Partner Article

Tees subsea firm wins multi-million pound North Sea contract

A Teesside subsea firm has won a multi-million pound oil and gas trenching contract on the Bøyla Development Project in the North Sea.

Reef Subsea Integrated Projects, based in Thornaby, Stockton, say the work, for leading Tier 1 client Technip Norge AS, is recognition of the progress it has made since it was launched just 18 months ago.

The company, formed in January 2012, wants to break into the trenching market, and a growing reputation with some of the world’s largest firms is helping it get there.

It employs 45 staff from its Thornaby base, and is planning to grow numbers by next year as more projects come on board.

A project for energy giant Statoil next year is already in place, while it continues to work on Europe’s largest wind farm, Gwynt Y Mor, off the coast of Wales for RWE.

It will use its latest asset, the Q1000 trencher, for the latest contract win in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

Commercial director Daryl Lynch said: “Technip Norge AS is one of the largest Tier 1 contractors in terms of an oil and gas food chain.

“This is a hugely prestigious contract for us. It’s a sub-contract service, but an important one nonetheless.

“We get to do all the engineering quality control and operation of the asset.

“We missed out on a few projects, but the market will sit up and take notice with the new contract.

“A contract with Technip Norge AS is not easily won, you have to show you are a quality organisation, heavily focused, it’s a quality driven process that’s not just focused on price.

“For us to win it is fantastic, and it’s recognition of the progress we’ve made.”

Reef Subsea Integrated Projects, based in Bergen and Aberdeen as well as Thornaby specialises in installation, construction, trenching and inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) workscopes.

Mr Lynch added: “Reef was an amalgamation of a lot of companies, we are now integrated with our sister company in Bergen and Aberdeen. We share engineering and project management work together.

“There’s a gap in the market for installation and protection, and that’s what drives us.

“Windfarm work is also growing, not just in the UK but in the European market, and there are signs of oil and gas picking up.

“We are starting to build an interesting reputation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .