Author Archives: Colene Woolcott

  1. Penspen Expands Middle East Offering

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    Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering and management services to the energy industry, has underlined its commitment to growth in the Middle East with three new appointments and investment in a new office in Iraq.

    Ahmed Al-Dadah and Na’el Barghouthi have joined the company from other engineering providers, whilst Michael Simm, EVP of Engineering and Project Management, has been newly appointed to the role of Regional Director for Penspen’s Middle East business. A new Iraq office, located in Basra will expand Penspen’s geographical reach and become the fourth location in the region joining Abu Dhabi, Doha and Khafji.

    Peter O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Penspen said:

    “This is an exciting time for Penspen as we continue our substantial growth in the Middle East. I am confident Michael, Na’el and Ahmed will play a key role in strengthening our 300-strong team in the region. Their industry expertise and leadership skills will drive our strategic objectives to grow our engineering, project management, field development and asset integrity businesses. ”

    Ahmed Al-Dadah has been appointed to the role of Business Development Director for E&PM. He joins the company from Amec Foster Wheeler, where he spent 12 years working in various project delivery and business development roles. His experience includes working in the successful execution of study, pre-FEED, FEED, EPC phases across both new build and modifications projects

    Na’el Barghouthi joins Penspen as Director of Asset Integrity, Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. Na’el’s career spans over 15 years working in the oil and gas industry with experience in management, offshore engineering and integrity. He has previously worked for Wood Group Kenny, GE Oil & Gas, Al Shaheen Holding Joint Venture, and Occidental Petroleum of Qatar.

    Regional Director of the Middle East, Michael Simm, said:

    “I’m delighted to welcome Ahmed and Na’el to the team. Their skills and experience in delivering key services that our clients require in today’s lower-oil price economy will be of great value in further expanding our Middle East presence.”

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    Ahmed Al-Dadah, Michael Simm and Na’el Barghouthi

  2. Penspen Appoints New EVP Asset Management & Asset Integrity and Regional Director of the Americas

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    Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering and management services to the energy industry, has strengthened its Houston team with the appointment of Carl Mook as the new EVP Asset Management and Asset Integrity and Regional Director of the Americas.

    In his new EVP role, Carl will be responsible for growing Penspen’s asset management and integrity businesses across all global regions. In addition to these responsibilities, in his new role as Regional Director, Americas, he will be tasked with managing Penspen’s six offices across North and South America and accelerating the growth of the company’s Americas business to represent 30 per cent of its total revenue.

    Carl commented on his appointment:

    “Penspen has been an established name in the pipeline, engineering and asset integrity business for more than 60 years, and it’s a privilege to join such a prestigious, long-serving company with ambitious growth plans. I look forward to contributing to this success by developing a more integrated client offering, providing our customers an enhanced understanding of their asset integrity and operational needs, all aimed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their operating assets throughout their entire lifecycle.”

    Carl joins Penspen from a senior role in Baker Hughes where he was VP and General Manager of Process and Pipeline Services. Previously, he worked for BJ Services in a variety of senior management roles across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

    Peter O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Penspen said:

    “As our asset management and integrity businesses continue to grow, we are pleased to welcome Carl to the team and confident he will be extremely valuable in expanding our global business. With more than 25 years of industry experience, Carl brings deep technical expertise in pipeline and production operations across the US and beyond. His strong track record in growing new services, will serve him well in building relationships with new and existing clients, so contributing to our ambitious growth plans across the Americas, Europe and Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.”

     

  3. Significant New Maintenance Contract for NGN

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    The north of England’s gas distributor, Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has signed a major new contract with Penspen to cover all mechanical maintenance work required across the network.

    As of early May 2015, provider of engineering, project management and asset management services, Penspen will take responsibility for maintaining a wide range of mechanical equipment on behalf of NGN, from gas off-take equipment to district governors as part of the three year contract.

    This new partnership with the integrity, engineering, operations and maintenance specialist is a significant move for NGN as it marks the first time that a gas distributor in the UK has outsourced all of its mechanical maintenance requirements.

    Tim Harwood, head of major projects and maintenance at NGN, said: “Penspen has been appointed after a long and thorough tender process. As experts in the maintenance of pipelines and associated plant equipment they have a strong combination of technical and commercial acumen, with highly skilled employees, supported by the company’s own in-house training school.

    “This is an exciting move for our business, as we continue to modernise and work in a smarter and more efficient way. Other gas distribution networks will certainly be taking notes, and we could see this model adopted in other parts of the UK in the coming years.”

    As part of the new arrangement, a number of highly skilled NGN employees who currently work in mechanical maintenance positions will transfer to Penspen to carry out the same job roles but under new employers. To assist with the transition, Penspen has provided new vehicles and IT to prepare the transferring staff for their new challenge.

    Explaining the move, Tim said: “Penspen colleagues will become an extension of our team in the coming months as our NGN colleagues move to their new employers. Existing Penspen staff will be working with transferring staff to make new teams; it will be a seamless transition with business as usual the main focus.

    “It is an interesting time to be head of maintenance, working with great teams both within NGN and with Penspen.”

