Scottish Enterprise backs investment to support international growth in oil and gas sector

Oil and gas firm, OneSubsea is to invest £1.8 million in a new research and development (R&D) project to help grow its global presence.

The investment will create five new jobs and safeguard a further 35.

The project will see the development of the company’s Standardised Modular Injection System (SMIS) and is being supported with a £434,126 R&D grant from Scottish Enterprise.

It is the first collaboration project between the former Cameron and Schlumberger divisions, which merged during July 2013 to form OneSubsea. The project will be delivered from their Aberdeen site.

Speaking during a visit to Aberdeen as part of the Energy Minister’s regular engagement with industry, Fergus Ewing welcomed the news saying: “While it is clear the oil and gas sector faces ongoing challenges from a low global oil price, this investment continues to underline the many opportunities that remain in Scotland’s world-class supply chain.

“The oil and gas industry leadership group, of which I am co-chair, has published a refreshed oil and gas strategy offering a shared path for industry, governments and the Oil and Gas Authority to follow in working together to support the industry and its world-class supply chain.

“With 22 billion barrels of oil and gas remaining, the sector can still have a strong future, and I am pleased to welcome this investment.”

Chief executive of Scottish Enterprise and chair of the Energy Jobs Taskforce, Lena Wilson, said: “Innovation is fundamentally important to growing Scotland’s competitive advantage and with it, new opportunities at home and overseas can be realised. That’s why we want to support more oil and gas companies to invest in innovation. Companies like OneSubsea, with strong growth ambition and international opportunity.

“The Taskforce has made a strong commitment to supporting higher levels of innovation within the sector. Through greater collaboration we can help to increase the level of investment by companies leading to long term sustainability for the sector as well as safeguarding and creating much needed jobs. ”

Scottish Enterprise has been working intensively with OneSubsea through its account management portfolio and this investment marks the company’s first project with the economic development agency.

General Manager of OneSubsea, Daniele Petrone, said: “We are delighted to announce, in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise grant assisted funding, OneSubsea are progressing with the design, development, prototype and testing of a Standardised Modular Injection System (SMIS) using a novel electrically driven topside deployment system and non-collapsible composite tubing for the subsea intervention market.

“It is anticipated that this will open new markets within some of the most challenging Oil & Gas environments, create some five new jobs and secure employment for a further 35. We further hope to release our new offering to the industry during quarter 4, 2017.”