Next week we attend SPE Offshore 2017!
We have secured World Leading Quality Standard ISO 9001:2015
QA Weld Tech is delighted to confirm that we have successfully secured a world leading quality standard and have been awarded with ISO 9001:2015 and 14001:2015 accreditations. And, to our knowledge, we are the first company in Teesside to secure this accreditation.
The hard work and commitment from both staff and our company as a whole has meant that we have managed to achieve the accreditation in only a matter of four months. Companies across the UK have been given up to three years to secure the rigorous standard – the 9001:2015 – which was only published in September 2015.
The standard – which is the toughest to date – means firms across the country have to implement systems that ensure all work processes, risks and opportunities, methods of work and management planning is documented and, key to this, is that all employees have to understand them.
For QA Weld Tech, this involved a full revamp of its management systems combined with the training of all staff across its Middlesbrough site.
This achievement will play a vital role in helping QA Weld Tech to stay at the forefront of the industry and to win work for the region and, most importantly, support the employment of people across Teesside.
Ambitious Plans to Enter Norway and Denmark Oil and Gas Market
We are delighted to announce that QA Weld Tech has been recognised as a verified and compliant supplier on the Achilles Joint Qualification System (JQS) – meaning that we can now make our mark within the Norwegian and Danish oil and gas market.
With Norway being the closest export market to the North East – and being a major hub for oil and gas – it makes operational and logistic sense for us to move into these thriving markets. And with our extensive experience of over 35 years in the industry of delivering leading welding and fabrication services, combined with our core capabilities and knowledge, we believe we have a lot to offer.
Having worked on projects all over the globe – including Ichthys LNG Australia, Block 31 Angola and Quad 204 West of Shetland – our extensive portfolio places us in good stead to be recognised favourably as a trusted and recognised supplier when bidding for new work.
Offshore Mexico’s Significant New Oil Discovery
The news on the world class oil discovery of Zama-1 exploration well in Block 7, Offshore Mexico has been announced by operator, Talos Energy LLC, together with its partners Sierra Oil and Gas and Premier Oil. The Zarma-1 exploration well is the first offshore exploration well to be drilled by the private sector in Mexico’s history. This new discovery will significantly help reverse an oil output slum dating back to 2004 and kick-start a strong economic growth.
It is estimated that the well, located in 546 feet of water and approximately 37 miles from the Port of Dos Bocas, may need an accompanying block. This is due to the fact that the well has reached an initial shallow target vertical depth of approximately 11,100 feet and this new find could house in excess of one billion barrels of oil.
Zama is believed to be one of the 20 largest shallow-water fields discovered globally in the past 20 years. A liner is currently being settled to protect the discovered reservoirs. This is prior to drilling deeper exploratory objectives to a total vertical depth of approximately 4,200 metres.
Preliminary analysis indicates an adjoining gross oil bearing interval of over 335 metres, with up to 200 metres of net oil bearing reservoir in Upper Miocene sandstones having no contact with water. It also indicates initial tests on recovered hydrocarbon samples contain light oil, with API gravities between 28° and 30° and some associated gas.
The future looks bright for Offshore Mexico now for years to come and there is a spirit of ingenuity with the creation of local jobs and increased government revenue for the country.
Recovery for the Oil and Gas sector on the Horizon?
A study conducted by the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has revealed increasing confidence amongst contractors regarding the future of the UK Continental Shelf. A notable 38% of contractors are more confident about the progression within the industry, in comparison to only 12% just six months ago.
Confidence in the market signals for contractors and operators alike that now is the time to increase investment in their operations. Over 26% of contractors in the study, anticipated an increase in investment rather than a reduction, in the next two years. This is set to have a positive impact on industry efficiency, as continuous development will promote innovation and drive new technologies. As such this will stimulate growth in the sector, acting to provide greater stability for energy security within the UK whilst also reducing the skills gap in employment.
However, although extremely positive news, the oil and gas industry still faces considerable challenges caused by the macroeconomic conditions globally. The price of oil is a key indicator for the direction of the industry, and with sensitive geopolitical tensions between Qatar and the oil-rich Gulf States, most crucially Saudi Arabia, the looming uncertainty has resulted in a fluctuating oil price.
With over 35 years’ experience of operating in the oil and gas sector, we are delighted to see that the sector is taking an upturn and we are looking forward to new projects that have been recently announced come into fruition.