Case Study - Aquaterra Energy
Norfolk: making waves in the offshore energy sector
All around the world, offshore systems devised and honed in Norfolk are ensuring we make the best use of the earth’s energy resources. Aquaterra Energy is achieving rapid international growth on the back of ingenious solutions to a multitude of offshore issues.
Managing director George Morrison has no doubt that Norfolk has the right combination of ancillary industries and skilled engineers – plus the quality of life to keep them here – to thrive for years to come in a fast-changing energy sector.
“We have a good base of skilled engineers here because the offshore industry has been here for 40 odd years, and you tend to find that people want to stay in the area,” he added.
The Norwich-based offshore engineering company will have grown from a full-time staff of 30 in late 2007 to about 70 by the end of 2009, with an annual turnover of £20 million.
Describing itself as a “dynamic offshore engineering company”, Aquaterra is involved in the design and manufacture of platforms, subsea cameras, pipeline services, subsea structures and installation services.
But this barely begins to describe the company’s raison d’être.
“I believe what makes us unusual in the market is that we will not only design solutions for all kinds of drilling, rig or platform issues, but we’ll project manage the whole thing through from beginning to installation,” said George.
As well as developing platforms for brand new offshore fields, the company specialises in bespoke solutions to help “squeeze the last drops of oil or puff of gas” from existing platforms.
“We provide new ways of getting additional production and extending the life of platforms by making modifications to them.”
Aquaterra provides services to more than 70 operators in 17 countries worldwide, including Vietnam, Angola and Egypt plus countries surrounding the North Sea.
The vast majority of staff are recruited locally. “Most people who come here want to stay here and a lot of Norfolk engineers who have moved away are very keen to return, which works very well for us in terms of recruitment,” added George.
“The county also has very good fabrication facilities and a good supply chain.”
This is emphasised by the collaboration with two specialist Norfolk companies in the development and deployment of two innovative Sea Swift platforms to the shallow water Morsa West field for a major oil and gas supplier in Angola.
The two platforms were fabricated in Great Yarmouth before being shipped to Angola. As well as the structural design and installation of the platforms, Aquaterra also landed a multi-million pound contract for the hook-up and commissioning of both platforms along with a third previously installed minimum facility platform within the Morsa West field.
Specialist Yarmouth company E-Tech Group was called in to provide the electrical and instrumentation package for the project, along with control and instrumentation specialist, 3sun.
George is hopeful that further such platforms can be deployed around the world, and that Norfolk expertise can play a significant role in maximising the oil and gas yield from both new and older fields.
A graduate of Aberdeen University, George is not only an advocate of Norfolk’s business advantages, such as the proximity to the offshore industry at Yarmouth, but also its unique way of life.
“In terms of quality of life you’d have to go quite a long way to better it,” he said. “The weather is certainly better than Aberdeen, and it’s within striking distance of a day out in London, but without the palaver of commuting. For me, it’s been a really great place – I married a Norwich girl, we’ve got three children here and I’ve really enjoyed being down here.”
Fact file: Why Aquaterra?
- More than 70 contracts in 17 different countries
- Contracts with major global brands including BP, Total and Chevron
- Rapid growth from 30 staff to 70 in two years
Fact file: Why Norfolk?
- Close to offshore expertise in Great Yarmouth
- Ready supply of skilled engineers
- Great place to live and raise a family
- Good supply chain and infrastructure
