(EnergyAsia, April 4, Friday) — Australian engineering firm WorleyParsons is acquiring the Heerema Group’s INTEC Engineering BV division, a leading international deepwater and arctic engineering and project services company.

In a joint statement, the companies said the agreement also provides for an ongoing business relationship for WorleyParsons and INTEC to provide engineering services to the Heerema Group.

The acquisition will enable WorleyParsons to accelerate INTEC’s growth strategy and at the same time secure for the Heerema Group companies continuing access to leading engineering and project management capabilities. The acquisition enhances WorleyParsons position in the deepwater hydrocarbons market and complements the company’s existing capabilities to now provide services across the entire spectrum from subsea to export facilities.

The transaction will not affect projects under existing or pending contracts between INTEC and Heerema Group or third parties. Heerema and WorleyParsons are committed to a continued business relationship which is expected to be beneficial to clients.

INTEC provides engineering services to the offshore exploration and production, and transportation sectors of the energy industry worldwide. Its technical expertise includes offshore field development, offshore pipelines, marine production risers, subsea and floating production systems, and flow assurance and operability.

Heerema Group’s CFO, Nico Pronk, said: “This is a good outcome for both companies. In the past years, INTEC has made a significant contribution to Heerema’s services in the market for EPC (engineering, procurement and construction), particularly in the deepwater segment. WorleyParsons is the best fit for offering further growth and development of INTEC’s capability, combined with the global capability of the WorleyParsons organisation”.

“Equally important is the continued access that WorleyParsons is offering Heerema to its resources, providing Heerema a competitive advantage in the current tight labor market. With access to this broader range of engineering and project management capacity, our Heerema Marine Contractors and Heerema Fabrication Group divisions will now be better positioned to capitalise on the opportunities in our industry.”

WorleyParsons CEO, John Grill, said: “The world’s remaining oil reserves are increasingly being found in difficult to access areas, forcing our clients to look further afield in their search for new reserves.

“The acquisition of INTEC completes the missing link in our hydrocarbons business which we have been seeking to fill for several years and strategically positions WorleyParsons to service our clients operating in deepwater locations.

“INTEC’s capabilities uniquely complement the existing capabilities of the sea engineering business, a specialist in deepwater hull, moorings and risers, acquired in January 2007.  WorleyParsons now has the capability to provide services across the entire spectrum from subsea to transmission line.  We were attracted by INTEC’s experienced management team as well as its track record of profitable growth.”

WorleyParsons and INTEC have a long track record working together on projects around the world.

INTEC’s CEO, Edward Smith, said: “Joining WorleyParsons will benefit our staff through exciting new growth opportunities and benefit our clients through significantly enhanced and complementary technical and project management skills and geographic presence.

“The additional resources our business will gain from being part of the WorleyParsons group will provide a platform for a truly diversified and comprehensive engineering and project services offering to the offshore industry.”

Heerema Group is a group of companies operating worldwide specializing in design, project management, construction, fabrication, transportation, installation, and removal of offshore facilities for the oil and gas industry.

WorleyParsons is a leading provider of professional services to the energy, resource and complex process industries.

INTEC is a leading engineering and project management company with offices in Houston, London, Delft, Kuala Lumpur, Perth, Rio de Janeiro and Lagos serving the international oil and gas industry with over 500 employees.  Its technical expertise includes offshore field development, offshore pipelines, marine production risers, subsea and floating production systems, and flow assurance and operability.