(EnergyAsia, January 31 2012, Tuesday) — UK’s Swire Oilfield Services has opened its regional headquarters in Singapore to meet rising demand for oil and gas support services in the Asia Pacific region.

Located in the Loyang supply base, the new headquarters will act as a hub for all operations while providing existing and prospective customers with a full suite of services including cargo carrying units, aviation services and modular systems across the region including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, India, Middle East, Sakhalin, Australia and New Zealand.  

The hub will house the company’s management, financial, engineering, design and operational teams, and is expected to take on a major role designing and procuring the next generation of its equipment.

As a leading global provider of offshore cargo carrying units, modular systems and associated services, the company said it is planning to invest £20 million in the region after having spent £5 million over the past 12 months.

For the year ahead, Swire Oilfield Services plans to invest a total of £100 million in new equipment and infrastructure around the world to support its long-term expansion. (US$1=£0.63).

The company expects to add 100 staff to its current head count of 75 people in the region and over 650 worldwide.

In officially opening the hub, Raymond Lim Siang Keat, a member of the Singapore Parliament, said:

“The opening of Swire Oilfield Services’ regional office again demonstrates the importance of Singapore as an oil and gas hub.

Singapore will provide the perfect spring board for Swire Oilfield Services’ impressive growth plans in the region.”

Rupert Bray, chief operating officer for Swire Oilfield Services, said:

“The wider Swire group has a long association with Singapore and the surrounding region. The opening of the regional office and significant investment we are making highlights the global importance of Singapore as an oil and gas hub.”

Troy Brice, the company’s Asia Pacific general manager, said:

“From humble beginnings in 2010, we now have over 5,000 rental units in the region, making us the largest operator. Along with the establishment in Singapore of Swire Modular Systems and our Offshore Aviation Services division, we are looking to double turnover in the region in the next two years.”