From left, Chris Gray, Strategic Decom; Steve Jewell, Well Decom; Drew Leitch, MDT International (photo: MDT International)

Global training provider to the oil and gas industry, MDT International, has entered into a strategic partnership to help energy businesses plan for decommissioning.

The company will work with two specialist decommissioning consultancies, Strategic Decom and Well Decom, to prepare companies for the safe, efficient and cost-effective decommissioning of assets.

Drew Leitch, managing director of the Aberdeen based firm, says, “Projected North Sea decommissioning activity estimates vary, with the most conservative predicting the market will require over GBP 30 billion of expenditure before 2040 in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) alone. Decommissioning presents global opportunity for the oil and gas supply chain and requires a range of highly skilled personnel and high value capability. Planning for decommissioning is a long and challenging process and providing staff with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the process is vital.”

“There are significant socio-economic opportunities for job creation in the Scottish, UK and European supply chains, a foundation from which North Sea based firms can export expertise to other parts of the world. To take full advantage of this opportunity, the industry must build on its existing capacity and capability to service the complex and demanding nature of decommissioning work in the North Sea,” adds Leitch.

MDT International and its partners will introduce three training courses on decommissioning for 2017, These have been scheduled to run in Aberdeen and London as open courses and are also available on an in-house basis.

Leitch continues, “The courses are developed and delivered by expert trainers with a vast knowledge of the industry. They are designed to provide an introduction to and awareness of activities involved in the whole life-cycle of decommissioning, including well decommissioning, and encourage discussion and opportunities for interaction.”

“An increasing number of specialists, of all disciplines, are transitioning from exploration and production to focus on decommissioning and end-of-life issues. This partnership is recognition of the importance of providing relevant training to those individuals. The correct knowledge will help them unlock the confidence to meet the complex challenges they face now and in the future,” concludes Leitch.

Tags: MDT International, Strategic Decom, Well Decom