UK-based engineering and project management firm Atkins has acquired Houston-based Houston Offshore Engineering (HOE) for US$73 million (approximately £45 million).
HOE has specialist experience in the design of offshore deepwater floating production platforms with a well-established project and client base in the international oil and gas market.
Atkins has been in the oil and gas sector for over 40 years. The integration of the HOE team with Atkins’ 70-strong team already established in Houston will bring Atkins’ process and subsea capability together with HOE’s offshore deepwater engineering expertise.
Image: Alex Campbell, MD Atkins’ oil and gas business with John Chianis, President of HOE.
The acquisition follows Atkin's purchase of Pöyry’s oil and gas business in June 2011, which strengthened Atkins’ process engineering capability and established Atkins’ footprint in the Australian oil and gas market.
Prof Dr Uwe Krueger, Atkins’ chief executive officer, commented: “This acquisition considerably strengthens Atkins’ position in the active oil and gas design and engineering market and is in line with our strategy to invest in growing our energy business, our key sector focus area.
“As the oil and gas industry continues to look for ways to access more challenging deepwater oil reserves there is a high demand for advanced, multidisciplinary engineering skills. HOE brings exceptional expertise and an outstanding reputation to our existing business in this market. We now have around 1000 oil and gas specialists drawing on technical excellence from our regional operations worldwide.”
John Chianis, President of HOE said: “Becoming part of Atkins is an exciting step forward for HOE. Our proven track record and expertise in the design of deepwater floating production platforms, in particular semisubmersibles, spars and tension leg platforms will complement Atkins’ expert capabilities in technical safety, process and subsea engineering. The technical calibre and cultural synergies of our two companies means an enhanced service offering for our clients and further development opportunities for our employees.”
Alex Campbell, managing director of Atkins’ oil and gas business, said: “The newly integrated team will be able to offer a through-life solution to clients from the earliest stages of field development to long-term maintenance of operational projects.
“Our established local presence in Houston Texas, Perth Australia, the UK, Middle East and Scandinavia will enable us to provide this expertise on a truly global scale, combining international experience with local knowledge of the respective regulatory and physical environments.”
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