    NGN will retain maintenance supervisory and managerial staff who will be ensuring safety standards, technical compliance and quality control is met.

    Peter O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Penspen, said: “This is the first time one of the major gas distributors for the UK has outsourced its maintenance work to one company and we are delighted that Northern Gas Networks has chosen Penspen. We have a dedicated training facility with the capability to train technicians in high pressure gas maintenance services and this is one of the reasons we have been selected for the substantial project.”

    NGN delivers gas to 2.7 million homes and businesses across the North of England and provides the region’s rapid response service for customers who smell gas at home or work. 

  4. Penspen wins American Society of Mechanical Engineers Global Pipeline Award

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    Penspen has won the prestigious ‘Global Pipeline Award’ from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for their internet-based Masters in Pipeline Integrity Management, run in partnership with Northumbria University in the UK.

    The American Society of Mechanical Engineers judge and present the award at the International Pipeline Conference and Exposition in Calgary, Canada, where over 5000 delegates meet every two years.

    The award ‘recognises outstanding innovations and technological advances in the field of pipeline transportation’. Penspen was one of 5 companies short-listed for the prize, and the winner was announced at a large awards dinner in Calgary on 30th September.

    Michelle Unger, Head of Learning Services said,

    ‘This Masters programme is unique as all the tutors are experts from the pipeline industry, it is delivered totally via the internet, and students can obtain an MSc without ever leaving their country. The success of the course means we can now create a version in Spanish, and launch it into Latin America, where there is a great demand for this type of education. This award will help us expand around the world.’

    Phil Hopkins, Penspen’s Technical Director said

    ‘The Global Pipeline Award is presented to the outstanding innovation and technological development in the global pipeline industry. The American Society of Engineers award this prize, via a panel of international judges. This prestigious award is highly competitive, and has previously been won by the likes of Petrobras and Petro China. I am delighted we have won it, and I was proud to accept the award on behalf of Penspen, in particular for Michelle Unger and her Learning Team in the Newcastle office, who designed and deliver the MSc. I’d also like to acknowledge the Penspen staff David Eyre, Andy Young, Susannah Turner and Graham Goodfellow who are tutors on the MSc. They’ve all worked hard, and thoroughly deserve this recognition. A fantastic achievement’.

    Dr Rebecca Strachan, Associate Dean (Business and Engagement) for Engineering and Environment at Northumbria University, Newcastle, said:

    “We are delighted that this innovative MSc programme has been recognised for this award. It is a brilliant example of a successful university-industry partnership created to meet the demands of a specific sector and provide students with an edge in their future careers.

    “The programme provides a flexible and accessible way to upskill staff and develop their professional competencies for the oil and gas pipeline industry and we are proud of the way staff here at the University and at Penspen work together to deliver it. This award-winning partnership further demonstrates Northumbria’s commitment to partnership working as a professional, business-focused University.”

  5. Penspen Awarded Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (TAPI) Pipeline Feasibility Study

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    Penspen has been awarded a contract by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to carry out a technical feasibility study for a proposed 1820km, 56in. diameter pipeline from Turkmenistan’s giant Galkynysh Gas Field, to serve energy markets in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

    Penspen’s scope of work includes a review of the proposed route, confirmation of hydraulics including compressor station size and location, provision of cost estimates and development of project execution strategy and schedule.

    Penspen has awarded a sub-contract to the Netherlands-based Royal HaskoningDHV an international engineering, consultancy and project management firm to undertake the important environmental and social safeguards components of the study.

    The Technical Feasibility Study is expected to take 6 months to complete, following which, Penspen and Haskoning will provide on-going support to ADB during the investor selection process.

    Peter O’ Sullivan, Penspen’s Chief Executive said:

    “We are proud to be involved in this major project, which will enable Turkmenistan to monetise a part of its vast natural gas reserves, by opening a southerly route to the energy-hungry markets of South Asia”.

  6. Penspen acquires DPS Engineering

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    Media Release: 29 September

    Energy services company Penspen has acquired the engineering division of DPS Group. The acquisition, which increases Penspen’s headcount by 10%, took place in mid-September, and supports Penspen’s strategic drive to grow the scope of services that it provides to its clients. This acquisition significantly strengthens Penspen’s oil and gas process facilities engineering capability, and brings access to the FPSO construction market in Asia Pacific.

    The purchase includes all DPS engineering staff based in Singapore and Bristol, whose skills and experience will enable Penspen to support its clients throughout the full life cycle of their oil and gas assets.  The DPS Engineering team have an excellent track record in the design of topsides for fixed platforms and FPSOs, as well as for onshore process facilities.

    This acquisition comes in the same month that Penspen has rebranded to bring all its existing sub-brands under a new, dynamic Penspen banner. This rebranding coincides with Penspen’s 60th anniversary year, and is aimed at raising the profile of the business, positioning it as one of the world’s leading energy services companies.

    Penspen’s Chief Executive Peter O’ Sullivan said:

    “This is a very exciting time for Penspen and DPS Engineering. We are confident that our new partnership will appeal to our clients and we look forward to working with them to develop high quality onshore and offshore production facilities for their oil and gas assets.”

