said: “This investment underscores our belief in the continued long-term viability of the North Sea energy industry. Halliburton is committed to helping its customers extend the life of their assets as long as possible and this investment in our infrastructure is a demonstration of our belief in that goal.”
The firm said it had shown its continuing commitment to community and environmental projects by creating collection zones for stationery, furniture and other reusable items during construction work on the HQ.
These items were then donated to local schools and other worthy causes.
Halliburton is one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry.