Red Spiderman

We are a relatively young company, founded in 2003, with our HQ in Aberdeen. I joined Red Spider in March this year, and it’s quite a fresh start for me.

I do have a background working in the region, with Halliburton in Abu Dhabi, and before that in Oman, so I’m familiar with much of our target market, and what drives business here.

Red Spider has around 50 employees worldwide, and feels more like a close knit family. There is a tendency to feel like a number in very big firms, but our philosphy is much more about creating that atmosphere and dynamic where everybody feels part of a coordinated team.

Why have you entered the regional market now?

Actually, Red Spider Technology delivered the first order for its Velocity String Packer (VSP) for a series of wells for PDO in Oman back in 2007, which were deployed in conjunction with PSL Energy Services.

The multi-million dollar deal covers multiple wells over a two year period, and sees Red Spider provide equipment, installation and support for up to 25 wells in the initial phase of the project.

Establishing the regional office was the next step, and we see it as very important to invest directly in the region so that we can serve our customers needs more closely.

What products and services are you excited about bringing to the regional market?

The Through Tubing Rotary Drilling Running Tool or TTRD is an exciting line for us. It is designed for use with through tubing rotary drilling techniques and is used to run the Red Spider safety valve TTRD Protection Sleeve and Crown Plug Profile Protection Sleeve in a piggy back mode.

The Running Tool functions as a part of the drillstring. It carries both the CPP and TTRD protection sleeves into the well and picks them back up again upon retrieval from the well.

The device was developed specifically for use on TTRD operations but can be used in a number of other applications where the protection of seal bores is required.

What other focus areas have you pinpointed for the region?

ZODIAC (Zonal On Demand Isolation And Control) is the family name for Red Spider’s Intelligent Well Systems.

In recent years intelligent wells have truly established themselves as an effective way of managing reservoir performance.

The technology has been proven both in terms of reliability and the potential to add value to well economics, and is recognised in many cases as key to realising the reservoir’s true potential. We see strong demand regionally, particularly in Saudi Arabia for these intelligent well services.

Utilising the technology in production and injection wells is now common place and allows the operator to make real time decisions and changes by controlling flow of hydrocarbons from, or injected fluids into, the formation.

How do you anticipate your business split developing in the Middle East?

At the moment we don’t want to be spread too thinly, so we will be focussed on select markets to begin with. Dubai was a sensible choice as a business hub, but we’ll be looking to work in Oman, Qatar and even India from this office. Saudi Arabia, of course, remains a big focus for the future.

What’s your biggest challenge in your new role?

Building up brand awreness. Our solutions address problems such as scale, debris and aging wells and add value by increasing the life of the well, reducing down-time and increasing efficiency, all of which are key fundamentals to the local oil industry.