px to Operate NSMP’s Newly Acquired Assets

Energy and process industry specialist, the px Group, has signed a long term agreement with North Sea Midstream Partners (NSMP) to operate and maintain (O&M) the St. Fergus Gas Terminal and associated Frigg UK and SIRGE offshore pipelines.

The O&M agreement, signed on August 27, will take effect on completion of the sale of these assets by Total to NSMP as separately announced by Total.

Director of Operations at px, Stewart Mortlock, will oversee the start of the contract later this year. Total staff working on the site, and some staff in Aberdeen, will transfer to px under the TUPE employment regulations, increasing the business’ headcount by around 25%. Resident contractors working on the assets will continue to do so as px intends to carry on with these key contracts.

A new Aberdeen office will be opened by px to provide engineering and commercial management of the infrastructure.

At the same time as taking on operations at St. Fergus, px has extended its O&M contract at Teesside Gas Processing Plant, also owned by NSMP.

Chief Executive Officer with px, Ian Clifford, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as the operations and maintenance partner for one of the UK’s largest gas processing operations and to extend our long standing agreement on Teesside.

“This significantly grows and strengthens our business, provides job security for existing employees and is likely to create around 25 new positions over the coming months. It also further demonstrates the competency and skill set of the px group to provide professional O&M services to the oil and gas industry.

“As a business working in high hazard industries, we make the safety of our people and the protection of the environment our top priorities. So the most important thing now is to ensure a safe and smooth transition of operations at St. Fergus and incident free operation in the years ahead, while maximising the efficiency of the plant.”