ROV survey capabilities ramped up in the Gulf of Mexico

International subsea inspection, repair, maintenance (IRM) and light construction company Harkand is expanding its global services with a renewed focus on delivering high-specification survey services in the burgeoning Gulf of Mexico market.

An already established player in the region, the company is harnessing its extensive experience in delivering specialist offshore survey work across the North Sea, Europe and West Africa to extend its portfolio of services in North America.

Houston-based

Mark Beaton has been appointed regional survey manager tasked with delivering Harkand’s completely integrated services. Based in Houston, he brings with him a wealth of IRM, project management and commercial experience to the role.

“This is a very exciting time to be joining Harkand in North America,” he said. “As subsea work in the Gulf of Mexico goes deeper we are seeing a shortage of resources, specifically in the deepwater survey and high-spec, dual-role ROV market segment.

“Harkand is a full solutions provider to the oil and gas construction and IRM market but has an unrivalled breakout survey service with 30 years of experience in Harkand Andrews Survey. This strategic move will allow our customers in North America to leverage this unique pool of knowledge.

Experience in subsea oilfield construction

Harkand CEO John Reed said: “Mark’s appointment and the expansion of our survey provision is both a positive step forward for our business but also for the industry itself in the Gulf of Mexico.

“With Mark’s extensive knowledge of working in the region along with his experience in subsea oilfield construction and the survey sector, we are now well placed to grow these services significantly in the future.”

Seven ROVs

Harkand has seven XLX ROVs currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico which are fitted with dual-purpose sensors allowing one pilot to carry out light construction and survey work on the same dive, saving on downtime for reconfiguring ROV equipment and vessel time.

Harkand aims to grow turnover to US$ 1 billion in the next five years. The group was formed in February 2013 through the merger of Iremis, Integrated Subsea Services (ISS) and Andrews Survey. Harkand now employs close to 1000 people at bases in Singapore and Perth in Asia Pacific, Sharjah in the Middle East, Aberdeen and London in the UK, and Houston in North America.

Edited from press release by Cecilia Rehn

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/03022014/subsea_inspection_repair_maintenance_company_increases_rov_survey_capabilities_in_the_gom/