As the global energy industry moves closer toward the 2050 net zero emissions target, the need for companies to employ greater initiative and agility to help achieve this goal becomes ever more critical.
The ability to respond to challenges in a way that maximises field efficiency, safety and project investment is crucial to success. For companies established in oil and gas, broadening their portfolio into emerging energy sectors such as carbon capture can sustain business longevity.
In the North Sea, concerns for the future are acute – it is a mature basin exposed to a challenging fiscal regime.
From operators to service companies, smarter thinking is required to successfully navigate the future. For many companies seeking a competitive advantage, that means the way they operate must change.
Amplus Energy is an example of a service company bringing fresh thinking to energy industry operations to improve field development.
Headquartered in Aberdeen and with bases in West Africa and Brazil, Amplus is a field development partner to operators that require creative and entrepreneurial solutions across the lifecycle of their asset.
From subsurface to technical development, operator engagement, safety and FPSO experience, Amplus combines innovative technical solutions with more than 100 years of senior management expertise to minimise operating costs and maximise value from field developments. Amplus will even consider financial partnerships for the right projects.
In line with its ambitious growth plan and the importance it places on the emerging carbon capture market to achieve net zero targets, Amplus invested in carbon capture and energy transition EPC provider Carbon Circle UK to enhance its existing field development and floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) operations. The company also made several key appointments, including Steve Gardyne as Managing Director of Amplus, a role that covers Carbon Circle UK.
One of the high-profile recruits is Iain Watt, who joined as Engineering Director. The former Head of Facilities and Projects at Repsol Resources UK has enjoyed a successful career spanning more than 30 years in project proposal, planning, modification, execution, technical management and integrity for the oil and gas industry. For Iain, the opportunity to bring his experience and expertise to Amplus’s existing markets and to support growth in carbon capture was too good to miss.
“I’ve joined a company with an ambitious, lean and accelerated approach to field development in an efficient manner. Modern service suppliers must be adaptable to face challenges on multiple fronts, and the Amplus business model reflects operator demands for innovation, flexibility and maximum value. The fact that it is committed to oil and gas but is also focused on carbon capture and the energy transition is important too. Amplus is a company that is on that net zero journey,” said Iain.
“Many skill sets in traditional engineering are transferrable to carbon capture, and Amplus’s growing international footprint means I’m able to use my delivery experience on North Sea projects to benefit field development operations in other locations. I draw on my experience and industry network to help move field development forward and support improvements in areas such as supply chain management,” he added.
The appointment of Iain, who is a voluntary regional board member of NESCOL and is well known in the local energy community, will leverage continued managed growth for Amplus.
“We’re building Amplus in a sustainable manner. We’re following key opportunities in the North Sea, Brazil and West Africa which will trigger further growth and additional key appointments if they move forward. We are already industry accredited and our commitment to high quality will continue as we broaden our work scope. Our diversification into carbon capture while maintaining our support for oil and gas FPSO field development supports our plan to be a multi-sector, multi-regional organisation,” said Steve Gardyne.
“Internationally, the trend is towards the greater adoption of floating production systems. Rather than challenging for bigger projects, our strategy is to focus on the marginal end of that spectrum, working with clients to find the right solutions that fit their requirements.
“That can mean partnering on the field development plan right through to supporting the operational phase, engineering across the whole project lifecycle from early study inquiries to execution and asset life extension. But our smart thinking isn’t limited to engineering solutions. Unlike most service companies, we can link clients to established financial providers, and we may offer finance for the right projects. We’re willing to consider sharing risk and reward with them to deliver value to both of us,” he added.
“In today’s transitioning energy industry, smart, flexible thinking and being able to respond to changing market needs are essential to survive and thrive.”