As the largest drilling waste management company in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the company says it is now ideally placed for further growth and is currently discussing future development of its services in additional GCC states

Global integrated drilling waste management and environmental services firm, TWMA, has been awarded two major contracts, building on a strong relationship with Maersk Oil North Sea UK (Maersk Oil) spanning more than a decade.

The projects, which are led by an Aberdeen-based team, involve work on the Culzean development – one of the largest gas discoveries in recent years in the UKCS – and the continuation of provision of innovative technology across Maersk Oil’s Central North Sea operations.

To ensure the company continues to offer the best, most cost-effective and safe solutions available to the global oil and gas industry, multi-million pound equipment investments are being made.  The new work will also result in the creation of up to 20 new jobs.

Neil Potter, chief operating officer at TWMA, says: “We are delighted to have been selected to support Maersk Oil on these projects as they expand their drilling activity within the UK sector of the North Sea.

“Our experienced, skilled team are working closely with Maersk Oil and have been since the award to carry out the pre-fabrication R&D activity needed for the Culzean operations. To date, this has included working on-site in Singapore with rig builder Hercules to develop solutions where we aim to use our proven technical know-how to design, manufacture and install best-in-class technology to handle Maersk Oil’s drilling waste processing requirements.

“By delivering exceptional results that improve operational efficiency while maintaining a quality service over a considerable period of time, we have nurtured a strong working relationship with Maersk Oil. We are delighted to have been awarded a new scope of work on the prestigious, high-profile Culzean development and a renewed agreement for the continuation of our services across Maersk Oil’s Central North Sea projects.

“Despite extremely challenging market conditions, TWMA has maintained high-levels of investment in R&D which is exceptional in the current climate and demonstrates our awareness of the need to continue to build on our strengths and offer the best possible integrated drilling waste management services and environmental solutions.’’

The Culzean project involves TWMA providing drilling waste processing and waste management services for five years with the option of two one-year extensions.

Delivered using a 950kW electric drive within TWMA’s proprietary TCC RotoMill and EfficientC equipment, the Culzean project will also see TWMA recruit up to 20 personnel to support the existing workforce within the engineering, commissioning and operations phase.

The second contract will provide existing drilling waste processing and management services for Maersk Oil’s Central North Sea projects, again utilising the firm’s TCC RotoMill and EfficientC technologies. The new agreement will continue for the next three years, with the option for two one-year extensions.

TWMA is a global provider of integrated drilling and environmental solutions to the onshore and offshore oil and gas industry. It is a single source provider for managing waste materials throughout the full project life cycle – from exploration to decommissioning.

Formed in 2000, the company employs over 500 people and has office, processing, manufacturing and service bases in Europe, the Americas, North Africa, West Africa and the Middle East.

MIDDLE EASTERN EXPANSION

Due to continued and sustained growth in the Middle East, TWMA has invested in larger onshore premises in Abu Dhabi.
“Our expansion into larger premises is testament to our continued success in the UAE as we progress as a leader in our field,” says TWMA.

Having outgrown its offices within Esnaad’s Mussafah Offshore Supply base, TWMA has re-located to Prestige Tower 17 in Abu Dhabi, to accommodate its existing onshore staff and provide space for future growth, the company says in its recent newsletter.

Following two flagship drill cuttings management and thermal treatment contract awards (known as the UZ 750K project) in partnership with Esnaad, TWMA has considerably increased staff numbers in offshore and onshore crews, growing from 50 to more than 200 staff within the past 18 months.

“In doing so, we are proud to have created hundreds of jobs in the local region, and these developments have also led to the requirement for an additional onshore maintenance and storage facility, adding to TWMA’s existing onshore support facilities,” it says.

Working for one of the UAE’s most prominent, high performing oil companies in the Upper Zakum field, the first award, valued at $20 million, was signed by TWMA in late 2012 for the design, commission and operation of an advanced solids control and fluid recovery system for the artificial islands project’s North and South islands.

The second contract, signed for a value of $56 million late last year, saw TWMA become the exclusive sub-supplier of waste management services for Central and West islands, whilst completing the same work scope required for the North and South islands .

“We were also awarded two contracts with the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco) which are key to our expansion in the region. The first three year contract involves the utilisation of offshore jack-up rigs combined with our skip and ship services. The second contract has an initial duration of six months with the potential for extension, and involves excess cement handling services for Adma-Opco’s Satah Al Razboot (Sarb) islands.

“Our expansion into larger premises is testament to our continued success in the UAE as we progress as a leader in our field. These major contract wins also underpin TWMA’s world-leading service offering in terms of scale, concentration of drilling, re-injection of treated cuttings and all water-based returns. As the largest drilling waste management company in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), we are now ideally placed for further growth and are currently discussing future development of our services in additional GCC states,” TWMA says.

CONTINUED SUCCESS IN EGYPT

TWMA has also been awarded a $5million, two-year contract extension supporting BP’s offshore Mediterranean drilling operations in the West Nile Delta (WND) gas fields.

Contracted for the provision of onshore processing at its thermal desorption treatment facility in Egypt’s Ameriya Free Zone, this extension confirms BP’s continued confidence in TWMA to handle and process hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings and resulting waste material.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this two-year extension following an initial two-year contract supporting BP’s drilling activities in the Mediterranean Sea and we look forward to working further with BP in the region. We have established a long-standing relationship with BP which continues to strengthen due to our commitment to the safe handling of drilling waste in an environmentally sensitive region.

“We have 49 employees working on Egyptian operations, who have undertaken extensive training in order to work both on and offshore. There is no doubt that this contract extension stands as testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team,” the company says.