Stats Group launches US operations in Houston

Stats Group, the Aberdeenshire pipeline engineering ­specialist, has invested $2 million (£1.3m) in new facilities in Houston, Texas to expand its services in the North and South American oil and gas markets.

Stephen Rawlinson has been promoted as part of the changes. Picture: Contributed

The firm, which designs, manufactures and installs a range of hi-tech pipeline tools, said it expected to add to its United States headcount over the next year following the opening of its 25,000 sq ft office and workshop facility in Brittmoore.

Stats is headquartered near Aberdeen and employs about 280 staff in the UK, Canada, the US and the Middle East. Bosses pointed to project opportunities in the US onshore and offshore pipeline sector, with Houston also providing a springboard to mobilise for projects in South America.

The group’s “process plant ­solutions” division will also target the refineries, chemical plants and oil and gas platform sector, offering rentals, sales and servicing options.

As part of the move, Stephen Rawlinson, previously general manager in Canada, has been promoted to vice-president for the Americas, while Scott McNae has been elevated from his ­previous role as global projects manager to general manager for US operations.

Rawlinson said: “We recently won contracts worth more than $15m to provide intervention (hot tapping) and isolation services to one of North America’s largest energy infrastructure companies and we believe we can replicate that success in the US.

“To be able to make the best out of emerging opportunities we need local facilities in the Gulf of Mexico and feet on the ground.”