The development of the new, world-class Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) in Aberdeen has moved forward with the appointment of the board and recruitment is now underway for a chief executive officer and other senior posts.
The project to establish Aberdeen as a global center for innovation and technology development and deployment for the oil and gas industry is being led by private sector economic leadership body Opportunity North East (ONE).
One of the OGTC’s first priorities is to establish managed solution centers. These will be led by a dedicated team, bringing together knowledge and expertise from across industry and focus on delivering practical solutions for immediate challenges including managing asset integrity, drilling and well construction and finding cost effective ways of developing smaller and more marginal offshore fields.
Over time, the OGTC will establish and enhance world-class research facilities, including new test facilities, and support new technology and processes being brought to market faster.
Executive search firms have been appointed to identify candidates for the roles of chief executive officer and three solution centre managers, with the aim of having people in post by September.
The OGTC has a key role to play in maximizing economic recovery from the UKCS, anchoring the supply chain in the north east of Scotland for the longer term, enhancing exports by helping develop new technology in the supply chain, and retaining high value jobs.
Sir Ian Wood, who chairs ONE’s main economic leadership board and the new OGTC Board, said: “The OGTC is a transformational project for the oil and gas industry in the UK and for the north east of Scotland. The aim is to fundamentally change the oil and gas innovation and technology landscape, with a mechanism of delivery driving integrated change.
“By creating the OGTC, backed by £180 million of funding via the Aberdeen City Region Deal, and successfully addressing current industry technology challenges we will become recognized as one of the top three centers globally for innovation and technology development and deployment with a particular focus on subsea production, drilling and wells, mature basin asset management, ensuring decommissioning excellence, and oil and gas data science.
“The OGTC’s work will create and sustain a high value talent pool with world-class expertise in energy in and around Aberdeen, which is home to two universities delivering world-leading energy related research, development and commercialization.
“With significant support from industry, Government and its agencies there is an unrivaled opportunity to realize these ambitions and to attract senior industry talent to the leadership roles that we are now recruiting for,” added Sir Ian.
The chief executive will lead the formation of the organisation and will play a leading role in technology development within the upstream oil and gas industry in the UK and internationally. Extensive technology and commercial experience at a senior level within industry is a prerequisite for the role.
The three solution center manager roles will lead work in the fields of well construction efficiency, asset integrity and small pool development by building and managing teams to address these themes. These roles are suited to senior technical professionals who have operated successfully in a commercial environment.
Immediate next steps for the OGTC will be securing the formal Aberdeen City Region Deal OGTC funding agreement by August 2016.
The OGTC is industry led and is supported by the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University, the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), Oil & Gas UK (OGUK), the Technology Leadership Board (TLB), Scottish Enterprise and ONE.
The OGTC Board comprises Sir Ian Wood, chairman, and Archie Kennedy, vice chairman (ONE); Andy Samuel (OGA); Angela Seeney (TLB); Ray Riddoch and Colette Cohen (OGUK); Prof Paul de Leeuw and Prof Paul Hagan (Robert Gordon University); John Scrimgeour and Jeremy Kilburn (University of Aberdeen); Melfort Campbell (Scottish Government Oil & Gas Industry Leadership Board); Maggie McGinlay (Scottish Enterprise); Mike Fleming (supply chain); and Neil Sims (MER UK Supply Chain, Exports & Skills Board).
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