    Notes to Editors

    About Penspen

    Penspen has been providing engineering, project management, asset management and integrity services to the oil and gas industry worldwide for over 60 years. Originally founded in the UK in 1954 as Spencer & Partners, the company has now grown to include over 1,000 engineers with major offices in London, Aberdeen, Houston, Abu Dhabi, and Bangkok.

    During its history, Penspen has undertaken over 10,000 projects, addressing a wide range of challenges from the economic evaluation of pipelines to complex integrated facilities design. Our heritage is onshore pipeline engineering, in which we have been involved in major pipeline projects around the world. However we have expanded to provide the full scope of engineering services for the life cycle of an asset. We have also developed an extensive range of training services covering engineering design, integrity, and operations and maintenance, for energy assets.

    About DPS Engineering:

    The engineering division of DPS undertakes the design of integrated oil and gas production facilities for both on and offshore projects. The company supports operators from the Field Development stage, through FEED, Detailed Design, to Construction and Commissioning Supervision. The company has built a particularly strong reputation in the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) topsides market, having undertaken the detailed design of around 10 FPSO’s in recent years.

    DPS’s main engineering centres in the UK and Singapore will complement Penspen’s existing international office locations.

    About the acquisition:

    The acquisition relates to all 86 DPS engineering staff, who will continue to operate under the name ‘DPS Engineering’ for the present time.

    About the rebrand:

    Penspen’s rebrand brings the following sub-brands, which were already part of the Penspen group, under the Penspen name. All of these sub brands are now trading as Penspen. Read more about the rebrand here.

    Greystar Corporation:

    GreyStar Corporation was founded in 1995 in Houston, Texas to provide asset management, operations and maintenance services in the Gulf of Mexico. The company currently incorporates about 150 employees across North America.

    Greystar Europe:

    Greystar Europe is Penspen’s European asset management, operations and maintenance division.

    Andrew Palmer and Associates:

    Andrew Palmer and Associates is the name by which some of Penspen’s offshore clients know it in Aberdeen.

    The rebrand was carried out by Thompson Brand Partners.

  7. Penspen unveils new brand

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    01Penspen has rebranded its global presence to bring all its existing sub-brands including Andrew Palmer and Associates, Greystar Europe and Greystar Corporation in the US, under the Penspen name.

    Coinciding with Penspen’s 60th anniversary year, the rebrand is aimed at raising profile and positioning the business as one of the world’s leading energy services companies.

    The rebrand takes place at the same time as the acquisition of the engineering division of DPS Group. The acquisition, which increases Penspen’s headcount by 10%, took place in mid-September, and supports Penspen’s strategic drive to grow the scope of services that it provides to its clients. It significantly strengthens Penspen’s oil and gas process engineering capability, and brings access to the FPSO construction market in Asia Pacific.

    04Penspen’s Chief Executive Peter O’Sullivan, said: “This is a very exciting time for Penspen as well as all the other brands within the business, which now fall under the Penspen name. We are confident that the new branding will help position Penspen in existing and emerging markets in a way that is true to what we already are, but also helps us achieve our ambitious growth plans.”

    The rebrand was carried out by Thompson Brand Partners.

  8. Penspen awarded ADMA-OPCO PMC contract

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    We have been awarded a contract to provide Abu Dhabi Marine Operation Company (ADMA OPCO) with Project Management Consultancy Services for Additional Gas Supply from USSC Project in the UAE. Under the terms of the contract, Penspen will project manage Technip/NPCC in its upgrade of the gas facilities at USSC to produce 200 million more standard cubic feet of gas per day.

    The scope of work includes but is not limited to the modification of several topsides and the additional construction of new flowlines, gas coolers and receiving facilities. Penspen will provide a number of services including project management and controls, detailed engineering management, field engineering management and QHSE.

    The Umm Shaif Super complex is located 150 kilometers from Abu Dhabi  and 36 kilometers from Das Island.

    Penspen’s Head of Onshore, Middle East, Marc Sculthorpe, said:

    “Umm Shaif is a large field in a key location with many and varied ways of increasing the gas supply to onshore. We look forward to working on this Project.”

  9. Penspen launches new diploma in pipeline inspection and maintenance

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    Penspen and the University of Tabasco (UJAT), Mexico, have launched a new diploma in pipeline inspection and maintenance. The diploma, which is the first of its kind in Mexico, was officially launched on Saturday at a ceremony hosted by University Rector, José Manuel Piña Gutierrez and attended by Senior Penspen and Pemex Officials.

    The diploma, which already has 27 students enrolled, will cover seven different modules over a period of twelve weeks. Each module will be given by one of Penspen’s experts in the field, all of whom have agreed to teach the course for free as part of a joint initiative to standardize and strengthen pipeline integrity procedures across the region.

    The diploma modules include Corrosion Control and Prevention, Risk Analysis and Calculating the Probability of a Pipeline Failure.

    Penspen Director of Integrity Nigel Curson, said:

    “Mexico is one of Penspen’s key centres of technical excellence. This diploma reflects our wider collaboration with the University of Tabasco, Pemex, and other players across the oil and gas industry to strengthen pipeline knowledge and practices across the region and beyond.”