Two Scottish firms team up to create Scotoil Offshore Services

Two oil and gas suppliers have announced a new joint venture which is to create about 10 jobs in Aberdeen.

Environmental management specialists Scotoil Services has amalgamated with design and manufacturing firm BME UK Ltd to create Scotoil Offshore Services Ltd (SOS).

The companies, each having 20 years of experience in the offshore sector, saw a gap in the market due to changes in legislation affecting disposal of the oil and gas industry’s NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) waste.

Scotoil Offshore Services will provide decontamination modules (DCM) to capture and contain waste offshore, rather than transporting it onshore and then dealing with it. It will also provide experienced RPS personnel (radiation protection supervisors).

Craig Smith, Scotoil Services’ managing director, said the new joint venture was very exciting.

He said: “This is the first time we’ve invested in a local shared company and we’re delighted to do so with BME Ltd. Along with our joint expertise, our new facility and staff will be able to help clients in a new way which will mean less time, effort, and money is spent by them disposing of NORM. The joint investment by both firms will ensure work gets carried out quickly and to the high standard already expected. We are very excited by the possibilities this new venture will create and look forward to helping as many clients as we can.”

Scot Borland, managing director of BME Ltd, welcomed the new opportunities offered by the partnership.

He said: “We have worked with Scotoil Services on several smaller projects and the skills of our teams marry together very well.  We have a similar way of working and we also have the same ethos of providing high quality work with a fast turnaround. There is so much more we can do with the new joint venture and the possibilities are very exciting for us.”

According to a press release issued today the package provided by the new joint venture revolves around efficiency, reducing the footprint of what normal offshore jetting involves, and it also provides superior equipment so minimal manpower is required.

The 20ft DCM will include its own jetting bay, lighting, lifting equipment, ventilation and storage space for transporting all hoses, guns, spares, and PPE required to carry out the work. Unlike most other providers, the unit also houses a UHP water pump capable of 40,000psi.

“Clients will be given experienced advice along with the added advantage that no scaffolding or temporary habitats are required when using Scotoil Offshore Services, installations will have an all in one de-con unit taking up limited space on platforms, and customers will be assured they are getting the expertise from Scotoil Services’ more than 30 years in the business,” the press release further reads.

Scotoil Services’ team decontaminates waste which has built up as a scale on pipes and equipment after exposure to well fluids, using a range of high pressure equipment thus ensuring that these pipes and equipment can be reused. The waste is then processed and disposed of in line with current legislation through its recently-developed bespoke waste treatment plant which the company invested more than £2.5 million.

This work has included baseline environmental surveys, supervision of well workovers, process equipment cleanouts, and platform decommissioning projects, all over the world.

BME Ltd, formally known as Borland Marine Engineering Ltd, specialises in designing and manufacturing equipment for the oil and gas industry from its Bridge of Don headquarters in Aberdeen. It also carries out waste decontamination of NORM-affected items.