Northern Ireland engineering specialist, Decom Engineering, is expanding its operations with a new base in Aberdeen which will improve access to key oil and gas clients.

The Cookstown-based firm will invest up to £200k to establish a test centre and office facility on the doorstep of Europe’s oil capital, as part of a strategy to win major decommissioning projects.

Decom Engineering, which benefits from ongoing support from economic development agency Invest Northern Ireland, has developed technologies which provide greener, faster and safer solutions for decommissioning in the energy sector.

The company’s Pipe Coating Removal (PCR) equipment can strip and clean decommissioned or surplus pipelines of multiple coatings so they can be repurposed for use on other projects, while its range of cold cutting saws are in demand on international decommissioning projects as oil and gas operators replace or remove ageing infrastructure and redundant assets.

In the last year, Decom Engineering has hosted a number of technology showcases and equipment trials in and around Aberdeen which has led to securing contracts with major energy sector contractors. 

Establishing its own strategically located facility to engage with oil and gas operators and service companies working in the North Sea, will boost its order book and strengthen the company’s chances of winning international work from clients who operate globally. 

Decom Engineering Chief Executive Officer, Sean Conway, said: 
“Aberdeen is a hotbed of technology companies who support the traditional oil and gas sector - and now the renewable energy industry - by innovating and developing cleaner, greener and safer ways of satisfying global energy demand.

“Against that background it is a little unusual for a Northern Ireland company to compete for business in Aberdeen, but the research and development work we have undertaken, and which has been generously supported by Invest NI, means we can offer unique and compelling solutions which are all important in reducing the carbon footprint for energy companies.

“Our focus is on the decommissioning sector and with many of the oil and gas majors increasingly focussed on the transition from hydrocarbons to renewable energy, opportunities for us to win new business in the North Sea will undoubtedly grow.

“Previously we have rented premises or test facilities to showcase our products and expertise to North Sea clients, but having a local facility and staff is the next logical step, and we have identified a site and hope to be up and running by Q4 of this year.”

Decom Engineering has completed contracts in mainland Europe and Asia Pacific, and is tendering for new workscopes in Thailand, North America, Brazil and India. 

The company continues to invest in R&D and with its own in-house design and build capability, it means tools and equipment can be adapted to bespoke client requirements.

Mr Conway added: 
“We have invested more than £700,000 in ongoing research and development as we devise decommissioning technologies which are more environmentally friendly and cost effective. The North Sea is an important market for us, but it can also be a gateway to international projects which will add to our track record in mainland Europe and the Asia Pacific region.”

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Decom Engineering