AVC PR Partnership

AVC Media Enterprises has won a significant contract worth a potential £60,000 with global drilling contractors, Stena Drilling.

This significant win for the Aberdeen-based company which will see the Media Productions department produce a short film for the drilling giants, focusing on inductions to the company’s first fleet of drill ships; Stena DrillMax, Carron and Forth.

AVC’s production team has recently returned from initial filming at the Samsung shipyard in Korea and travel to Brazil later this year, with 3D animation work being completed in Norway.

Spencer Buchan, AVC Director comments: “This is a significant contract to AVC Media Productions, allowing us to showcase our skills and services. Our vast experience of filming in contrasting environments has allowed us to create a comprehensive and professional induction tool that can be used globally, providing information on the Stena Drillmax fleet.”

Stena Drilling has also commissioned this production to be translated into Spanish, Portuguese and French, due to the DrillMax fleet’s global remit.

Stena Drillmax is set to initially work in Brazil, with the other ships working in the Shetland Isles and Gulf of Mexico regions.

With the project due for completion by the end of March, this significant contract will assist in contributing to AVC’s turnover, set to exceed £12 million by the close of the financial year.

March 26, 2008

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For further information:

Lynsey Shepherd
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 217345
lynsey@prpartnership.co.uk

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF AVC MEDIA ENTERPRISES BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD

The Proserv Group has strengthened its position in the instrumentation and calibration sector of the oil and gas industry with the acquisition of GM Engineering Ltd, a leading international provider of chemical injection pumping equipment.

Based in Aberdeen, the company is the largest of its kind in the UK, providing design, manufacturing, hire and service and repair of chemical pumping equipment to international markets in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Far East and Australia.

As a result of the acquisition, GM Engineering will become part of Proserv’s Instrumentation and Calibration strategic business unit (SBU).

“The purchase of GM Engineering is strategically important for Proserv Instrumentation and Calibration SBU as it provides us with a UK base for our mobile chemical injection pump division,” says Proserv’s Instrumentation and Calibration Senior Vice president, David Gray.

“The acquisition will further strengthen our position in this key market and will complement the services already on offer by Chemical Injection Equipment AS, the Norwegian company Proserv acquired last year.

“Our vision is to have each division within the Instrumentation and Calibration SBU fully operational throughout key geographical locations. We now offer a full suite of services from four locations within the UK, as well as being fully operational in Norway.

“We continue to grow, with two bases in Africa and plans to open a further three bases in the Middle East by the end of this year. Here in the UK, there will be a need to take on a number of workshop and engineering staff, and increase our recruitment targets for 2008.”

GM Engineering’s existing management team, including its co-founders, will continue to support and lead its operations, working together with the management group from Proserv’s Instrumentation and Calibration SBU.

Donald Morrison, Operations Director for GM Engineering comments:

“Our strengthened engineering capabilities enable us to increase the number of chemical injection systems manufactured in-house. This will reduce costs and streamline the core businesses. The acquisition will facilitate faster international expansion and provide a more comprehensive service for local and international customers.”

GM Engineering was founded in 1986 and has an in-house testing facility which specialises in the recalibration of gauges, hydrostatic testing and the recertification of pressure relief valves.

ends

For further information:

Ken McEwen
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 216067
Mobile 07768 105449
ken@prpartnership.co.uk

Emma Hogarty
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 216074
emma@prpartnership.co.uk

Gael Threipland
Proserv
Group Marketing
Tel 01224 280067
gael@proserv-group.com

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE PROSERV GROUP BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD

NOTES FOR EDITORS

GM Engineering will be incorporated into Proserv’s Instrumentation and Calibration SBU, which offers accredited and onsite calibration services, mechanical and electrical testing, service and maintenance, and the hire and sale of a range of mechanical, chemical and electrical instrumentation systems.

Established for more than 30 years, The Proserv group of companies offers wide-ranging yet niche technical expertise to international oil and gas markets.

Focusing our services and products on the evolving challenges of the industry we offer international leadership across five Strategic Business Units:

• Test and Control Systems
• Instrumentation and Calibration
• Oil and Gas Sampling
• Abandonment and Decommissioning
• Speciality Machining

In April 2006 the Proserv Group was bought by the private equity player, Northern Industries, with support from leading Norwegian investors. Last year the company’s turnover was £87.7 million (NOK 950 million), with an expanding workforce of over 560.

Scotoil Services’ Cairo-based joint venture, Oilfield Environmental Services (OES) has been awarded a $1.3 million contract by Petrobel, one of the major oil and gas exploration and development companies in Egypt.

The contract, the first of its type for OES, will be managed by Petrosafe. It involves the removal and disposal of scale from oilfield equipment at the OES facility in 6 October City, an industrial city developed in the south west outskirts of Cairo.

OES was established in 2002 as a joint venture between Scotoil Services and local partner Mina Oil. The service OES provides is needed as a result of growing awareness of NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material), low levels of which may be found in oilfield scale. The material therefore has to be removed and disposed of in a monitored and controlled environment.

Commenting on the new contract, Gordon McLellan, Managing Director of Scotoil Services, said:

“At Scotoil Services we have more than 25 years’ experience in the monitoring, removal and disposal of NORM. Demand for that expertise is in increasing internationally.

“In addition to our joint venture company in Egypt, we have an active training division that runs courses, on an international basis, for operating personnel in the oil and gas industry. The NORM awareness courses ensure that people are aware of NORM and the procedures to implement the proper controls.

“Oilfield scale removal is an essential service for the oil and gas industry globally. Without it, scale would build up to the point where the equipment was no longer usable.”

