Oil and Gas
The region has a long and enviable track record with excellent infrastructure and a highly skilled and experienced workforce in this sector. Over 70% of the platforms operating in the North Sea were built on the Tyne and the Tees. The most recent regional projects were the Encana Buzzard (Heerema), Shell Bonga FPSO and BP Claire (Amec).
North East England is one of only a few subsea centres of excellence in the UK. There are over 50 companies with a combined turnover of over £500 million employing 5000 people. Key companies include Duco .Wellstream and CTC Marine Projects.
The School of Marine Science and Technology at Newcastle University is the largest marine school in the UK, covering the fields of marine engineering, marine science, naval architecture, offshore engineering, coastal management and small craft technology. A dedicated centre offers industry services and research in different aspects of pipeline engineering.
The New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) is a Centre of Excellence that can fast-track concept evaluation, carry out feasibility studies and prototype evaluation and testing through to early commercialisation. The Marine Test Facility consists of three seawater docks with a wave maker and access to pumps to emulate a tidal wave.
Businesses of all sizes from the North East oil and gas supply chain were brought together on the 1st and 2nd of April 2008 for the first ‘Re-Discover North East England’ conference. The event showcased the region’s strengths to some of Norway’s largest Oil & Gas, Marine and Defence companies, and demonstrated the region’s capacity to support a thriving offshore industry. Click here to view and download footage from the conference.
Oil and Gas Fact Sheet [pdf]
(174 KB)
