What services do you offer related to the oil and gas industry?
We offer everything from environmental impact assessments and associated baseline surveys and modelling consultancy, to a wide range of contracting services including geotechnical and geo-environmental investigation, accredited laboratory testing, geophysical, topographical and laser scanning surveying, hazardous and non-hazardous waste management, oilfield clean up, land remediation, and hydro vac excavations. Our model is to provide a one-stop bundle of services relevant to our oil & gas clients.
Can you elaborate on your work in Iraq?
We have been operating in Iraq since 2010 and have had an established base near Basra since 2012 where we employ more than 70 people, of which more than 50 are Iraqi nationals. Our work is mainly helping international oil companies with all their environmental obligations by providing technical service solutions rather than just specialist advice. We are very proud we of having received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise – International Trade 2016, which made specific mention of our work aiding the rebuild of Iraq.
Being an environmental consultancy firm, what is your involvement with the oil and gas industry? Do you advise the sector’s companies and if so, could you name some of your clients?
When RSK Group was formed in 1989, Shell was the first client and Shell has been a client every single day since; BP was soon to follow. We were fortunate to continue offering services to Shell and BP, and to have added prestigious international oil and gas clients such as Lukoil, Petrochina, Gazprom Neft, Basra Gas Company, and Genel Energy in the region since our establishment here in the Middle East.
Given that the usage of drones in the region is heavily limited by governmental regulation, how confident are you of convincing clients to resort to drones for inspection and monitoring?
There are security concerns over the use of UAS in highly sensitive oilfield environments and obtaining the licences to fly is a difficult, lengthy process. However, these are difficult commercial times of budget constraints in the industry and our enlightened clients soon see the cost and time benefits of deploying UAS technology.
What are your expansion plans in the GCC, given that your work is only in Iraq?
It is not so that we only work in Iraq, although it is true that Iraq provides our biggest opportunities and has therefore been a strong focus for RSK, both in terms of revenue generation and investment. Our regional headquarters has been in Abu Dhabi since 2004. We also have a small office in Doha, Qatar and a strategic partnership in Saudi Arabia. We are committed to expanding across the GCC and have broader regional ambitions including Iran.