Scotoil Services is based at Aberdeen Harbour and is only licensed and authorised operator for the removal and disposal of NORM scale in Scotland.

ends

For further information:

Ken McEwen
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 216067
Mobile 07768 105449
ken@prpartnership.co.uk

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF SCOTOIL SERVICES BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD

Aberdeen’s Academy Shopping Centre is marking its 10th anniversary year as a retail and leisure outlet by taking a step back in time.

Built in one of Aberdeen’s first large state schools, the building can be traced back to 1901, when it was known as the Central Public School.

The impressive granite building has seen some 3000 pupils pass through its gates as a school and later, became the venue for Aberdeen’s music centre, allowing hundreds of budding musicians from as far and Peterhead and Montrose to get together at evenings and weekends.

Because the building has been at the heart of Aberdeen for so long, Centre staff are keen to document this and is asking those who have had a connection to the Centre in its many guises to come forward with any photographs, stories or memorabilia to help chart the Centre’s history.

John Macfarlane, Centre Manager at The Academy comments: “It doesn’t seem like 10 years since we opened and a lot has happened over that time. Because it is such an important building we thought the best way to celebrate our birthday was to delve into the past.

“We’ve found some amazing archive material and so much history within the actual building work. Carved into the roof are the initials of the original workmen, which were added to by workmen in the 1950’s. From this, it is clear the Centre has a lot of stories to tell and we really want to see how far back we can go.”

Since it opened as a shopping and leisure facility in 1998 the Academy has seen some 22,000,000 visitors through the door and has recently reported its most successful year to date with its stores and leisure outlets reporting a 30% increase in business on the previous year.

The material The Centre hopes to obtain from residents and visitors will be included in an exhibition throughout the Academy, due to launch in late May.

John continues: “We have a very mixed age group using the centre and many people come just to unwind and relax. We have even had ex-pupils of the Central Public School come back to The Academy for reunions, or just for old time’s sake.

“The exhibition will give ex pupils and the rest of our visitors something really interesting to look at providing memories for some and an education as to the history of Aberdeen to others.”

The ‘Step back in time’ exhibition is the first in a series of events planned for The Centre as it celebrates its 10th anniversary as a retail and leisure outlet.

Thursday 6 March 2008

Ends

Notes to Editors:

The Academy Shopping Centre opened in 1999. It is owned by Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited and managed by Aberdeen – based Apardion. It contains 8 shopping units and 5 bar/restaurants.

Issued on behalf of The Academy by PR Partnership/AVC Media Enterprises. For more information please contact Lynsey Shepherd on 01224 248007, or email lshepherd@avcmedia.com.

Two long established (North-east) oil sector companies are merging their operations as part of a reorganisation aimed at creating the world’s most comprehensive abandonment and decommissioning contractor.

Circle Technical Services Ltd. and Tytan Jetting Ltd. Have joined forces as Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning Ltd, based at Circle’s headquarters in Kintore, near Aberdeen. Tytan’s premises in Ellon, north of Aberdeen, will be retained as a base for research and development, manufacturing and specialist tooling.

The move is the latest step in creating the £40 million Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning strategic business unit, which has its international headquarters in Kintore. The new unit brings together the combined expertise of seven leading international companies in this sector.

Commenting on the plans, Arve Sem-Henriksen, CEO of the Proserv Group, said:

“When we established the Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning SBU, we said we were determined to become a major player in the decommissioning market. Less than a year later, it is clear we are well on our way to achieving that objective.”

David Dent, formerly Managing Director of Circle and now Senior Vice President of the Abandonment and Decommissioning SBU, adds:

“The merger of Circle and Tytan to form Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning Ltd. is the latest step in creating Proserv’s worldwide Abandonment and Decommissioning SBU. We have brought together some of the best international names in the abandonment and decommissioning business.

“As a result we are now the leading supplier in this sector, with a geographical spread from Australia and Malaysia to the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. We have more than 170 personnel providing or supporting our engineering skills and have assets strategically placed around the world to tackle international projects.”

The increased workload experienced throughout 2007 and into 2008 has highlighted the need for a larger HQ for Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning. The search is continuing for a suitable new base in the local area, with increased recruitment targets for 2008.

ends

For further information:

Ken McEwen
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 216067
Mobile 07768 105449
ken@prpartnership.co.uk

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE PROSERV GROUP BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD

Notes for Editors:

Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning is a global leader in the removal of mature and/or damaged offshore structures and wells. Proserv provides flexible and reactive solutions from engineering planning to project management and downhole services.
Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning offers its services across three main areas of expertise:

Well abandonment and decommissioning

• Consulting services and engineering
• Downhole service and contracting
• Project management

Subsea and marine technology

• Cold cutting and coatings removal
• Dredging systems
• Friction stud welding

High and ultra-high pressure pump services

• Specialised HP/UHP water jetting cleaning systems
• Topside UHP cold cutting systems and UHP surface preparation systems
• Flushing units and hot water washers

Proserv Group

Established for more than 30 years, The Proserv group of companies offers wide-ranging yet niche technical expertise to international oil and gas markets.

Focusing our services and products on the evolving challenges of the industry we offer international leadership across five Strategic Business Units:

• Test and Control Systems
• Instrumentation and Calibration
• Oil and Gas Sampling
• Abandonment and Decommissioning
• Speciality Machining

In April 2006 the Proserv Group was bought by the private equity player, Northern Industries, with support from leading Norwegian investors. Last year the company’s turnover was £87.7 million (NOK 950 million), with an expanding workforce of over 560.