BILFINGER Salamis has won North Sea work contracts worth more than £100m in total in a sign that there is still business being done in the area in spite of the oil price slump.
The oil services business said it has own a series of deals in the last three months from clients including Taqa Bratani and Apache, both of which have big North Sea portfolios.
German-owned Bilfinger Salamis has own a five year contract from Taqa Bratani to work on all of the company’s UK assets, including the Harding platform 200 miles off Aberdeen.
The company has won a three year extension of a contract with Apache covering the Beryl A and B platforms 200 miles off Aberdeen.
The services it will provide include offshore inspection and specialist cleaning work and fire protection.
The Aberdeen-based company appeared to hold out the prospect that the contract wins could result in it creating additional jobs.
Managing director, Graham Hayward said:
[quote_center]”Looking forward, we will be continuing to reinforce our personnel resources in order to make full use of the potential offered by these contracts to our customers’ satisfaction.”[/quote_center]
Bilfinger Salamis, which has more than 350 staff in Aberdeen and Lowestoft and 2,000 offshore, said it will recruit in line with clients’ requirements.
The contracts provide evidence that significant oil and gas companies are continuing to commit to long term maintenance contracts in the North Sea in spite of the challenges facing the industry.
Giants such as BP have announced plans to shed hundreds of jobs following a near 60 per cent fall in the oil price since June. Brent crude traded at $49.18 per barrel yesterday compared with $115/bbl in June.
While firms are expected to cut investment in new fields they will need to maintain spending on ensuring that existing assets are kept in good shape. Oil services firms that can help operators make savings may be able to win business from rivals.
