Safehouse Australia Enjoys Success at AOG

Perth Convention Exhibition Centre

Safehouse Australia enjoyed a very successful three days of exhibiting at the AOG Exhibition in Perth last week.

With over 500 exhibitors from across 25 countries showcasing the latest developments in offshore service and supply, the AOG 2016 Conference featured a theme of ‘collaboration’ with over 100 experts from leading companies providing input on how the industry should continue to work closely together to reduce costs and improve productivity.

Although exhibitor and visitor numbers were visibly lower than previous years, the Safehouse team was certainly busier than ever in our larger and more centrally positioned booth.

The addition of the new SAFEHOUSE Habitat miniature model attracted a lot of attention and it gave us a really good opportunity to explain the functionality and safety benefits of using our specialised system in hazardous atmospheres. We received particular attention from some of the key oil producing majors so it was really encouraging for them to understand our system better, and the valuable cost savings we can make for them. Another highlight of the show was the filming of our habitat technology and interview of Senior Habitat Technician, Chris Webster, talking about the benefits of the system and his thoughts on the exhibition.

The overall feeling at the show was that the oil and gas industry is currently going through harder times in comparison to the previous few years, and there seems to be a much higher emphasis on cost saving efficiencies from the producers.

As such, we were delighted to be able to talk to visitors about the cost savings we can make for large production companies when using our system. This was well received, and we look forward to progressing with deployment of our technology over the coming year.

If you’d like further information about our products and services in Australia, please contact the team on E: australia@2j3.959.myftpupload.com or T: +61 (0)8 93533752

Creating Safe Environments for Cost Effective Brownfield Development

The average age of drilling rigs across the world is 25 years old and mature fields account for over 70% of the total oilfield resources in production today. With increasingly aging assets and inhospitable operating environments, it is becoming more important than ever to enhance asset integrity and extend the lifespan of maturing infrastructure.

The last month has seen Brent crude continue to fall and analysts are divided as to when prices will recover. As the industry continues to look at ways of maximising production whilst minimising costs, the challenge of brownfield development is topical.

The lack of new projects is leading major operators to adapt to the changing economic landscape and adopt brownfield development strategies. This current climate, as a result of the oil price, is driving operators to focus on reducing cost, whilst the issues of safety, reliability, integrity, and the environment, also require careful consideration.

Brownfield developments come with unique challenges characterised by a complex set of interdependencies between aging and new technologies. These fields also exhibit more environmental and safety challenges, and differing cost implications to Greenfield development.

Brownfield hook-up, completions and tie-ins, which involve hot works such as welding, grinding and heat treatments, along with general maintenance, refurbishment and repair work being undertaken alongside the adjacent ‘live’ plant. This means that there is a high risk associated with any potential ignitian source within an environment designated to be hazardous.

General hot work such as small repairs involving welding and grinding, right through to major plant and pipe-work refurbishment, can all be carried out safely with careful planning and use of an ATEX certified pressurised SAFEHOUSE habitat and Safehouse technician. This will not only reduce the potential for ‘run away’ costs, but prevent forced shutdowns, and vitally keep the workforce safe.

Our ATEX Certified pressurised habitats are engineered to allow these brownfiled work scopes to be carried out safely whilst the plant is still live, thus providing flexibility and options to plan and execute small repairs through to major plant and pipe-work refurbishments cost effectively by avoiding the need to work within a planned or emergent shutdown.

The combination of pressurised habitats, gas sensors, automatic shut off systems and the on-going presence of a habitat technician (who is responsible for continually managing the integrity of the overall habitat system), ensures personnel are aware of the safety mechanism in place and provided with peace of mind; thus safeguarding against productivity losses, and safety or environmental release concerns.

Using our proven ability and expertise in the upfront planning stages of maintenance works can save hundreds of thousands in the budget. Consulting with our project engineers and our habitat installation technicians, jointly surveying and taking advice on necessary build designs and the required capabilities can both save time and increase productivity. Our project engineers can help reduce shutdown days and eliminate the need to engineer out hot work.

For example, designing in the preference to mobilise a single, larger habitat rather than lose time demobilising and re-mobilising to relocate one small habitat a number of times in order to accommodate hot-work in multiple locations not only saves money, but time too.

To find out how we can help maximise the productivity and profitability of your brownfield project, contact our global HQ on T: +44 (0) 1382 814 122

Safehouse named Scotland’s top SME

Safehouse Habitats (Scotland) Ltd has topped the Scottish Business Insider’s SME300 league table with revenue of just under £20million for the financial year 2013/14.

Safehouse stormed the league thanks to an 11% increase in turnover, rising from 10th place the previous year. The announcement comes just over a year after private equity took control of the firm, and CEO Gordon Mackay was placed at the helm to lead the company’s ambitious international growth strategy.

