Offshore Achievers

Busy planning an even bigger Offshore Achievement Awards ceremony in Aberdeen next March are (left to right): CO2DeepStore director and SPE board member Ian Phillips; ITF’s Anthony Onukwu, newly elected chairman of the SPE Aberdeen section, and Leo Koot, managing director of the awards’ main sponsor Taqa Bratani.

Following a successful re-launch last year, the Society of Petroleum Engineers Aberdeen Section is again hosting the Offshore Achievement Awards with the support of main sponsor Taqa Bratani. Anticipating an even bigger turnout this year, the organisers are switching the 21 March 2013 black tie awards ceremony to the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre. The 27th Offshore Achievement Awards are open to entries until 1 December from UK-registered companies in both the offshore oil & gas and renewables sectors, reflecting the growing reach of the North Sea industry. In addition to recognising exceptional business growth, the awards will focus on particular innovations, safety breakthroughs and collaborative efforts, as well as individual success.

The titles of two categories have changed this year, however criteria remain the same. The 2013 categories are: Export Achievement; Offshore Renewables; Safety Innovations; Emerging Technology (previously New Idea); The Innovator; Great Small Company; Great Large Company; Working Together; Young Professional, and Significant Contribution (previously Lifetime Achievement).

Over 70 entries were received for the 2012 awards, and the winners included Amec, the Expro Group, 3sun and Professor Alex Kemp.

Ian Phillips, director of CO2DeepStore and the SPE board member responsible for organising the OAAs, said: ‘The success we saw after re-launching the awards last year was hugely positive and demonstrated that the awards have a firm place in the energy sector calendar.’ Describing the awards, originally run by Scottish Enterprise, as the ‘premier forum for celebrating the very best in the offshore industry’, Phillips said it was vital that the talent responsible for shaping today’s industry, as well as the high performers and pioneers who will develop tomorrow’s cutting edge solutions and innovations, be recognised.

Leo Koot, managing director of main sponsor Taqa Bratani, said: ‘I’m particularly pleased that we’re supporting the 2013 Offshore Achievement Awards, not only because they celebrate success throughout the industry, but because they recognise innovation. Taqa recognises that it’s going to take innovative commercial solutions to maximise the potential of the UKCS, so it’s important that companies with a creative approach to doing business are awarded.’