Former ADTI men join forces with Exceed

Exceed, a well management and performance improvement specialist, has joined forces with eight former members of senior staff from Applied Drilling Technology International (ADTI).

According to Exceed, ADTI ceased trading in May 2015, following a decision to close the business made by Sun European Partners, ADTI’s private equity owner that bought it in February 2014.

Resulting in the loss of 90 jobs, it also lead to the decision by eight senior members from across the ADTI business to actively look at ways to continue to operate. Following discussions with Exceed, a new venture was formed with the intention of continuing to serve former ADTI clients and the wider North Sea market, Exceed has said in a statement.

Well management specialist notes that the new venture brings Exceed’s total number of staff to 30 people, with a further 20 contractors working on projects both locally in the North Sea, as well as internationally on projects in Canada, West Africa and South East Asia. All of the new positions will be based at Exceed’s existing headquarters in Aberdeen, the company has said.

Exceed said that the former ADTI staff have joined Exceed as stakeholders through a newly-formed subsidiary. According to Exceed, they have taken on the following roles within the company:

– John Anderson, commercial director wells;
– Calum MacDonald, well engineering and operations director;
– Steve Hayhurst, production technology and petroleum engineering manager;
– Bart van de Laar, wells project manager;
– Dave Craig, engineering team lead;
– John McNab, completions and workover manager;
– John Simpson, well test and decommissioning manager;
– Ross Mack, subsea manager.

Al Brockie, Head of Wells Management at Exceed, said: “There is a strong strategic fit between ADTI and Exceed, with both companies offering a range of wells management services in different markets.”

“Traditionally, ADTI has had a strong presence in the North Sea whereas the majority of Exceed’s projects have been delivered internationally. This partnership not only bolsters our global credentials and renews our focus on the North Sea, but also allows Exceed to evolve internal systems and processes which will result in significant benefits for clients.”

“The move also sends an important message to the industry in a time when thousands of jobs are at risk across all sectors and many talented professionals are being made redundant purely as a result of cost saving measures. Companies which are still in a position to continue expansion plans should be making the most of this opportunity. The events following the closure of ADTI have been a prime example of how collaboration within the industry can secure jobs and livelihoods.”

Adding more ADTI staff?

Exceed said that the new venture expands its service offering to include well abandonment, production technology and petroleum engineering, and will allow the company to drive operations into several new markets. Depending on future contracts, there may also be the potential to take on further ex-members of ADTI staff, the company added.

John Anderson, Exceed’s newly appointed commercial director for its well division, said: “This is an opportunity for us to continue servicing existing customers and preserve the ADTI bloodline, quality and levels of service. Our team brings strong historic client relationships with a number of North Sea based operators and we are very optimistic that this newly combined service offering and track record will re-open doors both locally and nationally.”

Anderson concluded: “Feedback from clients has suggested that the loss of ADTI is a loss to the industry, and so we are extremely pleased that this merger has happened. Our combined strengths have set us up with a powerful platform for growth.”

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