Gordon Mackay, Chief Executive, said: “We have grown from our humble beginnings and become a good sized SME in around 10 years. Current investors recognised the opportunity to build on this success and will take the company to the next level, a goal we’ve been working towards since we took the reins about 14 months ago.

“It’s been an incredible first year for me at Safehouse. We’ve restructured the business and made some key appointments so we’re now in a good place to grow internationally. We established our presence in Abu Dhabi last year and we’re working on a number of strategic partnerships that will see Safehouse become a globally recognised safety brand.”

Safehouse announces strategic partnership with the industrial equipment specialist EQIN

Safehouse Habitats (Scotland) Ltd has entered into a Cooperation Contract with Netherlands-based EQIN. The contract represents a strategic partnership that will support both Safehouse and EQIN’s growth in north-western Europe, specifically the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Safehouse supplies a range of fully ATEX certified solutions and services. The primary offering is the SAFEHOUSE Habitat, an engineered enclosure that allows hot work to take place safely in hazardous environments.

Directly aligning with Safehouse’s offering, EQIN specialises in the rental, sale and maintenance of a wide range of industrial equipment, with expertise in the supply of ATEX certified technology.

Willem Olgers, Director of International Technical Support at Safehouse said

“We have over 10 years’ experience working internationally in the upstream oil and gas sector and part of our growth strategy is to expand into the mid and downstream markets.

“EQIN’s expertise and local market knowledge are a perfect fit for Safehouse’s offering and long term growth plans, and the partnership will support our efforts to enter into new markets. We are confident this new relationship will allow us to provide added value to the industrial sector.”

Hennie Roebroeks, Commercial Director of EQIN said

“At EQIN we are passionate about safety and all of the technology and equipment we deal with is fully compliant with all safety regulations as a minimum. We have been trying to source a safe solution for welding in hazardous environments for quite some time, and following a live demonstration of the SAFEHOUSE Habitat and its capabilities we recognised the opportunity to partner with Safehouse.

“The partnership will allow our customers access to fully ATEX certified technology that they can rely on to mitigate risk during hot work activities like welding. I look forward to working with Safehouse to grow both businesses and to enhancing EQIN’s portfolio of ATEX certified technology.”
EQIN is the most versatile all-round player in the field of industrial equipment rental and sales. EQIN Training provides expertise in, for example, welding training and certification schemes. With business locations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, we offer international coverage. We can supply your equipment anywhere in North-West Europe and, where possible, all over the world.

Safehouse Habitats (Scotland) Ltd establishes a permanent presence in Billingham

Safehouse Habitats (Scotland) Ltd are establishing a more permanent presence in Billingham, Teesside to service their growing client base in the petrochemical and chemical industries located in the North of England.

Safehouse has expertise to deliver a fully managed service which includes the design, supply and installation of their innovative technology, the SAFEHOUSE Habitat. The ATEX Certified, engineered solution allows hot work to take place in hazardous Zones 1 and 2. Safehouse offers a cost-effective and reliable solution that mitigates the risk of hot work in hazardous environments without the need for a production shutdown thus creating significant cost & efficiency savings.

To find out how Safehouse can benefit your business, please contact Kenny Mackay, Business Development Manager, kmackay@safehouseltd.com / 07739 858154

Office address:
Safehouse Habitats (Scotland) Ltd
11 Macklin Avenue
Cowpen Lane Industrial Estate
Billingham
TS23 4BY

Safehouse team to present at EIC showcase event

Safehouse Habitats (Scotland) Ltd has been selected to speak at the Energy Industry Council’s (EIC) Driving Innovation and Operation Efficiency showcase event on Thursday, 27th August in Aberdeen.

Three major energy companies selected Safehouse as one of the three EIC member companies to present their innovative product – SAFEHOUSE Habitats – at the showcase event.

Hundreds of leading members from across the oil and gas industry will find out about the features of SAFEHOUSE Habitats and how they can deliver practical and cost-effective solutions to the safety challenges presented by hot work on offshore production platforms and onshore sites.

Safehouse becomes latest member of industry-led business development organisation

Safehouse Habitats Ltd has recently joined NOF Energy, a business development organisation that aims to connect the supply chain across the energy sector to facilitate new opportunities.

As Safehouse embarks on an international growth plan, the relationship with NOF Energy will act as a platform for introductions and access to businesses across oil and gas, nuclear and offshore renewables.

In the last three years NOF Energy has generated over £167 million worth of business for new members and has facilitated over 2000 member introductions.

Safehouse’s flagship hot work technology has the potential to save businesses millions by making hot work in hazardous environments reliably safe.