Enabling secure, scalable operations in the Dutch North Sea through expert IT integration
Aberdeen, UK, 10th February, 2026 – When Canadian company Tenaz Energy acquired a major portfolio of offshore assets from NAM, a Shell and ExxonMobil joint venture, in the Dutch North Sea in late 2024, the company faced a formidable IT challenge. With just a small team in Calgary and limited internal IT staff, Tenaz needed to assume full operational control of 25 platforms, the WGT pipeline and a gas treatment centre in Den Helder, which handles half of Dutch gas flows. The transition required not only the migration of 1.6PB of engineering and subsurface data but also taking full control of complex legacy IT systems and onboarding of former NAM/Shell staff, all under a tight deadline for operational handover by May 1st 2025.
This transition demanded a rapid and seamless transition of all IT and OT systems from Shell’s infrastructure to their own environment. The company needed to establish secure, compliant operations that met stringent EU regulations, all while ensuring uninterrupted management of critical gas infrastructure and offshore production. At the same time, Tenaz sought to lay the groundwork for future growth by building a scalable digital foundation, one robust enough to support additional acquisitions and global expansion.
Tenaz turned to global tech powerhouse Cegal, known for their industry experience in energy, as the trusted partner to lead this transformation. The scope was comprehensive: Cegal’s project team led by Lone Beth Nyman, Lead Project Manager, was responsible for designing and implementing a new digital foundation for Tenaz, including the transition and integration of critical software, hardware, networks, and data associated with the acquired assets.
Cegal’s team worked closely with both Tenaz and NAM/Shell to design and implement a solution tailored to the specific operational and compliance demands of offshore energy production. This approach went beyond standard project management, leveraging deep sector expertise to anticipate and address the unique challenges faced by energy operators. The planning phase involved mapping out critical activities for day-one operations, identifying systems for transfer and those that required redevelopment, while ensuring alignment with EU regulatory requirements and Tenaz’s business goals.
To deliver on this ambitious transformation, Cegal launched an extensive onboarding project, designed to complete the transition and handover by May 1 st 2025. This initial phase was supported by a full-scope operational services contract. Central to the solution was the deployment of Cetegra, Cegal’s leading vendor-neutral cloud platform, specialised for the energy industry, across both IT and geoscience operations. This technology provided Tenaz’s teams with immediate access to digital tools optimised for energy workflows from day one. In addition, Cegal managed hardware procurement, further strengthening Tenaz’s digital foundation.
Despite the complexity and extremely tight timeline, the onboarding project was successfully completed on time and within budget, with the technical delivery executed in several phases. Cegal first established the infrastructure to host the Energy Components suite, a core application for Tenaz’s operations. This was followed by the design and deployment of a minimum viable IT environment, ensuring continuity of operations from the very first day of ownership. The transition phase also included the migration and optimisation of workflows, the establishment of a Service Desk, onboarding of personnel, reduction of redundant data and licenses, and the implementation of robust cybersecurity and hosting solutions. Cegal’s approach emphasised efficiency and risk reduction, leveraging proven methodologies from more than a decade of experience in oil and gas asset transitions.
The partnership was characterised by open communication and shared trust. As the project progressed, Nyman, reflected on the dynamic collaboration, emphasising Tenaz’s flexibility and active engagement to a progressive, positive, and productive transition. The sentiment was echoed by Anthony Wicks, Accounts Director at Cegal, who described the project as a model of what can be achieved when both sides are committed to innovation and partnership: “We’re proud to have delivered a solution that not only meets today’s needs but sets Tenaz up for future growth. The partnership demonstrates Cegal’s ability to deliver complex transitions under pressure, through our unique combination of energy expertise and advanced technology, bringing value to the customer and reinforcing our reputation as a trusted IT partner in the energy sector.”
For Tenaz, the results were transformative. The company ended 2025 as the largest operator in the Dutch North Sea, with operational control of critical infrastructure and a scalable digital platform. Brian Giang, VP Finance at Tenaz, remarked on the seamlessness of the transition: “Cegal’s expertise and hands-on approach helped to simplify a complex transition. The project execution and support have been outstanding, and we’re confident in our ability to manage these critical assets going forward.”
Dean Hanson, IT Manager at Tenaz added, “We are pleased with the deployment of all the IT/OT systems. It was a very successful transition with no operational downtime in the office or on the offshore platforms. The collaboration with Cegal has been open and constructive, and their team has been responsive to our needs at every stage.”
Cegal’s operational services contract sees the company continue to support Tenaz’s growth and innovation. The success of this project stands as a benchmark for future transitions in the region, demonstrating the value of technical excellence, strategic partnership, and a shared commitment to success.
Trusted by energy companies around the world, further information on Cegal’s solutions for the Oil and Gas industry can be found at www.cegal.com.
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