Steady rig business continues to benefit Invergordon

The recent busy spell of offshore, repair, maintenance and upgrade work at Invergordon is continuing, with the arrival of another rig at the port’s Service Base this week.

The Ensco 80 jack-up arrived in the Cromarty Firth on Tuesday (25 Aug) and moored alongside the Borgsten Dolphin at the base on Wednesday.  Both rigs are undergoing maintenance and upgrade projects carried out by the Global Energy Group, which also recently completed work on the Transocean Rather rig, which left the port earlier this month.

The Ensco 80 is the ninth rig project for Global in Invergordon this year and others are expected to follow.

Global Energy Group chairman Roy MacGregor said the steady stream of projects was benefitting the town and surrounding area.

“There is no doubt that, like everyone else, companies working in the energy industry are feeling the impact of the current economic climate,” said Mr MacGregor.

“However, against that challenging backdrop, I am very pleased by the number of rig projects we are bringing to Invergordon.  It is obviously good for us as a company, but also brings significant income to the local economy.

“These projects create direct, well-paid jobs for local people and also benefit a wide range of companies involved in the supply chain, as well as hotels, shops and other businesses in the area.

“Although the Global Energy Group is continuing to internationalise it operations, our roots are very much in the North of Scotland and the Cromarty Firth area in particular.  As a company we take great pride in the in the considerable contribution we make to the overall prosperity of the area.

“It gives me and my colleagues great satisfaction to see these two rigs currently in the port and we are working harder than ever to ensure that this steady flow of business continues.”

In addition to the rig work, Global’s current activities at Invergordon Service Base include a number of large scale projects.  Global Pipelines have recently completed a new pipeshop for a major contract involving extensive work on the Deep Panuke natural gas production project in Canada.  Onshore work for the project will be carried out at Invergordon, with the offshore work taking place approximately 250 kilometers south east of Nova Scotia.

Fabrication and engineering specialists Isleburn, part of the Global Energy Group, are also currently carrying out work on a significant spool contract at the base.