Oil company plans more than 100 Dundee jobs

WELL-SAFE: Decommissioning specialist has taken a two-acre site at Dundee Port

A decommissioning specialist will today announce it is taking a large site at the Port of Dundee in a move that could create more than 100 jobs for the city.

Aberdeen-based Well-Safe Solutions has chosen to locate its onshore marine port base in Dundee, which is rapidly establishing itself as a North Sea decommissioning hub.

Well-Safe will reveal at the Offshore Decommissioning Conference in St Andrews today that it has secured two acres of quayside facilities with access to 40,000 square feet of covered space at the port.

The company, which was only formed in July, is planning to invest £200 million in assets and grow its workforce to 400 in the next three years with a “large part” of these jobs in Dundee.

Chief executive Phil Milton, who is originally from Dundee, said he welcomes the transformation of his home town in recent years.

“This marine support base in Dundee will play a crucial role in supporting our rapidly growing business,” he said.

“We have chosen the Port of Dundee because of the critical mass of decommissioning companies already based here and the facilities on offer.

“We are looking forward to fostering a strong partnership with Forth Ports.

“Personally, I’m very pleased to be able to bring business to the community in which I started out.

“Dundee continues its ongoing development, growing its economy and introducing new businesses with a proactive, refreshing, can-do approach.”

The Port of Dundee will provide WellSafe Solutions with direct access to deep water quaysides, heavy lifting capabilities, significant dedicated warehouse space and unconstrained access into the established and operating ANSS decommissioning facilities.

The company claims that it provides a ground-breaking approach to the safe and cost-efficient decommissioning of on and offshore oil wells.

Combining a wealth of subsea oil and gas expertise and experience with dedicated marine assets and equipment, the firm offers complete P&A capability from front-end engineering and design to project execution.

At the port, Well-Safe Solutions will work alongside decommissioning industry leaders such as AF Offshore Decom, as part of the soon to be formed AF Dundee, waste management specialist Augean North Sea Services and other decommissioning specialists.

Stuart Wallace, chief operating officer of Forth Ports Ltd which owns and operates the port, welcomed the firm.

He said: “Well-Safe Solutions will not only be a huge asset to the Port of Dundee, but will also provide an economic boost to the Dundee area.

“Decommissioning activity in the North Sea basin is increasing and we are excited to welcome Well-Safe Solutions, who are bringing innovation and expertise to the challenges of well abandonment.”

Well-Safe, which secured its first contract with TAQA, is on track to have 30 employees at its Aberdeen base by the end of this year.

Top: the Port of Dundee is trying to establish itself as a decommissioning hub. Above: Phil Milton, chief executive of Well-Safe Solutions.